Eve Luneborg
Roulette is one of the most popular games in online casinos. It’s also one of the games you’ll always find plenty of options for when you want to play live, via a video stream. You can try everything from classic roulette to new and innovative versions, as most live casinos feature several hundred roulette games.
In this guide from LiveCasino.ie, we’ll look at how to play live roulette and explore some of the most popular game versions out there. We’ll also be offering our best tips for you to succeed when playing roulette online.
Live casino roulette is an online version of the classic table game. But, instead of using a digitally-generated wheel, as is used in RNG roulette, live roulette is played with a real dealer and a physical wheel. You play and follow the game live through a video stream, and you place your bets on a virtual table that pops up on your screen during the betting window.
Just like in a land-based casino, the dealer spins the wheel, drops the ball, and announces the winning result. You, and all other players at the table, can see all of this happening in real-time, and in that way, verify that it’s fair and real. Often, winners will also be announced on-screen.
As for the game itself, live roulette can be any form of roulette. You’ll for sure find versions like European, American, and French Roulette in most live casinos. But that’s not all, as you can also expect a whole line of other game versions. Many of them are also a mix between classic roulette and game show games, and these are exciting titles that we can highly recommend.
Roulette is a game where you bet on where on a spinning wheel a small ball will land. The wheel has numbered pockets, going from 0 to 36, where every second number is red and black. In European and French roulette, there’s one zero. In American roulette, there’s a 0 and a 00. The zero(s) are always green pockets and represent the house edge.
To play, you place your chips on the betting table. When you play in a live casino, this pops up during the betting window, before the dealer spins the wheel. You can bet on a single number, a group of numbers, colours (red or black), or whether the number will be odd or even.
Once all bets are placed, the dealer spins the wheel and drops the ball. The pocket the ball lands in is the winner. If you picked the right number or group of numbers, you win based on the payout for your bet.
Unlike many other table games, what to bet on is the only decision you have to make. Once the bet is placed, all you have to do is watch as the game round plays out. If you win, the prize will be automatically added to your casino balance.
As previously mentioned, there are many versions of live roulette you can play. There are the classic versions, which never go out of style, but there are also many new and exciting games where you play roulette with a twist. These games are by now the most popular versions of roulette in most live casinos, and here we’ll have a closer look at the five top ones.
XXXtreme Lightning Roulette is a high-volatility live game from Evolution. It’s based on standard European roulette, with a single zero and a 2.70% house edge on even-money bets.
The main twist is in the multiplier feature, which has been boosted since the original Lightning Roulette game. In this game, after the betting window is closed, up to five numbers are hit by lightning. These will be given random multipliers ranging from 50x to 500x. A second feature called “Chain Lightning” can also add more or increase the multipliers. At a max, it can reach up to 2,000x.
In XXXtreme Lightning Roulette, straight-up bets pay 19:1, significantly lower than the regular 35:1. This decreased base payout is what funds the boosted wins from multipliers.. All other outside and inside bets follow standard payouts, as multipliers won’t be applied to wins from bets that cover more than just one number.
This game is fast-paced and visually intense, of course, with a live host and a studio matching the Lightning series of games. XXXtreme Lightning Roulette suits players who prefer risking a lot for the chance to win a huge win, and is less optimal for strategic roulette players.
You can find XXXtreme Lightning Roulette at most Irish live casinos.
PowerUp Roulette is a live dealer game by Pragmatic Play, and it’s based on the European roulette format with a 37-pocket wheel. The general house edge is set at 2.70%.
The main feature that makes PowerUp Roulette a unique form of live roulette is a series of bonus rounds. These trigger when the ball lands on a PowerUp number. These numbers are randomly selected for each spin. If one hits, the game enters one or more PowerUp rounds, where straight-up numbers can be boosted by a multiplier. Each round adds higher multipliers, starting from 2x. At most, the multipliers can reach up to 8,000x in the final round.
To ensure the house keeps its edge while paying out multiplied wins, straight-up bets in the base game pay 24:1 instead of 35:1. All other standard bets keep their usual payouts, since these won’t be affected by multipliers, as they are only applicable to straight-up bets.
The PowerUp Roulette game is hosted from one of Pragmatic Play’s modern studios, where you’ll find great visuals and graphics, accompanied by live presenters. This game is suited to players who enjoy roulette with bonus features and who wish to place straight-up bets. If you prefer to bet on larger groups of numbers, this might not be the game for you.
Red Door Roulette is a live game developed by Evolution. This game uses standard European roulette rules, featuring a single-zero wheel and a house edge of 2.70%.
The main feature or attraction is a bonus round that activates when the ball lands on a pre-determined Red Door number. These numbers are randomly selected after the betting window but before the spin. If one of the selected doors wins, and you’ve placed a straight-up bet on it, you get to partake in a bonus round. In the bonus game, you pick one of several red doors, and each of them hides a random multiplier. These multipliers can go as high as 5,000x.
To balance the extra winnings gained from bonus games, straight-up bets pay only 29:1 in the base game. However, other bets follow traditional roulette payouts.
The Red Door Roulette game is run from a live studio and is created to offer a game-show feel. It appeals to players who want more than a standard roulette game, with the potential for huge wins.
Gold Vault Roulette is yet another Evolution live roulette game where multiplier mechanics are added to a European wheel. The wheel in the game has 37 pockets and the standard 2.70% overall house edge.
For every spin, up to five numbers are randomly selected and assigned a multiplier. The multipliers can have any value, from 50x to 1,000x. If you’ve placed a straight-up bet on any of these numbers, and the ball lands on it, you get the assigned multiplier.
A standard straight-up win, without a multiplier, pays 29:1. This is quite a bit less than the regular 35:1. It’s due to this decreased payout for standard wins that the house can keep its edge, even when paying out with high multipliers.
With the name Gold Vault Roulette, the studio, of course, has a vault-themed design. Each game round is quite quick, ensuring a good pace. Gold Vault Roulette is a good choice if you’re looking for a quite simple gameplay with random multipliers being the only “extra” feature. Since the base game is quite standard, it’s also a game that suits more traditional roulette players.
Double Ball Roulette is a roulette game you can find at both online and land-based casinos. One of the game studios that has created this roulette type as a live game is Evolution. In Double Ball Roulette, two balls are used on a European roulette wheel. The game follows the standard 0–36 format with a 2.70% house edge.
In this game, for every spin, two balls are launched onto the wheel simultaneously. You can bet on the outcome of either ball or place a combination bet on both balls.
In Double Ball Roulette by Evolution, the top payout is 1,300:1. This is the win if both balls land on the same number, and you’ve placed a straight-up bet on it. Regular straight-up wins with only one ball pay 17:1. Outside bets only win if both balls land in the chosen category. For example, both must be red or both must be even.
The two-ball format of the game introduces more betting options and more outcomes per spin. That makes the game optimal for players who want some extra excitement in their roulette game. However, keep in mind that Double Ball Roulette is more volatile than standard roulette.
Almost all live game studios and software providers that create live dealer games have roulette as part of their portfolio. Some simply offer the standard games, like European and American roulette, but others have a more versatile catalogue of different versions. Here, we’ll have a closer look at some of the game studios with the best selection of live roulette.
Evolution is the market leader within live casino games, and they’re known for high-quality streaming. Their games often include innovative features, and they boast a wide range of roulette titles — both classic versions and game show-style roulette games.
Delivering live dealer experiences that mix traditional gameplay with modern elements, like multipliers and bonus rounds, is something Evolution does really well. Their live studios are located across Europe and America, and games are streamed in HD with professional hosts and dealers.
European roulette rules are at the base of most Evolution roulette games, and the RTP is typically set at 97.30%. This game studio is behind some of the most-played live roulette games online, especially when it comes to titles with added entertainment and high payout potential.
Some notable Evolution live roulette games include:
Pragmatic Play is another big studio when it comes to live roulette games. Their live games focus on speed, mobile performance, and visual design — ensuring a modern gaming experience. All of the roulette titles from Pragmatic Play are based on the European rules, which gives you a house edge of around 2.70%.
The live games are streamed from a dedicated high-tech studio in Bucharest, using multi-camera setups and low-latency streaming. Many of Pragmatic Play’s roulette tables support multiple languages and include features like autoplay and the French racetrack bets.
Slot games are the game vertical Pragmatic Play is best known for, but the live casino has grown rapidly, and includes both classic and innovative versions of roulette.
Here are some of Pragmatic Play’s most popular Roulette games:
Playtech is a truly well-established software provider in the online casino industry. One of their many game verticals is live casino, and they offer live roulette streamed from studios in several countries, including Latvia.
Roulette games provided by Playtech follow European rules, and you’ll find both standard tables and themed versions. Some of them even come with multipliers or bonus rounds. Playtech games are known for smooth streaming and a user-friendly interface, and this also goes for their live roulette portfolio.
Most roulette games from Playtech support side bets, racetrack bets, and customisable camera angles. The live casino platform is optimised for both desktop and mobile, and new and exciting games and bonus features are regularly added.
Some notable Playtech live Roulette games:
Even though there are many new and exciting versions of roulette available online, the classics will always be among the most popular games. When we talk about classic roulette games, we are primarily referring to American, European, and French roulette. Let’s have a quick look at what differentiates these versions.
American Roulette is played on a wheel with 38 pockets. You’ll find red and black pockets numbered 1 to 36, plus two green pockets marked single zero (0) and double zero (00). The extra double zero is the key difference between American roulette and most other versions.
The double zero takes the house edge to 5.26%, making it one of the least favourable versions, from a player’s perspective. As for betting options, all the standard options are available, and in addition, there’s a “top line” bet. This covers the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3, and pays 6:1. However, this bet is the worst one you can make in American roulette, as the house edge is as much as 7.89%.
American Roulette is considered the standard version of the game in North America, but is less popular in Europe. You can find American roulette at most Irish live casinos, but keep in mind that the house edge makes it a less-than-optimal choice.
European Roulette is the standard version of the game in Ireland and the rest of Europe. This version features a wheel with 37 numbered pockets. You’ll find 1 to 36 plus a single zero (0). This wheel, played with standard rules, gives European Roulette a house edge of 2.70%. This is practically half compared to the American version.
The betting table offers all the standard inside and outside bets. Inside bets include straight-up, split, street, corner, and line bets. Outside bets cover red/black, odd/even, high/low, columns, and dozens. Payouts range from 35:1 to 1:1, depending on the bet.
You’ll find European Roulette in all Irish live casinos, as it’s the most common version here in Europe. It’s also the game that’s at the base of most game show-style versions of roulette, so you’ll have plenty of versions of it to try.
French Roulette is a version that uses the same 37-pocket wheel as European Roulette. This means you’ll find numbers 1 to 36 and a single zero (0). What differentiates French Roulette from the standard European version is the rules and table layout.
There are two optional rules, called La Partage and En Prison, and both of them can be applied to even-money bets. With La Partage, you lose only half your stake if you bet on the wrong outcome. With En Prison, a loss means your bet is held in place for the next spin. If it wins, you get your bet back, but no profit. These rules lower the house edge on even-money bets in French Roulette to 1.35%. All other bets have the same house edge as European Roulette — 2.70%.
French Roulette tables aren’t very common, but you’ll usually find one or two options in every live casino. Just remember, the lower house edge only applies to even-money bets, so make sure these are the ones you place your chips on.
Getting started playing live roulette is easy, and the only thing you need to do is sign up at a casino, register as a new player, make a deposit, and start playing. To help you out, we’ve created a step-by-step guide for you to follow.
The first thing you need to do is find an online casino operator that accepts Irish players. For our example here, we’ve chosen Wild Robin because they are one of the top live casinos we’ve reviewed and tested. You can go directly to their website by following a link here from this site.
Once at your casino, click on the ‘Register’ or ‘Sign-Up’ button. This will open the registration form, where you need to enter basic personal information along with contact details. Only information that the casino is legally obligated to obtain will be requested.
Once you’re signed up as a new member at the casino, you can log in and go to the deposit page. Here, you can choose between different payment methods, and you can freely choose the one you prefer. Enter the amount you wish to deposit and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete your first deposit.
When your casino account is funded, you can navigate to the live casino section. There, you’ll most often find a dedicated tab or category where you can see all available live roulette games. If you’re looking for game show-style roulette games, you might also find these under the ‘game show’ tab. Click the one you want to try, and it will load directly in your browser.
Once the game you chose has opened up in your browser, you can read the rules and have a look around. When you’re ready to start playing, wait for the betting window to start, and then place your virtual chips on the pop-up betting table. Once the dealer announces ‘no more bets’, the game round starts, and the result will be revealed when the ball lands in a pocket. If you win, the prize is automatically credited to your casino balance.
After you’re done playing, you can cash out your winnings. To do this, navigate to the cashier and choose the ‘withdrawal’ option. If the deposit method you used is listed here, you should choose it. If it’s not, you can use another one, as long as it’s the same currency as you used when funding your account. Then, verify your account, and wait for the casino to process and approve your cashout request.
Roulette is a game of chance, but that doesn’t mean that no strategies can be applied to help you win. There’s no way to predict the outcome of one single spin, so what you can do is play the long game. You can do this by increasing your bankroll by claiming bonuses, managing your bankroll optimally, picking the right roulette type to play, and using a progressive betting strategy. Here, you’ll find our best tips and tricks that will help you succeed at the roulette table.
A progressive betting strategy is a betting pattern where you change your bet size based on previous results. Some of the most common methods include the Martingale, D’Alembert, Paroli, Fibonacci, and Oscar’s Grind. The aim of these types of betting patterns is to either mitigate losses or boost winnings — depending on whether you play with a positive or negative progressive betting strategy. In theory, all of these different strategies work great, but they require a large bankroll and flexible table betting limits. And, use them with caution, as luck is also an important component for this to work out long-term.
Using a casino bonus to play roulette can be a great way to extend your play time and boost your bankroll. But, before you claim a bonus, you need to carefully read all the terms, as roulette can be excluded from available games or have a very low wagering contribution rate — depending on the casino you choose. Also, make sure that you check what the maximum bet limit is, as this would possibly prevent you from using progressive betting strategies.
Bankroll management is key to gambling success, no matter what kind of game you play. In roulette, you should be portioning out your bankroll into smaller bets, and make sure you don’t bet too much in one go. This can lead to both quick and substantial losses. In roulette, a maximum bet of 5% of your bankroll per game round is recommended, but this should, of course, be adjusted if you use a betting strategy. Equally as important as the bet size, make sure that you set a win limit that decides at which point you’ll take your winnings and cash out.
Not all roulette games are equal. The most important thing is that you check the type of wheel before placing your bets. European and French Roulette offer much better odds than American Roulette. This because they use a wheel which only features one single zero. The house edge in European Roulette is 2.70%, while American Roulette is at 5.26%. Then again, French Roulette is the most favourable one, as the special rules can lower the house edge on even-money bets to just 1.35%. If you play more innovative types of roulette with bonuses and multipliers, keep in mind that these games are often much more volatile than standard roulette games.
Responsible gambling means playing within your limits and staying in control over the time and money you spend gambling. When it comes to live roulette, the fast pace and real-time interaction can make it easy to lose track of how much you’re betting. Set a budget before you start, and never play with money you can’t afford to lose. Chasing losses, especially when using betting strategies, can be tempting, but it more often than not leads to an empty bankroll.
Use tools like deposit limits, session alerts, and self-exclusion if you need boundaries or a break. Remember that gambling should be treated as entertainment, not as a way to make money. If you feel stressed or frustrated while playing, take a break or log out.
All online casinos with a reputable gambling licence offer responsible gambling resources and links to support services.
Roulette is one of the most popular games you’ll find at casinos, and that’s no wonder. The game itself is easy to play and learn, and there is no special knowledge required to succeed. There are trips and tricks that can give you a small boost, but in general, it’s mainly just about luck.
In Irish live casinos, you’ll find multiple versions of the game to play, and you can try classic roulette games as well as new and innovative game show-style versions. With multipliers up to several thousand, these games can be as volatile as slot machines. Bigger risk, but also the potential for bigger rewards.
When playing live roulette, make sure you pick the right game, manage your bankroll optimally, and play responsibly.
Eve Luneborg – Live Casino Specialist at LiveCasino.ie
Eve Luneborg has been part of the online casino industry since 2014, when she moved to the sunny shores of Malta to pursue her passion for gaming.
