To think years ago the only way we’d be able to feel the rush of excitement through our veins watching the Roulette wheel spin was by taking a trip to the closest land based casino. This game of chance has been popular for centuries and it is such a thrill that even when losing you still love the game.

Basically Roulette is that one friend you keep holding on to no matter how many times they disappoint you because they know how to let the good times roll. The love-hate relationship with Roulette is quite common but it wasn’t always possible to fully embrace it.

Thankfully online casinos started popping up back in 1998 and made it possible to have a quick catch up with Roulette sessions daily. The only downside was that the roulette machines available on the internet didn’t fully match up to the experience of playing the game in a land based casino. Many software developers who were eager to not just grow their status but also keep players happy jumped to create an alternative that could give players the live roulette experience they so badly desired. Thanks to them we now have a range of superb Live Dealer Roulette variants we can play from the comfort of the couch.

So Where Did It All Begin?

Before you can fully understand or appreciate something for what it is you need to know where it comes from. And the story of Roulette is quite interesting especially since there are those that believe the famous Sin City got its name from Roulette. According to legends the inventor of the single zero Roulette wheel signed a deal with the devil to receive all the secrets for roulette success.

The Devil Deal! Yes, the story about how Sin City got its name is a tall tale but the numbers don’t lie, add all the numbers on the roulette wheel together (1-36) you’ll get 666! Makes you wonder why 777 is lucky on slots?

On a more serious note, it is well known that Roulette was invented in France and the name itself is a dead giveaway as it literally means “Little Wheel” in French. The interesting thing is that Blaise Pascal, the French physicist, mathematician and inventor, who created the game wasn’t trying to create a casino game. In fact, Pascal was trying to invent a perpetual motion machine, or in regular human terms a machine that can operate without drawing energy from an outside source. This was back in 1655, and while dear old Pascal did not succeed in his experiment he created something bigger and better that would be uses across the globe daily many years later.

The Zero Heroes… It’s interesting to know that the 0 on the Roulette wheel was only added in 1842 when Francois and Louis Blanc designed a new wheel for King Charles III of Monaco.

After that the game became even more popular although with the zero added the house edge was higher. Then the Americans had to take it a step further and add a 00 to increase the house edge even more. The American roulette version of the wheel came with 38 numbers on the wheel instead of the classic 37. For decades players could only take part in Roulette action by visiting land based casinos, in fact it was such a mission because those who wanted to play single Zero roulette had to take a trip to Europe while those who preferred double zero Roulette has to visit the US.

Thankfully in 2002 the first online casinos started popping up and Roulette alongside Blackjack and Poker were amongst the first games players could take part in. Then as technology developed and software developers improved their skills they were able to create live dealer versions to provide players with a real casino experience from the comfort of their own home. It might not seem like a big deal but especially when playing a game of Roulette the social element is vital to the experience.  

How It Works

Live Roulette variants can be found on most of the top rated online casinos today and the games are played via a video link. The game is hosted by a dealer and all the action takes place on an actual wheel that is found in a studio or in some cases filmed from a land based casino.

Fancy a classy game of chance? Roulette is a popular table game to play in which you need to place bets on numbers and other bet options after which the wheel will spin and the winning numbers will be revealed. As a game of chance there is no way to turn the odds in your favour but if Lady Luck is on your side you are in for one thrilling ride.

The thought of playing Live Dealer Roulette can be quite intimidating as it seems different to regular roulette tables. Don’t let looks fool you, Live Dealer Roulette is placed much virtual Roulette tables and you will find that the betting options are more or less the same as well as the layout of the game. The excitement truly begins when the ball is set in motion and the wheel starts spinning. After you’ve placed all your bets the dealer will spin the wheel and in this time you will notice the camera focus going straight to the wheel to give you a close up look of the action. Once the wheel is stopped and the results are revealed you don’t have to wait for the dealer to reveal the outcome as you’ll have real time results showing immediately on your screen.

The dealers hosting these live dealer games are incredibly friendly and well trained. In most cases the dealers will be attractive females much like in land based casinos. Then there is the chat box function that allows you to talk to the dealers or in some cases even with other players. You can simply type your message in the Chat Box and they’ll respond to your text out loud. It’s not as satisfying as a face to face conversation where you actually get to talk and respond face to face but it’s the next best thing. Especially if you are determined to take part in the action from your home.

Live dealer Roulette variants come with many benefits that can’t be found in the virtual roulette games. There are variants that are offered in multiple languages, you can often watch a slow-motion replay of the previous spin and some software developers have even created studios with multiple cameras to provide you with a view from every possible angle.

5 Quick Tips to Hassle Free Live Dealer Roulette

1. Know your Odds

The key thing to playing live dealer roulette successfully is to know your odds. It requires a little bit of learning and memorizing but ultimately it will help you make the better bets. For instance, Outside bets have lower odds and are more likely to come up on the wheel. And Inside Bets come up less but they offer the highest pay-outs.

Pro Tip: If you are playing at and American Roulette table don’t make the mistake of betting on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 simultaneously. This is one of the worst bets to make as the house edge for this bet increases to 7.89%

2. Pick the game that is favourable to you

There are a few live roulette variants to choose from, so before you just play any one of them you’ll have to sit and become fully aware of what each variant offers. In most cases playing a Roulette with European Rules will be more beneficial as it comes with a lower house edge.

3. Check for the En Prison Rule

This is not a must but it can be highly beneficial especially in Live Roulette. Check for a game that offers the En Prison Rule as it will enable you to reset your wager if the ball lands on zero.

4. Keep your priorities straight

The most important thing to remember when playing any online or live dealer game is to do it for the fun and not for the cash. Think of wins as a nice bonus but not a requisite. Live Dealer Roulette especially can be quite draining on the bank account and you don’t want to risk the dangers of developing a gambling problem by chasing your losses.

5. Learn a strategy

It’s true that Roulette is a game of chance but there are some strategies that have been developed over time. These are not 100% effective but they’ll definitely teach you the basics you need to know about bankroll management and betting.

Benefits of Playing Live Dealer Roulette

• You get to witness the outcome instead of being forced to trust an RNG
• Enjoy a game played at reasonable pace where you can view everything happening
• You’ll get to interact with the dealer and ask questions or just chat about anything and everything during the game
• No additional costs such as travelling expenses required to get the real casino feel
• You get to dress up and play like a High roller while lounging on the couch

6 Must-Play Live Dealer Roulette Variants for You!

1. European roulette

This is the standard Live Dealer Roulette variant you will find in most live dealer casino offerings. The game is played with a single zero which means the house edge is a little lower. The game is played with standard European rules so if you’ve played Roulette before you’ll get the hang of it in no time.

2. American Roulette

American Roulette is played with a single zero and double zero which means the house edge is higher. Other than that the game comes with the same betting options and is rules that is found in European Roulette.

If there is a choice: Always opt for European Roulette rather than American Roulette as the odds are definitely more favourable.

3. French Roulette

The French Roulette variant is played with the European wheel but offers additional rules such as the La Partage Rule where you get back half of your bet if the ball lands on 0 and you didn’t bet on it. Then there is also the En Prison rule where your bet is placed ‘in prison’ if the ball lands on 0 when you’ve placed a bet on Odds or Evens. This live roulette variant can only be found in some online casinos so you’ll have to do a bit of research before opting in to just any online casino with live dealer games.

4. Immersive Roulette

Thanks to the bright spark of Evolution Gaming you’ll get to experience an enhanced gameplay with Immersive Roulette. This live dealer variant comes with special effects such as slow-motion replays. It’s fun, entertaining and even more thrilling than regular live casino variants.

5. Slingshot or Auto Live Roulette

This is not a 100% live dealer roulette variant as it is played with an automated machine instead of a live dealer. The upside is that the game is played at a fast-paced which enhances the thrill of the game and provides quicker results.

6. Live Double Ball Roulette

This live Roulette variant can only be found in some online casinos as it is still considered relatively new. In this game a second ball is added to the wheel which opens a new set of betting options. The perk of this game is that if both balls manage to land on the same number you have a winning probability of 1300:1.