Thanks to the rise of internet roulette, fans are spoilt for choice when it comes to the vast number of games they can play with just a few clicks or taps of their preferred devices. However, with so many options, there may be some confusion between the various types of roulette, particularly between online roulette games and live roulette games. Many players make the mistake of using these terms interchangeably when they are two distinct types of roulette - you can consider them two sides of the same coin.
In today's article, we'll explain the distinction between online and live roulette in a live roulette vs online roulette comparison. Keep reading to learn more.
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Roulette Gameplay
Roulette is a casino table game that is easy to learn and enjoy. The aim is simple; guess the number or colour the roulette wheel will stop on. Multiple numbered segments of red and black make up the wheel with a green segment representing 0 (or 00 in American variants).
Roulette is notable for its wide range of bets. These include inside and outside bets. The third category, racecourse, is for advanced roulette players. Inside bets on the table's inner field are made on numbers 0–36. Inside bets include Straight up, Split, Street, Corner, and Line. Outside wagers are made on 1–36 numbered boxes around the inner field. Column, Dozen, High or Low, Red or Black, and Odd or Even are the five outside bets. Lastly, there are ‘call bets’ which are special bets that can change from game to game.
The core gameplay loop of both live and online bets
- Make Your Bet: Place chips on any number or empty spot on the table.
- Wagering Period: Bet before the dealer announces, "No more bets” (in the case of online roulette this will be presented by a timer, or if the player plays solo they can decide when it’s time to spin).
- The Spin: Bets are final after this call and then the wheel can be spun.
- The Pill: A metal ball, known as the pill, is added to the spinning wheel.
- Winning Number: The segment the pill stops in is the winning outcome.
- Payout: All losing bets are collected and winning bets are paid.
How to Play Online Roulette
Online roulette involves betting on a computerised roulette wheel that uses random number generation (RNG) for fairness. Some online roulette games allow many players, while others allow only one. With minimal tech requirements, games are less demanding on devices, and operation expenses are lower, lowering betting levels. Players will also find more roulette versions, including speciality or regional ones.
Unless otherwise specified, the rules and aim of online roulette games remain the same, with the core difference in how-to-play being the use of an RNG computerised dealer, and the increased control players have in setting the pace and configuring the user interface (UI) to suit them.
How to Play Live Roulette
In the live casino part of your selected online casino site, you can choose from many live roulette games. Do you like a private lounge to watch roulette or the casino floor from your sofa, as live roulette includes most of the standard roulette rules and benefits from an easy-to-use UI, deciding upon the game that suits you is the biggest step in the ‘how to play’ process.
Live roulette combines real-time live roulette gaming with bonus rounds, multipliers, modifiers, high-speed gameplay, multiple reel games, and more, therefore, it is far more useful to explore the rules of your chosen live roulette game as opposed to trying to provide a general guide. One thing to state about learning how to play live roulette is that as all events take place in real-time, testing out the game in demoplay mode is not possible, however, you can watch as many rounds as you like take place without making a wager to learn the ropes.
Similar Rules, Different Player Appeal
While live casino roulette games have certainly outshone their online roulette counterparts in recent years, this wasn’t always the case, and plenty of players still prefer online roulette or switch between the two forms of the game.
Not all gamblers are social or demand live casino amenities. This is where online roulette games' convenience and control shine. Players can play roulette in its simplest version 24/7 against the RNG software alone or with others. In solo games, the player sets the pace. The betting window closes after they confirm their bet, and they can start the following round after the winning outcome is announced. Players can also change the user interface language and sound settings to tailor their gaming further.
Due to the restrictions of the format, rules tend to follow the most traditional variants of French, European, and American roulette, but players will also find subgenres within these game archetypes which are unlikely to be seen within a live context.
One of the biggest draws of live roulette is that it simulates playing roulette at a real casino without leaving home. Players may enjoy premium and authentic live roulette 24/7 on their preferred devices (including smartphones) thanks to cross-platform optimisation.
The prevalence of live roulette game shows has been the driving force in differing live roulette rules. These love game shows offer a unique blend of classic roulette with modern features like bonus rounds, multipliers, and other game-changers, so while the core gameplay elements will remain the same i.e. the use of a wheel with red and black spaces, the addition of unique features and their pertinent rules is limitless.
Top Live Roulette Games on Lord Ping
At Lord Ping, you’ll find a large selection of the best live casino games on the market, loved by roulette fans across the UK. To help you start your live roulette journey, we’ve highlighted some top picks below:
Lightning Roulette
The original game of Evolutions' revolutionary Lightning series was Lightning Roulette. The production quality is on par with a TV game show and the traditional roulette formula is shaken up with lucky numbers and lightning multipliers.
All of the standard roulette betting options, including a live dealer and wheel, are available in this first-rate Live Roulette game which has a potential RTP of 97.1%.
Instant Roulette
Instant Roulette Live is one of the many live roulette games that Evolution Gaming has made. In Instant Roulette, no croupier is sitting at the roulette table. Instead, 12 fully-automated roulette wheels are used.
The twelve wheels don't all spin at the same time. Instead, they are timed so that each wheel is in an alternate phase of a normal roulette round which allows players to take part in a new game almost instantaneously. The RTP for all roulette wheels is 97.3%, and they all follow the same rules.
Mega Fire Blaze Roulette
Playtech created the live roulette game Mega Fire Blaze Roulette. This live casino game show mimics European roulette but includes multipliers that are worth up to 10,000 times. Unlike most roulette games with multipliers, all inside bets are eligible for the multiplier. All of this makes Mega Fire Roulette live game show gameplay smooth, accessible, and appealing and results in a 96.10% RTP.
Top Online Roulette Games to Play
At Lord Ping, you’ll also find a huge selection of online roulette games. These tend to be broken down into three main archetypes; American Roulette, European Roulette, and French Roulette.
American Roulette
American roulette has two zero spaces on the wheel a '0' and a '00'. The house advantage on American roulette wheels doubles to 5.26% due to the second zero. The second zero also allows for a wager known as the 'basket' bet, only seen in this version. This means that among most players American Roulette is the least popular, but for those looking to feel that Las Vegas roulette experience from the comfort of their own home, American Roulette is the go-to; and we have you covered at Lord Ping.
European Roulette
Many traditional and online casino players prefer European roulette over other varieties. Its popularity stems from its low house advantage—2.63%—which gives players better theoretical chances. The 37 European roulette wheel divisions contain 1–36 and 0. The single zero is green, and 1–36 are red and black. European roulette features many of the call bets seen in French Roulette but with English translations. For example, ‘Orphelins’ becomes ‘Orphans’. This is also the format which developers tend to experiment most with, and at Lord Ping, you’ll find a broad selection of titles.
French Roulette
French roulette is the original, centuries-old game. The table configuration distinguishes it from other roulette variations we've investigated. Due to additional gameplay rules, this casino table game has the lowest house advantage of any roulette type at 1.35% making it popular with players.
French Roulette includes two unique rules:
- En Prison means "in prison," in English. This rule keeps your outside stake on the table for one more spin after zero. If zero occurs again, the stake is lost.
- La Partage means "the share." Half your outside wager is lost on a zero. The remainder is returned.
So Which Should You Play: Online Roulette, or Live Roulette?
Live Roulette. Online roulette. Neither. Both! - All these answers are true. Put simply, the form of roulette you should play depends on who you are as a player, and even your preference for that day. Even within these types of games, there are subgenres to consider.
For example, you might want the most authentic roulette experience on offer. In this case, that need would be met by traditional live roulette. However, if you’re looking for a new take on the classic roulette formula, then a live roulette game show is going to tick your boxes. The same can be said for online roulette, as solo games are ideal for those who want it to just be them and wheel, while multiplayer online roulette games add a degree of sociability, but with less of a demand on devices and internet strength.
Play Roulette Live and Online on Lord Ping
Whether you love live roulette, online roulette, or both, or prefer other games like slots and table games, at Lord Ping you’ll find a generous selection of the best titles to try. Sign up and play today.
