Table of Contents
- Introduction to Live Roulette
- Popular Variations of Live Roulette
- Why You Should Play Live Roulette
- Bet Types in Live Dealer Roulette
- Top Providers of Live Roulette Games
- Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Live Roulette Online Casino
- Picking a Live Roulette Table: Four Factors to Consider
- Useful Tips for Playing Live Roulette Successfully
- Live Roulette FAQs
Introduction to Live Roulette
Whether you’re a gambling enthusiast or not, you can easily identify the roulette wheel with its numbered and coloured (black, red, and green) pockets. The goal of roulette is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is place a bet on where you think the roulette ball will land. There are lots of bet options, including single number and group bets.
Unlike regular online roulette games run by a Random Number Generator (RNG), live roulette lets you interact with a real croupier who doubles as the game’s host. Top game studios that power these games integrate different camera angles to give players a clear-cut view of all the action as it happens. Live roulette titles are streamed from real casino lobbies and studios for authentic traditional gaming experiences, making these games highly interactive and immersive.
Popular Variations of Live Roulette
Here are some of the live roulette variants you can play for real money:
Live European Roulette
The most common online roulette version is European roulette, and it’s the same among live dealer variants. Live European roulette follows the standard roulette gameplay and has a house edge of 2.70%. This house edge is more favourable for players than the American version, hence its massive popularity. You’ll usually find these tables packed with many players. Fortunately, there’s often unlimited seating available.
Live American Roulette
After European roulette, American roulette is the second most popular variant of the game. Having two zero pockets, live American roulette has a slightly higher house edge value of (5.26%). This hasn’t stopped players from enjoying the game or software providers from creating American roulette titles either. Most live casinos will have one or more of these games available.
Live French Roulette
French roulette utilises the same wheel as European roulette. However, this game integrates additional rules like the “La Partage” rule that returns half of your even-money wagers if the roulette ball lands on the zero pocket. It also reduces the house edge to 1.35%. All the top live dealer casinos will feature at least one live French roulette game. The French bets and additional rules may appear daunting, but they’re quite easy to pick up on after a few spins.
Lightning Roulette
Lightning Roulette is an innovative title that offers some spice to regular live roulette online games. It integrates special lightning number multipliers of up to 500x your bet. In addition to the regular gameplay, you’ll have Lucky Numbers, and Lucky Payouts features that make it all the more immersive than your regular live dealer roulette. The setting is also exquisite, with lightning animations accompanying the gameplay, and cool soundbites.
Auto Roulette
Auto Roulette is based on European roulette. But rather than a real croupier introducing the ball to the wheel, a mechanical add-on does all the work in Auto Roulette. This paves the way for swift gameplay and faster rounds.
Double Ball Roulette
Double Ball Roulette offers a unique twist on traditional roulette with two balls, doubling the excitement. This variant features higher payouts, especially with the challenging jackpot bet. If both balls land on a selected number, you can win massive payouts, often at odds of 1,300 to 1. Visually, it’s as captivating as its gameplay. The additional ball not only doubles the fun but also introduces new strategies and betting opportunities.
Why You Should Play Live Roulette
Live roulette basically transports you from the comfort of your home to an actual land-based studio, all at the tap of a button. But is that the only advantage associated with live roulette gaming? Not quite. There are other notable reasons why live roulette has become an unbeatable gaming experience:
Intuitive and Straightforward
You don’t need to be a professional to place winning bets on live dealer roulette. These games are highly intuitive and straightforward. When you play at the best live casinos, you’ll also enjoy an excellent user interface that aids immersion. Contrary to what some believe, the presence of a live dealer isn’t intimidating. Instead, these professionals can help integrate you into the game and can be helpful if you need to make an inquiry regarding gameplay via the built-in chat functionality.
Trustworthy Outcomes
Live roulette offers the best of land-based and online roulette games, and among its advantages is fairness and transparency of outcomes. This virtual roulette experience offers reliable and trusted results since all the action plays out in real time. You don’t have to fear that RNG results are being manipulated. From when the wheel starts spinning till it comes to a halt, you can view everything in real-time.
Variety of Live Dealer Titles
There are dozens of live roulette games at the best live roulette casinos. These are often spread across the major roulette variants (American, European, and French). However, plenty of unique live dealer roulette options have also come up in recent times, some offering massive multipliers and big jackpots.
Affordable Betting Limits
Live roulette games offer players a cheaper entry point than land-based tables. Unless a physical casino is running a time-limited charity scheme for patrons, you’ll almost never find buy-ins lower than $5. Most times, you need chips worth a minimum of $10 to $20 to enter a game of roulette at these destinations. On the other hand, with most live roulette alternatives, you can start playing for as low as $1 per round. This gives newbies a chance to participate and win without making a substantial financial commitment.
Bet Types in Live Dealer Roulette
One thing that makes online roulette special is the number of bets available at your disposal. The presence of various betting options means there are multiple ways to win here. It’s essential to learn how the different bets work to know which ones to go for depending on your budget, risk level and other preferences.
You can check out our guide on how to play roulette for the full low down on roulette bet types. For the purpose of this guide, we’ll provide a quick table overview of the most common betting options available and their odds.
| Bet Type | Payout | European Odds | American Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Bets | |||
| Straight up | 35:1 | 1 in 37 (2.70%) | 1 in 38 (2.63%) |
| Split | 17:1 | 2 in 37 (5.41%) | 2 in 38 (5.26%) |
| Street | 11:1 | 3 in 37 (8.11%) | 3 in 38 (7.89%) |
| Corner | 8:1 | 4 in 37 (10.81%) | 4 in 38 (10.53%) |
| Basket | 6:1 | – | 5 in 38 (13.16%) |
| Line | 5:1 | 6 in 37 (16.22%) | 6 in 38 (15.79%) |
| Outside Bets | |||
| Red/Black | 1:1 | 18 in 37 (48.65%) | 18 in 38 (47.37%) |
| Odd/Even | 1:1 | 18 in 37 (48.65%) | 18 in 38 (47.37%) |
| Low/High | 1:1 | 18 in 37 (48.65%) | 18 in 38 (47.37%) |
| Dozens | 2:1 | 12 in 37 (32.43%) | 12 in 38 (31.58%) |
| Column | 2:1 | 12 in 37 (32.43%) | 12 in 38 (31.58%) |
Top Providers of Live Roulette Games
A handful of game studios have contributed significantly to the diverse and exciting live roulette landscape players enjoy today. From innovative game mechanics to thematic variations, each provider brings its unique flair, so there’s something for a wide range of player preferences.
Here are the major ones:
- Evolution Gaming – Evolution leads the pack with innovative variants like Immersive Roulette, which offers multiple camera angles and slow-motion replays, and Lightning Roulette, which adds high-payout RNG lucky number wins to the traditional roulette format. They’re the number one live casino provider in the industry and are known for interactivity and high-quality streaming.
- Playtech – Playtech excels with a diverse range of live roulette games, including Age of the Gods Roulette, which integrates a progressive jackpot, and Quantum Roulette, featuring multipliers up to 500x. Their focus on blending thematic elements with classic gameplay makes their roulette offerings stand out.
- NetEnt Live – NetEnt’s live roulette games are known for their user-friendly interface and high-quality streaming. They offer unique variations like Rapid Roulette for a faster game pace and VIP Roulette for high-stakes players, ensuring an inclusive experience for all types of roulette enthusiasts.
- Microgaming – Microgaming offers a reliable and classic live roulette experience with their European Roulette and American Roulette variants. They focus on delivering a straightforward, no-frills roulette experience, making it ideal for purists.
- Pragmatic Play Live– As a newer player in the market, Pragmatic Play has made a mark with innovative titles like Auto-Roulette and Speed Roulette, offering fast-paced gameplay. They also focus on mobile optimization, ensuring a seamless experience across different devices.
Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Live Roulette Online Casino
By giving you an overview of live roulette, its major variants, bet types, and tips for success, we’ve armed you with what’s needed to excel in this live dealer game. Now the question is “What online casinos can you trust to deliver an immersive, exhilarating, and glitch-free live roulette experience?”
There are lots of great live dealer roulette casinos, but also plenty of not-so-great ones. We’re able to sieve out the best sites using these criteria:
Licensing
Licensing is the bedrock of any reputable online casino. So it’s important for live roulette casinos to have licences from revered gaming regulatory bodies like the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC).
Certifications from these authorities indicate that the casino has gone through rigorous checks for transparency, fairness, player protection, and security. We like to check for top-tier safeguards like SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption, which guarantees that your details and transactions over the website server are 100% secured.
Game Variety
Casinos with a variety of roulette games will offer better excitement and winning opportunities than those with limited options. There should be numerous titles across French, American, and European roulette variants. Also, the best online casinos will partner with leading providers like Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Playtech to ensure high-quality graphics and fair gameplay.
Payment Methods
Live roulette is a real money game, so a casino’s range of payment methods is crucial. Look out for sites offering a myriad of payment alternatives, ranging from debit/credit cards and eWallets to bank transfers. Cryptocurrencies are becoming a popular online gambling payment method in New Zealand, too. The best casinos will allow you to deposit and receive your payouts quickly and securely.
Streaming Quality
HD streaming technology is a significant part of live roulette. Only with seamless and high-quality streaming can you key into the realistic gaming environment without hassles. As such, it’s necessary you join an online casino offering glitch-free streaming in all its live roulette lobbies.
Promotions and Bonuses
Bonuses and promotions are critical aspects of an online casino as they allow you to play more games at the casino’s expense. Sometimes, you don’t even have to spend a dime of real money, thanks to no deposit bonuses.
The best sites will provide multiple bonuses including welcome bonuses, cashback, weekly bonuses, free spins, high roller deals, etc. Make sure that these offers are valid for live roulette gameplay. More importantly, always check the terms and conditions to determine if the bonus is the right fit for you or not.
Mobile Compatibility
When on the lookout for an online casino to play live roulette games, consider sites that are compatible with Android and iOS devices. The web-based site should function seamlessly on your device’s browser, with fast-loading pages. If there’s a mobile application, that’s a plus, and the best sites will make the full range of offerings available on the app. According to a Businesswire report, mobile users account for an estimated 80% of players in the online gambling industry. So, any roulette casino worth its salt will take a mobile-friendly approach.
User Reviews
By researching player reviews and testimonials, you can accurately uncover vital information like the platform’s roulette variety, payout speed, customer service, and mobile navigability. If an online casino has positive reviews for the most part, it means it has gone the extra mile to put a smile on players’ faces, and vice versa. Casino reviews are what we specialise in here at Casinos.win, so check out what our experts have to say by reading our dedicated reviews.
Picking a Live Roulette Table: Four Factors to Consider
With multiple live roulette games available at online casinos, deciding which one to play might seem challenging. Here are four factors to take into consideration before settling into a game:
Betting Limits
Betting limits indicate how little or how much you can stake on any round of roulette. So you’ll want to play games whose limits suit your bankroll and playing style. You can usually find the table limits by hovering on the game’s thumbnail or checking the paytable. Some games will display the limits on the main playing screen as well. This can usually be anywhere between $0.10 and $5,000.
Software Quality & Speed
Different games have different software quality, which affects how seamlessly they run on your device. Software studios like Evolution, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play have a reputation for churning out some of the most innovative live roulette games with the best UIs. Your device also matters. While older devices may still run these games, a smartphone or PC with updated graphic systems will optimise the display and prevent lags.
Language
Your choice of roulette should depend on your go-to language when communicating on the internet. Some live dealer roulette games only support English. Others have dealers fluent in Turkish, Swedish, Spanish, Japanese, etc. If your native language is supported in a live roulette title, you’ll be able to enjoy a more immersive gaming experience.
The Online Casino
It’s also important to factor in the online casino offering the game when choosing a live roulette table. To avoid unfair gameplay and your personal information entering the wrong hands, choose an online casino licensed by a reputable iGaming regulatory body like the MGA or UKGC. The sites featured on this page have been vetted by our experts and are safe and reliable for putting down your money.
Useful Tips for Playing Live Roulette Successfully
Although there’s no sure-fire route to win live roulette, it’s possible to increase your winning chances. Below are some exclusive tips we’ve crafted to allow you to boost your rate of success:
Pick European roulette Over American Roulette
The reason behind this tip is straightforward. The European roulette wheel has 37 numbers and a house edge of 2.70%. On the other hand, American roulette comes with a 5.26% edge due to its having a wheel with 38 numbers (including the double zero). Your chances of winning are greater on European roulette, making it the more favourable option.
Play for Free Before Making a Financial Commitment
Before playing live roulette for real money, consider playing for free in order to familiarise yourself with the gameplay. Live roulette – like most other live table games – is only available for real money wagers. However, many casino sites will provide RNG-based free online roulette demos for you to try. These free games are great for practising popular roulette betting strategies and systems.
Play the La Partage or En Prison Versions of French roulette
The La Partage or En Prison variants of French roulette are gaining traction each passing day at online casinos due to the lower house edge of 1.35%. We advise playing these versions if you’re looking to minimise your losses. You’ll get half your bet back if the roulette ball lands on zero, and you also get a free spin on some losing even-money bets.
Avoid the 5-Number Bet
The 5-number bet or basket bet should be avoided at all costs, as it’s the worst bet type in roulette. Available exclusively on American roulette, where all bet variants have a house edge of 5.3%, the 5-number bet has a house edge of 7.9%. So it’s just not favourable for players.
Don’t Chase Your Losses
Chasing losses in the hopes of scoring a big win almost always ends poorly. 99% of the time, it’s more likely your balance will be in the red before you can achieve those massive payouts. Before playing any live roulette game, ensure you set a loss limit, after which you’ll walk away. This way, you can maintain your bankroll and avoid falling into gambling addiction.
Utilise Tested and Trusted Strategies
Although roulette is a luck-based game, adopting certain strategies can increase your winning margins. Roulette strategies include popular betting systems like D’Alembert, Martingale, and Paroli. With an in-depth understanding of these betting techniques, you can use them to churn out wins and cut down losses.
Live Roulette FAQs
What are the best live roulette alternatives to play at online casinos?
Some of the popular live roulette games are Age of the Gods Roulette, Double Ball Roulette, Auto Roulette, Lightning Roulette, etc. Each one follows the fundamental basics of roulette gameplay, but you’ll enjoy unique features like jackpots, multipliers, and faster betting rounds.
Can you cheat live roulette?
Game studios utilise sophisticated technology to ensure fair play and security. These games cannot be rigged since they play out in real-time right before your eyes. As a player, there’s no way to cheat, either. However, you can use roulette hacks and tricks like applying betting strategies or sticking to even money bets, which are the safest.
What live roulette variant is the best?
The best live roulette variant depends on personal preference. European Roulette is popular due to its lower house edge, while American Roulette offers a classic experience with a double zero. French Roulette has additional rules that can benefit players. Many of the unique live roulette variants, like Lightning Roulette and Double Ball Roulette, are reiterations of the standard wheel setups.
What software provider offers the best live roulette games?
Evolution Gaming is the top provider of live roulette games in the industry. Live roulette titles from this developer adopt unique sequences, sound effects, and graphics. Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Playtech are other award-winning software providers with a reputation for their RNG-based and live roulette games.