Live betting

Request

I would like to know the exact rules (for the company ie coral) regarding “live” betting. Is any gambling company allowed to use any sort of technology to maximise there odds? For example if u watch CORAL live sports blackjack closely u can tell dealer is pressing a button with his left thumb and the cards are coming from a slot just in front of box and not actually out of the box. Within 1 game I observed 5 Queen of hearts dealt with no changes to the box of cards, a card reader is also used, I’m 100% sure there using technology, but is this Within the rules?

Response

Dear REDACTED

Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

In your email you have requested information relating to the exact rules (for the company ie coral) regarding “live” betting. Specifically, is any gambling company allowed to use any sort of technology to maximise there odds?

As suplimentary clarification to your request, you have provided the following example:

“if u watch CORAL live sports blackjack closely u can tell dealer is pressing a button with his left thumb and the cards are coming from a slot just in front of box and not actually out of the box. Within 1 game I observed 5 Queen of hearts dealt with no changes to the box of cards, a card reader is also used”

Many table games, like blackjack, use what is called a “shoe” to hold the decks of cards. This can hold 6 - 8 or more decks of cards that are shuffled and loaded into the shoe on a card table or into a card feeder, as mentioned in your email.

The reasons for this are mainly to counter people card counting (Card counters look out for which cards have been used and then try and work out what cards could be next) and to keep a game going. People cannot see how many cards are in the card holder so counting cards would be very difficult with 8 or more decks of cards.

A card table can hold six people or more people at one time and the games can be quite quick, so the casino will use multiple decks in a game and then load and new set of cards when they run out.

Live casino games are regulated by the Commission, operators are expected to comply with the remote gambling and software technical standards (RTS)

In terms of the fairness of these games, more details on live dealer studios can be Viewed here:

RTS 17 – Live dealer studios - Gambling Commission

Review of the decision

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email.

Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.

If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission.

The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in a new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Information Management Team
Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham B2 4BP