The South African Player’s Guide to Live Roulette
Live roulette is the same as the game of roulette in a land-based casino - except you can play it online. It has the same basic rules and a lot of its charm. It’s the best of both worlds: it comes with the personal touch of a real-life casino game but is as accessible as your average online casino game.
Play Live Roulette at These Casinos
The Rules of Live Roulette
The rules of live dealer roulette are basically the same as those used in land-based and online casinos. The tables are the same, and so are the payouts. What differs is the setting, the speed of the game, and the side bets.
Live Dealer Roulette Table Layout
The table layout used in live roulette is identical to the one in land-based casinos and RNG-powered game variants:
- You have slots numbered from 1 to 36, and, depending on the roulette variant you play, a single-zero or a single-zero and a double-zero slot. The bets placed on the numbers are called inside bets.
- On the long side of the play area, you have fields for bets like
- Odd or even
- Red or black
- 1 to 18 or 19 to 36
- First, second, and third 12 (dozen) numbers
- On the short side, you can place bets on columns of numbers
- The bets you can place here are called outside bets
Roulette Variants
Roulette has two basic variants:
- European Roulette with a single-zero slot on the wheel
- American Roulette with a single-zero and a double-zero slot on the wheel
The main difference is the house edge: the European variant has a house advantage of around 3%, while the American version has around 5%.
Live roulette, in turn, comes in many more flavours. Most of the differences between the games come from their speed, special bets, and multipliers applied to the winnings.
Possible Bets and Payouts
Each bet you place has a specific payout associated with it:
- Single-number bets pay 35 to 1. If you bet R100 on a single number and you win, you get R3,500
- Bets placed on 0 and 00 also pay 35 to 1
- Split bets placed on two adjacent numbers pay 17 to 1
- Street bets placed on three numbers in a row pay 11 to 1
- Corner bets placed on four numbers pay 8 to 1
- Six-line bets placed on six numbers in two rows pay 5 to 1
- The top-line bets can be of two types:
- On a European roulette table, it’s placed on 1, 2, 3, and 0 and pays 8 to 1.
- On an American roulette table, it’s placed on 1, 2, 3, 0, and 00, and pays 5 to 1
- The dozen bets placed on the first, second, and third dozen (12) numbers pay 2 to 1
- The column bets placed on the first, second, and third column of numbers on the table pay 2 to 1
- Red/black, odd/even, and 1-18/19-36 bets pay 1 to 1
Extra Features and Multipliers
Live dealer roulette games often come with extra features and side bets that make them even more profitable - if you’re lucky, of course. Here are some of the top live roulette games and their extra features:
- Mega Roulette by Pragmatic Play uses an especially large wheel and multipliers of up to 500x
- Lightning Roulette by Evolution Gaming comes with an RNG-powered wheel, side bets, and added Lucky Numbers and Lucky Payouts
- First-Person Roulette by Evolution gives you a birds-eye view of the roulette wheel and bonus payouts
- Double Ball Roulette is like a game of traditional roulette but played with two balls
- Power-Up Roulette by Pragmatic Play comes with up to five PowerUP bonus rounds with multipliers of up to 8000x
- In Lucky 6 Roulette you can quickly bet on groups of numbers - for example, you can place a chip on each red number with one click.
Here’s how the multipliers work:
- You place your bets, and the ball begins its rounds on the wheel
- The system decides which numbers get which multiplier
- If you happened to bet on the number in question, you pocket winnings with the multiplier applied
- After the wheel stops and the winnings are paid, and the game starts again
Live Roulette Providers
Live dealer games are everywhere, and roulette - the most iconic casino game ever built - is especially popular. As a timeless classic, it is part of all major casino game providers’ libraries.
Evolution Gaming
Evolution Gaming is a true veteran in the world of live roulette. It has been in business since the mid-2000s, delivering top-notch games to players from around the world.
Evolution is an innovator: it was the first to introduce live dealer games, live game shows, and interactive digital experiences like Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt.
Casinos Featuring Evolution Live Roulette
Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic Play is dominating both the RNG and live dealer casino game market. It's among the most beloved video slot providers today with successful titles like Sweet Bonanza and Sugar Rush. And it does great with live dealer games, too. Its live roulette games are lekker, with multipliers and side games galore.
Casinos Featuring Pragmatic Play Live Roulette
Ezugi
Ezugi is part of the Evolution Gaming family. It is a global provider of live casino games with traditional and special roulette variants, such as Diamond Roulette or Ultimate Roulette.
Casinos Featuring Ezugi Live Roulette
Live Roulette FAQ
What is live dealer roulette?
Live dealer roulette is an electrifying blend of online convenience and the authentic feel of a real casino. Imagine sitting at a roulette table, placing your bets, and watching the wheel spin—all from the comfort of your own home. A real-life dealer spins the wheel and interacts with you in real time, streamed directly to your device. It's the thrill of the casino floor without the hassle of getting dressed up or even leaving your couch.
How does live roulette work?
Live roulette works by streaming a live feed of a real roulette table and dealer to your device. You place your bets using the online interface, and the dealer spins the wheel just like in a physical casino. The live chat feature lets you interact with the dealer and other players, making the experience even more immersive. Bets and payouts follow the same rules as traditional roulette, but the setting and speed can vary depending on the game variant.
How to win at live roulette?
Winning at live roulette isn’t just about luck—although that’s a big part of it. It’s also about strategy and smart betting. Start with understanding the different bets and their odds. Outside bets like red/black or odd/even have almost a 50/50 chance but pay less, while inside bets like single numbers pay more but are riskier. Keep an eye on your bankroll and set limits to avoid getting carried away. Remember, no strategy guarantees a win every time, but playing smart increases your chances.
How to beat live roulette?
Let’s get real: there's no magic formula to beat live roulette consistently. It’s a game of chance, after all. But you can tilt the odds in your favour with some smart tactics. First, stick to European roulette if you can—the single zero gives the house a smaller edge than the double zero in American roulette. Use betting strategies like the Martingale or Fibonacci systems to manage your bankroll and potential winnings. And most importantly, know when to walk away. Chasing losses is a fast track to an empty wallet.