What Is Online Live Roulette?
Live roulette is an online casino game that uses the same rules and bets as regular roulette. Live online casino roulette features a human dealer that facilitates the game. The games are recorded from real land-based casinos or professional studios and streamed in real time. Moreover, players can use the chat function to communicate with the dealer and other players. These features enable users to have the most life-like roulette casino experience without going to a physical casino.
Live Dealer Roulette Pros and Cons
To get a complete picture of what live roulette UK offers, we must consider both the game’s advantages and disadvantages. The list below features the major pros and cons you should be aware of:
- Pros
- Lots of variations: Live roulette developers have been quite creative, bringing into existence various game iterations. Players can now find both standard interpretations of the genre and unique and exciting titles like Lightning Roulette, Age of Gods Roulette, and Dragonara Roulette.
- Life-like user experience: Casino live roulette online features real human dealers, and the games are played in real-time, which is the closest you can get to a brick-and-mortar casino experience from your home. On top of that, HD streaming and the live chat function further facilitate this effect.
- Safety and fairness: If you choose live roulette casinos recommended by Gamblizard.com, you can be sure that the operators are completely safe and secure and that their games are not rigged. All gambling websites listed on this page have a valid UKGC licence and follow strict security protocols.
- Finest game providers: When you play only with top operators, you will have access to the best live roulette providers in the industry. You will be able to find games from Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Evolution, Authentic Gaming, and many others.
- Cons
- Higher minimum bets: Live roulette casinos are more expensive for providers and gambling websites, which is why they have higher minimum bets than other roulette versions. What’s more, casinos don’t offer live roulette free games.
- Low bonus availability: Live dealer roulette games are not usually included in bonuses. Some casinos may offer specialised bonuses valid in live casino games, but it is rare to find these offers.
- Slower pace: These games feature a human dealer instead of a machine, and they serve a large number of players at the same time. Because of that, casino online roulette live can play noticeably slower than RNG roulette.
What Makes Live Roulette Popular
Live roulette games have been highly sought-after since their introduction, and their popularity doesn’t seem to wane. Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons why players enjoy playing these titles:
- Authentic feel If you enjoy visiting a land-based casino but don’t have the time or energy to do that, live roulette games can transport you into this setting in no time. Because they are streamed from real land-based casinos or high-quality professional studios, they’ll give you the intensifying experience you crave.
- Human interaction Live roulette casino games have a chat function you can use to communicate with the dealer and other players. This is much more life-like than playing a game by yourself against a machine.
- Guaranteed fairness Licensed British online casinos, such as the ones you can find on this page, are strictly regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. This means that their games are regularly audited to ensure they’re fair at all times.
How Does Online Live Roulette Work?
If you’ve ever played RNG roulette or roulette in a brick-and-mortar casino, you’ll have no problems grasping live casino roulette. This game version works on the same principle as other roulette games, with specific adaptations.
To start playing a live online roulette game, pick a title from an online casino that offers these games and load it. Make sure you have enough money in your balance to be able to make a minimum bet.
When the game loads, you’ll see a human dealer sitting at a live roulette table. On one side of the game window, you’ll also see the chat feature you can use to communicate with other players and the dealer. The games are usually streamed from different angles so that you can clearly see both the wheel and the dealer.
When you’re ready to make a bet, you can use the controls within the game window just like in other casino games. When all players have placed their bets, the dealer will announce “No more bets” and spin the wheel. After that, you just need to wait for the ball to land, hoping it hits the desired number or colour.
Live Dealer Roulette vs RNG Roulette Games
You now understand the key differences between these two major types of roulette games. However, some differences may not be apparent at first glance. Let’s take a look at them.
- Number of variations — Even though there are many creative variations of live roulette games, the RNG variants of the genre are usually more diverse. They can feature different exciting and colourful themes, such as Pinball Roulette and 3D Roulette.
- Availability of free games — While you can find online casinos that offer RNG roulette games in free or demo play modes, the same is not possible for live online roulette games. This is because these games are more expensive to run and usually accept a limited number of players simultaneously.
- Speed — When you play an RNG roulette game, you don’t have to wait for the dealer to spin the wheel or for the current round to end to start a new one. Because of that, RNG games tend to run faster than live games, which may be an essential factor for some players.
- Betting limits — As we’ve already mentioned, live roulette games tend to have higher minimum bet limits than their RNG counterparts. Therefore, players with limited budgets may prefer the latter. However, you can still find live online roulette games with reasonable betting options. High-stakes players love these games, as their maximum bet limits can be pretty high.
How to Play Live Roulette Online
Before playing online casino live roulette games, ensure you’re well versed in the game rules. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned roulette player, this guide can help you kickstart your new gambling session.
Roulette Basics
The first and most important thing you should know is how roulette works and the game’s goal. Namely, a roulette table consists of two main parts — the betting area and the wheel with numbered slots and a ball. At the beginning of each game, players try to guess which number or colour the ball will land on after spinning.
After the betting round is closed, the dealer spins the wheel, and everybody waits for the ball to land in one of the pockets. Once this happens, the dealer announces the winning number and colour, marks it on the table, collects the losing bets and pays out the winning ones.
Live roulette follows the same principle, with some specific adaptations. Different variations of the game come with some differences in the layout, such as American roulette, which has two zero pockets rather than one, as in European roulette.
No matter which variation you play, most types of bets they feature are usually the same.
Roulette Bets
Making your first roulette bets can be confusing. You’ll wonder where to place your bet and what the slots and lines mean. However, things are not as complicated as they may seem. There are three main groups of bets in every roulette game, and we’ll take a closer look at them in the following sections.
Outside Bets
Outside bets get their name because they are located on the outside section of the roulette table’s betting area. In contrast to inside bets, outside bets cover larger groups of numbers and colours instead of individual numbers and smaller groups.
These bets include:
- Odd/Even — betting that the ball will land either on an odd or an even number, not considering zero and double zero slots (1:1 payout)
- Red/Black — betting that the ball will land either on a red- or black-coloured slot (1:1 payout)
- High/Low — betting that the ball will land on the lower numbers (1–18) or the higher numbers (19–36) (1:1 payout)
- Dozens — betting that the ball will land on one of the numbers from any of the three dozens of numbers marked on the roulette table (2:1 payout)
- Columns — betting that the ball will land on one of the numbers from any of the three columns of numbers marked on the roulette table (2:1 payout)
Inside Bets
To place these bets, you should put your money on the inside of the betting area. These bets include single numbers and smaller groups of numbers. Here is the breakdown:
- Straight up — betting on a single number (35:1 payout)
- Split — betting on two adjacent numbers by placing a chip on a line that divides them (17:1 payout)
- Street — betting on any of the three adjacent numbers in a row by placing a chip on the line at the beginning of the row (11:1 payout)
- Corner bet — betting on four adjacent numbers by placing a chip on the corner between them (8:1 payout)
- Line bet — betting on two rows of three numbers by placing a chip on a line between the rows (5:1 payout)9
- Basket (First Four) — betting on 0, 1, 2, and 3 (6:1 payout)
- Five-number bet — betting on 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3 in games that feature a 00 (6:1 payout)
- Snake bet — betting on 12 numbers that form a snake-like pattern on the betting area.
Call Bets
These betting patterns aren’t labelled on the betting area, so you must “call them out” to the dealer, hence their name. Call-out bets let you place wagers on different combinations of numbers in adjacent positions on the roulette wheel.
- Voisins du Zero — numbers surrounding the zero — up to 22 on the left and up to 25 on the right
- Tiers du Cylindre — numbers 27–33 on the live roulette wheel
- Orphelins — numbers 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, and 9
- Jeu Zero — betting on two numbers to the left of the zero and four numbers to the right on the zero
House Edge
Unlike some other casino games with stable RTPs, roulette has a fluctuating house edge that varies between game variations and depending on your bets.
For instance, the European and French roulette variants have a relatively low house edge of only 2.7% because these games feature only one zero. On the other hand, the house edge of American roulette is almost double (5.26%) because it has a zero and double zero — two slots that give an advantage to the casino.
Some roulette bets are often called “sucker bets” since their odds are not stacked in your favour. An example is a five-bet in American roulette with a house edge of 7.89%. On the flip side, the existence of certain game rules can lower the house edge. This is the case with games that feature the La Partage rule, which can have house edges as low as 1.35%.
La Partage and En Prison Rules
If you’re playing the European or French variations of roulette, you may be able to take advantage of the La Partage rule. This rule enables you to get half of your wager back if you’ve placed an even money bet and the ball lands on zero.
This rule benefits players by dropping the house edge to only 1.35%. However, you can take advantage of it only if you place bets with 1:1 payouts, such as red/black, high/low, and odd/even.
En Prison is another common rule in the same roulette variants. It is almost the same as La Partage, except the whole bet is saved and invested in the following game round.
Live Roulette Game Variations
Thanks to the different types of roulette games, your gambling session will never be dull. Here are the most common live casino roulette online variations:
- European roulette — This variant features a 37-slot wheel with one zero, 18 black, and 18 red slots. The existence of only one zero slot lowers the house edge to only 2.70%, making this the most sought-after roulette variant.
- French roulette — This variant uses the same wheel as European roulette. However, because it usually also features the La Partage rule, its house edge can be even lower — 1.35% for even money bets.
- American roulette — This version differs from European roulette because it has an added double zero slot, increasing its house edge to 5.26%.
- Auto roulette — Unlike most live online casino roulette games, this game by Evolution is played without a dealer. As a result, the game is much quicker, completing up to 80 rounds per hour.
- Speed roulette — If you’re looking for more fast-paced roulette options, you should try Speed Roulette by Evolution or Playtech. These games’ rounds last only 25 seconds.
What Can You Expect at the Best UK Live Roulette Casinos?
No matter which live roulette casino from our list you choose to play in, you’ll have one of the best gambling experiences you can get. Let’s take a look at what UK online casino sites have to offer:
- Safety and security — All gambling websites on this page are licensed and regulated by the UKGC. They use the latest security protocols to protect your information from prying eyes.
- Excellent game choice — You’ll be able to choose from the widest variety of live casino roulette games and other live dealer games, slots, and RNG table games.
- Software from the best providers — Top roulette live online casinos partner up with the finest live roulette developers, such as Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, Playtech, and Pragmatic Play, among others.
- Generous bonuses and promotions — The best live roulette sites in the UK offer some of the most lucrative bonuses and promotions. Some even have live dealer promotions you can use on roulette live dealer games.
- Convenient payment system — You can expect access to various popular and secure banking methods. These websites also have wide deposit and withdrawal limits, and they complete transactions in a fast and convenient way.
Gambling websites that offer live roulette games also run frequent bonuses and promotions for new and existing players. However, we must note that some of these promotions may not be valid in live dealer roulette, but you may get free spins or bonus money you can use in other games.
The most common casino promotions include:
- Online casino welcome bonus — This is a promotion new players can claim on their first deposits or their several initial deposits in a casino. It usually comes in the form of a bonus cash deposit match or a combination of these bonus funds and free spins.
- No deposit bonus — This type of promotion brings new players bonus money without requiring a deposit. No deposit bonuses are rare, usually including smaller bonus amounts of £5, £10, or £15.
- No wagering bonus — Simply put, this bonus comes without any wagering requirements. Players love it because, with it, they can release and withdraw their winnings in the easiest way.
- Reload bonus — This promotion is aimed at existing players. It offers bonus money, free spins, or both on a player’s regular deposit. Some of these promotions may offer free chips for live roulette spins.
Live Online Roulette Games for Real Money
Although live dealer roulette tends to have higher minimum limits, players with all budget sizes can find their picks in online casinos.
Some titles have particularly low minimum limits, catering to all kinds of players. Some examples are Evolution’s American Roulette, with a 0.20p minimum bet and European Roulette, with a 0.50p minimum bet. Other low-limit games include Speed Roulette by Evolution and Pearl Roulette by Playtech.
If, on the other hand, you like betting big, you’ll have a lot of options to choose from. For instance, Immersive Roulette Live by Evolution has a maximum bet limit of a whopping £75,000. The same goes for Ra Roulette by Extreme Live Gaming and Live French Roulette by NetEnt.
Live Roulette Games With the Highest RTP
As we’ve already discussed, the RTP of casino roulette live games largely depends on the type of bets you place and the variant you play. American roulette variants come with a house edge of 5.26%, which is relatively high. Luckily, this variant makes up the smallest part of most online casinos’ roulette live portfolios.
Therefore, you should choose games that use the European roulette rules because these games have a house edge of only 2.70%. On top of that, games with the La Partage rule can lower the house edge to 1.32%, but only if you place even money bets.
Some online casino live roulette games also come with multipliers, making the gaming experience especially exciting. Some examples include Lightning Roulette and XxxTreme Lightning Roulette by Evolution, Quantum Roulette and Super Spin Roulette by Playtech, and Live Mega Roulette by Pragmatic Play, to name a few titles.
Some of these games can bring you massive payouts of up to 10,000x your stake.
Live Roulette Software Providers
One of the most important factors you should consider when choosing a live roulette casino online game is the provider that created it. The casinos on our list have partnered up with some of the finest game developers in the industry, including:
- Evolution Gaming — This is hands-down the best and most popular live casino software provider in the iGaming world. Its titles are found in countless online casinos worldwide and are incredibly popular. Its most exciting live roulette games include Lightning Roulette, Immersive Roulette, and Live Double Ball Roulette.
- Playtech — This Estonian gambling company is one of the most prominent live dealer developers, with over two decades of experience in the iGaming industry. One of its most popular titles is Prestige Roulette which provides an immersive experience thanks to multiple camera angles. You should also check out Live Age of the Gods Roulette, with an exciting theme and a linked progressive jackpot.
- Extreme Live Gaming (ELG) — This company has been creating live casino games for almost a decade. However, its games are most commonly found under the Pragmatic Play brand since this company repurchased ELG in 2018. ELG’s most popular games are Golden Ball Roulette, Club Roulette, and La Partage Roulette.
- Authentic Gaming — Authentic Gaming is the industry leader in producing online live casino roulette games for mobile devices. The Maltese company was founded in 2015 and has made around 30 live roulette dealer games to date. Its most notable titles are Nightclub Roulette, Viva Las Vegas Roulette, and Blaze Roulette.
- Ezugi — Founded in 2012, Ezugi is still a relatively young, although quite successful, gambling company. It has over 22 live dealer games streamed from various studios worldwide. Its live roulette games include European and French variants, Over the Table Roulette, Jackpot Roulette, and Auto Roulette.
Accepted Payment Methods in Live Roulette Casinos
When playing in live online roulette UK casinos, you can use various payment methods to fund your account and withdraw your winnings. Some of the most commonly available banking options include:
- PayPal — One of the first e-wallets, boasting high deposit and withdrawal limits. It also offers paramount security and fast transactions without sharing banking information with the casino.
- Debit cards — Most online casinos accept Visa, Mastercard, and other debit cards. This banking method is noticeably slower than others but offers excellent security and high transaction limits.
- Paysafecard — This prepaid payment system lets you deposit money using a 16-digit PIN code. It enables secure and fast transactions without the need to reveal banking information. However, this method is usually not available for withdrawals.
- Boku — This banking option is a straightforward method to deposit money via mobile. Simply deposit the desired amount, leave your mobile number, and you’ll pay via your phone bill. However, the method has low maximum deposit limits and can’t be used for withdrawals.
- AstroPay — AstroPay is a virtual prepaid card you can use to make safe deposits and fast withdrawals from gambling websites. The method is quick and secure and lets you make transactions without sharing sensitive information.
- Trustly — Trustly is an e-wallet that lets you transfer money to and from your casino balance. It acts as an intermediary between the casino and your bank account, providing top-grade security. While it is not as common as other payment methods, it offers fast transactions.
Live Roulette and Responsible Gambling
Here at Gamblizard.com, we think that responsible gambling is paramount. Therefore, we always encourage our readers to bet only the money they can afford to lose and to never gamble beyond their means.
We also recommend live online roulette UK casinos that implement responsible gambling tools to help you play live roulette safely. These include options to set deposit, loss, and session limits and helpful links to organisations that help players battle gambling addiction.
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling problems, you can contact the following organisations for guidance:
Final Thoughts
Live dealer roulette is one of the most exciting games you can play in an online casino. It offers a realistic gaming experience, thrilling game variations, HD video quality, and excellent winning opportunities.
Now that you know the most important information about live roulette UK, you have everything you need to start playing these exciting games. If you don’t know where to start, the list on this page can help you find the perfect gambling website for your next session.
We have singled out only the best live online roulette UK casinos you can play in. Pick an operator from the list and enjoy some of the best online casinos live roulette variations and the fastest withdrawals with player-friendly transaction limits.
