Live roulette is an exciting form that allows you to get closer to the real land-based gaming experience without leaving your home. Live roulette games are live-streamed, so you can follow and participate in actual roulette with a real table, a wheel, and a professional croupier.
The live element of this game not only enhances its appeal and excitement but also instils trust. Unlike simulated results from online roulette games, live roulette’s outcomes are not dependent on complex RNG algorithms, making it more transparent. Additionally, the betting range caters to all players, from casual to high rollers, offering both small and large rewards.
Let’s not forget that the gameplay is essentially the same as in real roulette, while the streams are high-quality and shown in HD. As long as your connection is stable, the game will go smoothly, and you can play without a hitch.
Basic Rules and Types of Bets in Live Roulette
First things first — live roulette’s basic rules and bet types are the same as those of online roulette games. The difference lies in the format — one is played in a live setting, and the other in a simulated environment where RNG algorithms determine the results.
However, if you’ve never played roulette of any kind, it’s important to explain the basics.
The game is played live with a real croupier, table, and roulette wheel. The table contains the wheel and the betting layout for placing your chips. Naturally, you don’t get to place actual chips, so expect the croupier to handle only the wheel. Bets are placed through gameplay elements so many players can simultaneously participate in a single game.
The roulette wheel is divided into numbered slots, going from 0 to 36 (American roulette includes a 00 as well). The zero and double zero are green, while numbers 1 through 36 are separated into equal numbers of black and red pockets, so 18 are black, and 18 are red. The numbers are randomly placed, not numerically, to ensure a random distribution of outcomes.
The croupier spins the ball onto the wheel or presses a button, and the wheel releases the ball automatically. Whenever the ball is spun, it has to land somewhere, and the number on which it lands determines the outcome of the round. If you have bets covering that number, you’ll win; if you don’t, you’ll lose your chips.
The betting layout contains fields that correspond to the wheel numbers. The bets are separated into two sections: inside and outside bets.
Inside bets are numbered slots corresponding to the numbers on the wheel. They pay more than outside bets but have a lower chance of occurring. The included bets are:
- Straight Up — Bet on a single number on the wheel. The payout is 35:1.
- Split — Bet on two adjacent numbers (as seen on the roulette wheel). The payout is 17:1.
- Street — Bet on three numbers in a row (as seen on the roulette wheel). The payout is 11:1.
- Corner — Bet on four numbers forming a square on the layout, not the wheel. The payout is 8:1.
- Five-Number — Bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. Only available in American roulette. The payout is 6:1.
- Six-Line — Bet on six numbers that are located in two rows on the betting layout. The payout is 5:1.
Outside bets cover categories or groups of numbers like Red or Black and Even or Odd. They are likelier to occur than inside bets but offer lower winnings. The included bets are:
- Red or Black — Bet on either black or red numbers. The payout is 1:1.
- Odd or Even — Bet on an odd or even number. The payout is 1:1.
- Low or High — Bet on the ball landing within the lower half of the wheel (1–18) or the higher half of the wheel (19–36). The payout is 1:1.
- Column — Bet on one of the three number columns (as shown on the betting layout). The payout is 2:1.
- Dozen — Bet on the ball landing on the first dozen numbers (1–12), the second dozen numbers (13–24), or the third dozen numbers (25–36). The payout is 2:1.
Difference Between European, French, and American Roulette
Live roulette comes in many variants, but three are the most common ones, and they are the same as online roulette: European, American, and French roulette. Here’s what makes each one unique and the differences between them:
- European roulette — The most common version of roulette with 37 numbered pockets, including all numbers from 1 to 36 and a 0. It also covers all the bets we’ve explained in the previous section. The house edge is 2.7%.
- French roulette — Almost the same as European roulette, but has a few added betting options dubbed announced or called bets. These include bets like wagering on numbers from the wheel from 22 to 25, called the Voisins du Zero (neighbours of zero) bet, and the Le Tiers du Cylindre (thirds of the wheel) bet, where you’re wagering on numbers opposite of zero on the wheel, from 27 to 33. The variant also includes a rule called La Partage, where you get half of your bet back if the ball lands on 0. The house edge is 1.35% for straight bets because of this rule.
- American roulette — A variant very similar to European roulette, with the bets being the same, besides the one bet we’ve discussed that includes the 00. That’s because American roulette has this additional pocket on the wheel. The 00 increases the house edge and makes your chances of winning slightly lower. The house edge is 5.26%.
Effective Betting Strategies for Playing Live Roulette
Even though a strategy cannot ensure a win, it can add structure to your betting, making it easier to pay attention to your bankroll. So, if you want, you can use one of the following roulette betting strategies that are more favoured than others:
- Martingale — The most popular strategy for playing various games of luck. The premise is simple and involves doubling every losing bet. Once you win, you return to the original bet and continue down the same path. This way, every win will return the previous losses, but the wins through this system are minimal. Also, it’s advisable to stick to even money bets like Red or Black and Odd or Even.
- Labouchere — This is one of the most complex strategies you can use. It’s also called a Split Martingale, and it involves increasing bets after a loss. However, you recuperate losses through multiple wins, not one. You start with a sequence of numbers like 1, 2, 3. The bet is the sum of the first and last numbers in the sequence — 4. When you lose, the bet is added to the sequence — 1, 2, 3, 4. The next bet now is consequently 5. Once you win, you cross out the numbers forming your bet. This leads to a profit even if you lose a little bit less than 50%, but a long losing streak can destroy everything.
- D’Alembert — A low-risk strategy, d’Alembert is suited for even money bets. The goal is to increase your bet by 1 when you lose and reduce by 1 when you win. The strategy requires a relatively small bankroll and can lead to very small losses. However, your wins are also small, and you must always use even money bets for the strategy to work.
Player Experiences and Success Stories
Hundreds of thousands of players have tried hundreds of live roulette games available in online gaming platforms. Each player has a different experience, and everyone has both won and lost multiple times. That’s because live roulette is a game of chance, so results will always be entirely random.
Naturally, many have lost significant sums and others won equally significant sums. No one has made a fortune playing live roulette, but many players have won amounts that have significantly affected their lives.
However, it’s crucial to remember that playing the game is risky, so do it only with the funds you’re willing to lose and heed the advice and explanations we show here before committing.
Tips for Choosing the Best Live Roulette Tables
There are a couple of things you need to pay attention to when choosing the right live roulette table for you:
- Pay attention to the betting ranges — Every live roulette game has its own bet range, and you should check it before committing. Some games offer very low minimum bets, which are great for casual players, while others with high maximums are more attuned for high rollers.
- Avoid American roulette — All that American roulette adds is a new pocket on the wheel, and since it’s a 00, the house edge effectively doubles. This makes the bets less lucrative as they still offer the same payouts as in European roulette.
- Check the round speed — Every roulette round gives you a specific amount of time to place a bet. If you’re not accustomed to fast-paced action, find a table where you get more than enough time to decide and place your bets.
Benefits of the Live Dealer and Interactive Features
We’ve already touched upon the benefits of these unique live roulette elements, but let’s summarise them and include others that haven’t been mentioned:
- Professional dealer — Having a professional croupier is certainly a significant benefit of live roulette as they are at the core of the live element, making this game very similar to the real land-casino experience.
- Different studio designs and atmospheres — Various providers make live dealer roulette games, including Evolution, the leading live provider that offers several live roulette releases. Besides changes in gameplay, these games offer different croupiers, studio designs, table and wheel designs, and entirely different vibes.
- High quality and unique gameplay — Live roulette games offer a great combination of live-streamed roulette games and gameplay elements found in online roulette titles. The stream is in HD, which makes the whole experience premium.
