Whether you’re completely new to roulette, or an experienced offline casino player looking to start playing at a casino online, you might want to know more about the similarities and differences between online and live dealer roulette. 

In our guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about these two online versions of the classic casino table game so that you can make the perfect choice when you want to play roulette online.

What is online roulette?

The first online version of the game we will look at is aptly named online roulette. This version of the game plays much like a video game, with players interacting with virtual roulette wheels and no human element in sight. Online roulette games use software algorithms called random number generators (RNGs) that are designed to completely mimic the element of chance. These algorithms are strictly audited by third parties to ensure that the element of fair play is maintained. 

Since online roulette is completely digital, you can play this game from anywhere and at any time of day on your laptop, mobile phone or tablet. The only thing that you’ll need, apart from your gaming device, is an internet connection that is stable and supports the bandwidth needs of the game. 

Thanks to the advancement of modern graphics technology, you’ll be hard-pressed to tell that some of these games use 2-D and 3D graphics that are rendered entirely from scratch. Most modern online roulette games look incredibly realistic, meaning you’ll need a keen eye to spot the difference between these intricately rendered tables and the real deal. The sound effects are also designed to capture the clatter of a physical bouncing roulette ball, the clicking of casino chips as you handle them, as well as the spin of the wheel, all of which further immerses you into this virtual take on roulette.

When deciding which online roulette game you’d like to play, it’s important to note that some sites have free online roulette in the form of a demo version. When you play the demo, you’ll start with a certain amount of credit and be free to try out all the features of the game. 

However, as you may have guessed, any winnings that you score when you play won’t count when you’re playing the demo version of online roulette. If you run out of free credits, you can simply restart the demo and try again. These free online demos are a great way to learn roulette and give you a chance to try out different versions of the game without parting with your hard-earned cash.

What is live dealer roulette?

Players may have noticed that both old and new mobile casinos alike have started to offer live dealer games. These are not completely digital casino games that look like gambling video games but are casino games that involve real casino dealers, and sometimes even real casino gamblers, that you can interact with via live stream. This new category of casino game attempts to bridge the gap between playing at a real casino and the digital experiences you engage with online. 

These games are often hosted at specially designed live dealer game studios, either in their own dedicated studio space or a shared space with other live dealer games going on in the background. These dealers are usually dressed exactly like their offline counterparts, using equipment that you’d find in a regular casino (albeit with some minor changes so that they’re suitable for live streaming). When it comes to gameplay, these live dealer versions of games play out almost exactly the same as their offline counterparts. 

So what does this mean for the second version of the game that we’re looking at? When players join a game, they can expect to enjoy a regular game of roulette, albeit with a few minor differences to how the game plays out when compared to the casino or online roulette experience. These differences are:

• Players will interact with a digital user interface that is integrated into a live video stream.
• The action will be captured by multiple studio cameras, with the viewpoint switching during the game depending on what is occurring during the game.
• Live dealer games will play out slower than their digital online counterparts.
  
• Players will require faster internet connections to fully enjoy live dealer games.
  Thankfully most modern broadband services will meet the requirements to play live dealer games.

When to pick online roulette or live dealer roulette?

Now that you better understand the differences between these two versions of roulette that you can play in cyberspace, you may be wondering which one to choose. Here’s what you should keep in mind for each game.

When to pick online roulette

• If you have limited time to play and don’t want to worry about other players or the dealer affecting the pace of the game.
• If you want a large library of roulette games to choose from.
• If you aren’t interested in playing with other people.

When to pick live dealer roulette

• If you want to play with a live dealer but don’t want to go to a real casino.
• If you want to enjoy a more social experience.
• If you would prefer to play a game where the element of chance isn’t decided by RNGs.
• If you like to play games with a specific dealer.

Enjoy both of these roulette games and more

Now that you know more about these two takes on digital roulette, you need to choose the right jackpot mobile casino that offers both American and European roulette in your preferred format. 

At The Phone Casino, you can enjoy both online live roulette and regular online roulette games with the American and European rules, as well as a host of other titles, including online slots, blackjack, best scratch cards to win on uk and much more! Sign up at The Phone Casino to start playing at one of the best mobile casinos online!