The Pros and Cons of Playing Live, Online, and Mobile Roulette

Some people lump all online roulette variations into one category. They consider internet roulette to be anything that’s played through a smartphone, PC, or Mac.

I don’t have a problem with people classifying all this as online roulette. But I strongly believe that there are different divisions within this term.

My definition of online roulette is when you play through a PC or Mac computer. Mobile roulette involves playing through a smartphone or tablet.

Live roulette can be played on any device. The defining characteristic of this game is that it offers a land-based casino atmosphere and human dealer.

You can see that there are obvious differences between all three types of internet roulette. But what are the other discrepancies between these games?

Find out as I discuss the characteristics of online, mobile, and live roulette. You can use this discussion to figure out which type of roulette interests you the most.

Online casinos have been offering roulette for over two decades. And these games have become more and more authentic over the years.

You can now look forward to realistic-looking roulette wheels and tables. These aspects put you closer to a brick-and-mortar casino feeling.

Internet roulette will never replace what it’s like to play in a real casino. But this is a good option for when you want to play a few spins without leaving the house.

Online roulette also has handy features and options that make the game more player-friendly.

For starters, many internet casinos offer a close-up of the winning number. An online roulette table can only take up so much space on your PC or Mac monitor, meaning the table and wheel must fit onto your screen.

The table requires the most space, while the wheel take takes up around one-third or one-fourth of the screen.

If you have a 21″ screen, then congratulations, because you won’t have difficulty seeing where the ball stops on the wheel. But if you’re dealing with a 15″ screen, then you may need some help spotting the winning number.

This is where the close-up view becomes handy by giving you a clear look at where the ball stops.

Internet roulette is perfect for beginning players because the software helps you figure out where bets are placed. The game highlights any available betting space when you hover your mouse over it.

You’ll also see a chip denomination at the bottom of the screen. These usually range from $1 to $100.

Most online roulette tables only require $1 minimum bets. This is quite a difference from land-based roulette, where you must bet $5-$10 or more to play.

Maximum internet roulette bets are usually $500. High rollers should be satisfied with this max bet because it’s what many land-based tables offer.

You’ll also find a 2x button on many roulette games. This is used to quickly double the last wager made.

More helpful tools include the undue and redo options, which can be used to either erase or repeat a previous bet. I find myself using the redo button a lot because I stick with the same wager size for a while.

Internet roulette tables offer other options, too, such as the ability to turn music on/off, turn the dealer’s voice on/off, change the game speed (normal or high), and turn bet highlighting on/off.

I like having the ability to change game speed because sometimes I want to get quick spins in without waiting on the theatrics.

Finally, many online roulette providers include stats that you can use for trend betting strategies. These stats include hot and cold numbers, recent trends on red and black, and trends on high and low.

The great thing about online roulette is that it gives you a convenient way to play this game from your home, a coffee shop, and many other spots.

Another bonus is that online casino software companies have fine-tuned roulette over the years. This means that the tables and wheels are visually sharper than ever.

You can also use helpful options and features to customize your roulette experience.  Some of these features can be crucial, such as the wheel close-up showing winning numbers.

Moving to the downsides, online roulette is stuck in limbo between convenience and lacking a realistic experience.

Using a desktop severely limits your ability to move around the home while playing. You must unplug your monitor and computer if you want to move to another room to play.

Laptops are better than PCs for transport. But they’re still more inconvenient to handle than a mobile device.

Earlier, I discussed how online roulette offers authentic-looking tables. The problem is that game makers will never truly replicate what a real roulette wheel looks like through computer-generated graphics.

Mobile roulette shares many of the same features as online roulette.  After all, the mobile version is the same as the PC/Mac version – just optimized for smartphone and tablet use.

Smartphone roulette is much smaller than what you get through a PC or Mac. This requires casinos to do certain things to create more space.

One common way they do this is by only showing the table before you spin the wheel. You place your bets on the table and then select the spin option.

Once you do so, the wheel will suddenly appear and take up the screen. Some mobile roulette games darken everything around the wheel so that it’s even easier to see your bet(s) result.

Mobile roulette may also include a menu button that hides some of the same options that are visible on a PC/Mac screen.

This is annoying from the perspective that you must access the menu every time to change things like the volume and game speed. But it’s also another good way to create more room on the smartphone screen.

The best thing about mobile roulette is that it’s the most convenient way to play. This is especially true through a smartphone, which can easily fit in your pocket and be taken anywhere.

Add in the fact that most people use their smartphones for numerous tasks, and it’s even more convenient to use your phone to play roulette.

The tablet offers another portable option that’s easier to carry around than a laptop. You won’t be able to fit a tablet in your pocket, but the screen is larger and offers a better close-up of the action.

Mobile roulette also has many of the same advantages as the PC version, including good graphics, low minimum bets, and plentiful options.

One exclusive drawback to mobile roulette is the screen size, which is much smaller than a PC or Mac.

Tablets are the best choice if you highly value a bigger screen. But you’re still only looking at a game that’s half the size of a standard computer.

Smartphones make it difficult to play unless you have great eyesight. It’s also hard to feel like you’re in a real casino environment when your screen is only a fifth of what computers offer.

Also, note that you must usually create an account to play free mobile roulette. Casinos do this so that they can email you offers and convince you to deposit later.

I don’t have a big problem with signing up before trying a casino’s games. But some players find this inconvenient when they want to quickly test out a casino.

You’re less likely to have to do this with PC/Mac roulette. For some reason, fewer online casinos force computer players to sign up before accessing the games.

Online and mobile roulette run closely together in terms of their general characteristics. But live roulette is far different from both these versions.

The biggest difference is that you’re dealing with a real dealer and casino atmosphere. Live roulette tables are either based in a brick-and-mortar casino or a studio that’s optimized for gaming purposes.

Some people like the land-based casino version better, especially when they’re elegant operations. Others appreciate how studios can create different backgrounds than what you’d see in a normal online casino.

I personally like switching between both versions because they each offer a good live roulette experience.

You can also look forward to chatting with the dealer through the chat box. They answer many questions and comments in between spins.

Another good aspect of live roulette is that you’ll see a real wheel spinning. Anybody who likes seeing results play out before their eyes, rather than a computer-generated scene, will appreciate this aspect.

Some parts of live roulette are like what’s featured in the standard online variation. This is especially true of how the options are laid out.

You’ll see computer-generated chip denominations and the spin option at the bottom of the screen. The chat box that you use to communicate with the dealer is normally located in the screen’s upper portion.

Some live roulette games include other options, including previous winning numbers, betting preferences, and a tip space.

The latter is used to tip dealers just like you would in a brick-and-mortar casino. Keep in mind that there’s no rule forcing you to offer these tips.

Online roulette tables feature a timer that counts down how long you have to place bets. This is important to watch because your chance to bet ends when the timer hits zero.

The best reason to play live roulette is that it’s the next closest thing to a land-based casino. Nothing is more authentic than seeing a real dealer and roulette wheel.

Online roulette graphics will continue improving in upcoming years. But they’ll never be able to match a human dealer and land-based roulette setup.

Another fun thing about live roulette is that you can choose different tables based on the dealer. You may develop favorites and want to play at their table on a regular basis.

It’s also nice that you can experience different setups in casino atmospheres. I personally have multiple live casinos so that I can visit a different one for each session.

The live dealer controls the game, and you must make wagers within the allotted time frame.

I avoid live roulette if I know that I’m going to be doing things around the house in between spins. You just don’t have enough time to place bets in a live setting when you’re making food or doing household chores.

Live casinos also require a higher minimum bet than the online/mobile version. You must risk $5 per spin, compared to a $1-$3 minimum for online play.

Just like a brick-and-mortar casino, live casino dealers require salaries. And these extra costs mean that live venues must increase the minimum bet to earn more money.

One more drawback is that many live casinos don’t allow you to play for free. This is another aspect that’s related to how it costs more to run live roulette games.

I fully understand why live casinos don’t want people playing for free. But it remains a downside in comparison to how online roulette lets you play for free whenever you feel like it.

Live, online, and mobile roulette all give you the convenience of playing one of the most classic games of all time through the internet. But you can see that there are major differences between each version.

Online roulette hit the scene in the mid-1990s, giving computer owners the chance to enjoy casino games from their home for the first time in history. And people still play roulette through PCs and Macs today.

Nothing is more convenient than playing roulette through your smartphone. The main downside, though, is that you’re playing on a small screen.

Tablets help solve this problem to some degree because the screen is double the size of a phone. But the drawback is that you can’t fit a tablet in your pocket.

Live roulette isn’t about screen size or being pocket-sized, but rather about delivering a brick-and-mortar casino experience. This is the most authentic way to enjoy roulette when you can’t make it to a land-based venue.

But you also must consider that live roulette costs more than playing through a computer or mobile device. And you must place bets within the allotted time frame, rather than controlling the action yourself.

Every type of online roulette has its positives and negatives. But I think that these individual traits also make it fun to move back and forth between each version.

I enjoy playing roulette through live casinos, my PC, and my smartphone about equally. But you may come to prefer one option over another.

I suggest that you try each variation if you haven’t done so already to find the one that suits you best.