Best live roulette casinos in South Africa for 2024

Top 5 online casinos for live roulette games

How does live roulette work?

Enjoy the thrill of playing roulette in a brick-and-mortar casino without leaving your home with live dealer roulette online. Unlike standard roulette, which uses random number generator (RNG) technology to determine outcomes, live roulette games are streamed in real-time from remote locations and feature human dealers.

These dealers are responsible for taking bets, operating the real roulette wheel, and managing the pot. You can interact with the dealer and fellow players using the live chat function, adding a social element to the game.

Why play live roulette?

Visiting a physical casino is not always possible, so live roulette offers the perfect solution to players who enjoy the atmosphere of a land-based casino but the convenience of playing at home. Unlike standard online roulette, live roulette is played in real-time with a human dealer.

Furthermore, games are typically shot in HD and from multiple angles, so players get to watch every detail of the action unfold, making it a truly immersive experience.

Another benefit of live roulette is being able to converse directly with the dealer using the live chat feature.

Rules of live roulette

The rules of live dealer roulette are the same as traditional online roulette. During the betting session, you must place your wagers on the table before the timer runs out.

Most live roulette wheels have 37 pockets, numbered zero to 36. American variants add an extra double zero (00) pocket. You can wager on different numbers, colours, or combinations of numbers. Wagers are usually divided into inside bets (straight up, split, street, corner) and outside bets (red/black, odd/even, low-high, dozen, column).

Once the betting session is over, the dealer will spin the roulette wheel. Correctly predict in which pocket the ball will land once the wheel stops and you’ll have won the game.

Live roulette odds & payouts

As mentioned, there are many different types of bets you can make in live roulette, and each carries its own odds and corresponding payouts. Inside bets are considered the riskiest with higher odds, but greater rewards. Meanwhile, outside bets feature more favourable odds, but the payouts are smaller. Odds and payouts will also vary depending on the roulette variant you’re playing.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the different bet types available in live roulette along with the odds of winning and corresponding payouts:

How to play live roulette online

When you’re ready to start playing live casino games online, you’ll need to register an account at any of our recommended live casinos and make a deposit. Next, follow these simple steps on how to play live roulette online:

1. 1

   Visit your platform’s live casino section and sit at a roulette table.

2. 2

   Place your bets. You can wager on specific numbers, groups of numbers, colours, odds and evens, and other combinations.

3. 3

   When the betting period ends, the dealer will call ‘no more bets’ and spin the wheel in one direction and the ball in the other.

4. 4

   The ball will eventually settle in one of the pockets, and the dealer will announce the winning segment.

5. 5

   If your bet is correct, you will be paid out according to the payout table.

Types of live roulette games

There are hundreds of live roulette variants to choose, from the classics European and American roulette to more innovative and fast-paced versions such as Speed and Lightning Roulette. Check out the most popular versions of live roulette available at South Africa casinos:

European roulette

European roulette is the most widespread roulette variant in land-based casinos and online, featuring only one zero on the wheel and a favourable house edge of 2.7%.

American roulette

American roulette wheels have an additional ‘green’ pocket featuring a double zero, which increases the house edge to 5.26% (double that of European roulette).

French roulette

Live French roulette is identical to European in terms betting options, except for the addition of side bets ‘la partage’ and ‘en prison’, which provide a unique twist on the classic game.

Speed roulette

Speed roulette is played twice as fast as other live roulette versions, with just 25 seconds between each spin, making gameplay more fast-paced and exhilarating.

Double ball roulette

This variant features two balls for more frequent but lower-value payouts. Players have twice as much chance of winning for inside bets, whereas both balls must win for outside bet.

Lightning Roulette

Developed by leading live game software producer, Evolution, this electrifying take has some exciting new features designed to boost your potential payout.

Top 5 tips for how to win live roulette

Live roulette, like standard roulette, is a game of luck. While there are no definitive rules for winning live roulette online casino games, you can still benefit from our tips below:

1. 1

   Hedge your bets.

   Place smaller bets on different numbers to maximise your chance of predicting the correct outcome.

2. 2

   Find the right game for you.

   Check out different versions of live roulette. Some come with special features and multipliers which provide bigger payout opportunities.

3. 3

   Learn the rules and bet types.

   Do your research, watch live roulette online, and ensure you understand the game rules and different bets you can make before committing real money.

4. 4

   Take advantage of bonuses.

   Check to see if the online casino offers bonuses or promotions to boost your bankroll. Remember to read the T&Cs carefully to ensure live casino games like roulette are eligible for the offer.

5. 5

   Gamble responsibly.

   Gambling is supposed to be a fun experience. You must never bet beyond your means or chase losses. If you’re on a losing streak, walk away and come back another day.

Live roulette vs. traditional online roulette

Check out the pros and cons of live dealer roulette vs. traditional online roulette below:

Live roulette casino bonuses

Online live roulette casinos offer a wide range of casino bonuses, such as sign-up bonuses for new players and ongoing promotions and loyalty programmes for existing players.

Popular live casino bonuses include free spins on specific slot games and no deposit bonuses, which allow you to try out real money games and win cash for free. Check out some of the exclusive welcome bonuses you can claim at top SA online casinos today:

Popular live roulette software providers

Although the popularity of live casino games continues to grow, it remains quite a niche market, which is why there are just a handful of software providers that develop these games. These include:

Evolution Gaming

Evolution has paved the way for other providers, offering many impressive titles, including the award-winning series, Lightning Roulette.

Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play live dealer games incorporate cutting-edge technology and features, including superior video quality, multilingual user interfaces, and 24/7 live customer support.

Playtech

Playtech’s impressive catalogue of live dealer games includes innovative versions of classic table games such as blackjack, baccarat and roulette.

Live roulette on mobile

Thanks to HTML5 technology, you can enjoy live casino games on your iPhone or Android device. Simply visit your casino’s site and launch the game in your browser once you’ve logged in.

For a more personalised experience, opt for a casino app. These similarly cater to iOS and Android devices, and offer unique features such as push notifications, bespoke UI and enhanced security.

Play 20,000+ casino games

Live roulette FAQs

• Where can I play live roulette online?

  You can play live roulette at any of the top online casinos in South Africa listed on this page.

• Is live roulette legit?

  Live roulette is 100% legit at all accredited online casinos. To be sure you’re playing at a reputable casino, choose from any of those listed in this guide, which all feature licences from legitimate bodies.

• Can I play live roulette for real money?

  You can play live roulette online for real money at many top online casinos in South Africa. Check out our top online casinos for the best in live dealer action.

• Can you play live roulette for free?

  Unfortunately, live roulette is not available to play for free in demo mode. This is down to the costs incurred by the developers to produce such games, including studio hire, professional dealers, and HD technology.

• Is live roulette better than online roulette?

  Neither is better, as it all comes down to personal preference. Live roulette offers a more sociable and authentic casino experience, while standard roulette offers a greater selection of real money and free games, bonuses and promos.

• How do you win at live dealer roulette?

  There is no sure-fire way to win live roulette as it’s ultimately a game of luck. You can utilise live trackers and statistic tabs to study the results of previous rounds, but remember that there are no predetermined patterns, as RNG generators ensure outcomes are completely random each time.

Simon Young

Verified expert

Global content writer

Simon has extensive experience in the industry. A former national newspaper journalist turned iGaming expert, he now heads up a leading media agency, which brings researched and informative gambling content to its readers the world over.