Katrina Griffiths
Senior editor
Published on: October 20, 2026
Live game shows explained: Crazy Time, Monopoly Live and how they pay
Live game shows are casino games built around a big money wheel that a host spins live on camera. You bet on where the wheel will stop, and some segments launch a bonus round with extra multipliers. Crazy Time and Monopoly Live, both made by Evolution, are the best known, and both are offered in Alberta.
They’re also among the most expensive games in the live lobby. Even the best bet on either game keeps close to 4% of your wager, compared with under 1% for blackjack played with basic strategy.
How does a live game show round work?
Every round follows the same pattern:
- Place your bets: A countdown gives you time to bet on one or more wheel segments.
- The host spins the wheel: The segment where it stops decides the round.
- Number segments pay straight away: A 2 pays 2 to 1, a 10 pays 10 to 1, and so on.
- Bonus segments launch a bonus round: Only players who bet on that segment take part.
“Pays 2 to 1” means you win twice your stake and get the stake back, so a $5 bet on 2 returns $15.
Crazy Time: the wheel & what it pays
Crazy Time’s wheel has 54 segments. Four of its segment types are numbers and four are bonus games. The more segments a type has, the more often it comes up:
| Segment | Segments on the wheel | Chance per spin | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | 38.9% | 1 to 1 |
| 2 | 13 | 24.1% | 2 to 1 |
| 5 | 7 | 13.0% | 5 to 1 |
| 10 | 4 | 7.4% | 10 to 1 |
| Coin Flip | 4 | 7.4% | Bonus game |
| Cash Hunt | 2 | 3.7% | Bonus game |
| Pachinko | 2 | 3.7% | Bonus game |
| Crazy Time | 1 | 1.9% | Bonus game |
Top Slot multipliers
Before each spin, a two-reel Top Slot above the wheel picks one bet spot and a multiplier. If the wheel then stops on that spot, its payout is multiplied, so a 10 boosted by 5x pays 50 to 1.
The four bonus games
- Coin Flip: A coin with a multiplier on its red side and another on its blue side is flipped, and you win the multiplier that lands face up.
- Cash Hunt: You pick one target from a wall of hidden multipliers and win whatever is behind it.
- Pachinko: The host drops a puck down a wall of pegs, and you win the multiplier it lands on. A DOUBLE slot doubles every multiplier, and the puck drops again.
- Crazy Time: A larger bonus wheel spins, and you win the multiplier your chosen flapper (green, blue or yellow) points to. DOUBLE and TRIPLE segments multiply every value on the wheel and spin it again.
Monopoly Live: the wheel & the board
Monopoly Live uses a 54-segment wheel with the same four numbers, plus Chance and two bonus segments. This is the layout most guides list, and the game’s help screen shows the exact layout for the version you’re playing.
| Segment | Segments on the wheel | Chance per spin | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | 40.7% | 1 to 1 |
| 2 | 15 | 27.8% | 2 to 1 |
| 5 | 7 | 13.0% | 5 to 1 |
| 10 | 4 | 7.4% | 10 to 1 |
| Chance | 2 | 3.7% | Cash prize or multiplier |
| 2 Rolls | 3 | 5.6% | Bonus game |
| 4 Rolls | 1 | 1.9% | Bonus game |
Chance isn’t a betting spot. When the wheel lands on it, players with a bet in that round get either a cash prize or a multiplier that applies to the next spin.
The 2 Rolls and 4 Rolls bonus
If the wheel stops on 2 Rolls or 4 Rolls, players with a bet on that segment move to a 3D Monopoly board. Mr. Monopoly rolls two dice and moves around the board, and the squares he lands on add multipliers to your prize. A double earns an extra roll, and 4 Rolls usually pays more than 2 Rolls because you get twice as many turns.
How much live game shows cost you
A game show’s return to player (RTP) depends on the segment you bet on. The best bet in Crazy Time, the 1, has an RTP of 96.08%, and Monopoly Live’s best bet has an RTP of 96.23%. Bonus bets usually return less, as low as about 94% on some Crazy Time bonus games, because more of their value comes from rare big multipliers. The help screen in each game lists the RTP for every segment.
Here’s how that compares with the classic live tables:
| Game and bet | RTP | Average cost per $100 wagered |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack, basic strategy | About 99.5% | About $0.50 |
| Baccarat, banker bet | 98.94% | $1.06 |
| European roulette | 97.30% | $2.70 |
| Monopoly Live, best bet | 96.23% | $3.77 |
| Crazy Time, best bet | 96.08% | $3.92 |
| Crazy Time, lowest bonus bets | About 94% | About $6 |
Expected loss = total wagered × house edge
Over $500 wagered in a session, that’s about $20 on Crazy Time’s best bet against $13.50 on European roulette and about $5 on baccarat‘s banker bet. Any single session can go either way, but the gap adds up the longer you play.
Why covering the wheel doesn’t work
Betting on every segment guarantees a win on every spin, but not a profit. If you put $1 on all eight Crazy Time spots and the wheel lands on 1, you get $2 back from an $8 outlay, which is a $6 loss on a “winning” spin. Spreading your bets doesn’t lower the house edge on any of them; it just spreads your money across more bets.
Playing live game shows in Alberta
Crazy Time and Monopoly Live are both offered in Alberta, and you can find them on Play Alberta and in the lobbies of AGLC-registered live dealer casinos. Alberta’s internet gaming standards require the physical equipment that decides live game outcomes, such as wheels and dice tables with electronic components, to be certified before it’s used in the province, just as RNG games are certified.
Rounds come around fast, and the bonus games can make a session feel shorter than it is, so set a deposit or time limit before you start. If you’re new to the live lobby, live dealer vs RNG games explains how the two formats differ.
Live game show FAQ
What is the best bet in Crazy Time?
The 1. It has the highest RTP at 96.08% and covers 21 of the 54 segments, so it wins on about 39% of spins. It only pays 1 to 1, though, so it’s the lowest-cost bet, not a winning strategy.
Are live game shows rigged?
Not on an AGLC-registered site. The wheel is real, it’s spun live, and Alberta requires the equipment behind it to be certified before use. The house edge comes from payouts that are set below the true odds, not from the spin.
Do game shows have better odds than roulette?
No. European roulette’s 2.70% house edge is lower than the house edge on the best bet in either game show. Game shows charge more for bigger multipliers and bonus rounds.
Conclusion
Live game shows trade a higher house edge for big multipliers and bonus rounds. Stick to the number bets if you want the lowest cost, think of the bonus segments as the expensive extras they are, and check each segment’s RTP in the help screen before you bet. Set a budget before you play and treat each session as paid entertainment rather than a way to make money.
You must be 18 or older to gamble online in Alberta. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, the Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline is open 24/7 on 1-866-332-2322, and GameSense has free tools and advisors.
