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Land Based vs Online Roulette

Online Roulette Guide

Which do you prefer? Playing roulette online or playing in a land-based casino?
We compare the two “codes”.

Best Casinos for Online Roulette

online roulette vs land-based roulette

Anyone who wants to enjoy playing a game of roulette has many opportunities in which to get involved. You can head over to your local casino and play on a real roulette wheel if you fancy a fun night out. Or, you can enjoy a game at a virtual roulette table by heading online either on your pc, your tablet or by playing mobile roulette on your phone.

Of course, both of these options have their pros and cons. It comes down to the player’s taste and what sort of mood they’re in.

Playing with Cash

You can play with cash at a land-based casino. If you play online, you obviously can’t do that, but you can get close if you play at a Paysafecard casino. You buy vouchers with cash at retail outlets and use those to fund your account if you don’t like sharing personal information. To use the Paysafecard, just buy a voucher with a 16-digit PIN in an offline point of sale. Then use the voucher to pay online.

The Flexibility of Playing Online

The beauty of playing roulette online is that it allows you to play wherever and whenever you wish. You can play in your pyjamas if you want and you’ll find some of the cheapest roulette going with low-limit tables online.

It offers you greater freedom and allows you to spin the wheel as much as you want from the comfort of your own home: make a bet sitting in your shorts with a cup of tea and your feet up.

Virtual roulette can also be much quicker (particularly if you select the turbo mode that many variants like Roulette Premier offer).

This has its drawbacks too, of course- the reason that the casinos offer this functionality is that they want you to bet more, but if you are disciplined, this can be a worthwhile option for testing out a roulette strategy, just keep your bets low.

Virtual Roulette is Essentially a Slot Game

In an online casino, a virtual (or video) roulette table is just a graphical representation of the real thing. Everything is computer-generated and thanks to technology, animation and some slick algorithms, the whole experience feels pretty close to the real thing.

But no matter how far technology pushes the realism of its online games it doesn’t compare to experiencing the game first hand. Video roulette is essentially a slot game. It has the same odds as land-based roulette, but the results are generated by a random number generator rather than a physical wheel (much the same way as a computer can also mimic a coin being tossed).

More Choice Online

You will, however, see many more variants online than you would at a land-based casino. There are all sorts of variants available, like the 9 Pots of Gold Roulette, and Mega Moolah Roulette with its huge progressive jackpots.

For Atmosphere, Land-Based Wins

Playing in land-based casinos involves more effort than its online equivalent. You have to get dressed up, travel to the venue, buy your chips and then search around for the perfect table.

But there is no comparison when it comes to checking in at the casino and heading over to the roulette table. Nothing compares to the sights, the sounds, the smells and the feeling of those chips in your hands followed by the rush of excitement of knowing you’re about to place your bets.

It’s a more social experience and it is something you can do with friends for a fun night out. If you are going to try and win a supercar with a £2 roulette bet, it would be more fun to try and do it in a land-based casino.

Rules and Etiquette

But in a land-based casino you have to be aware that there is an etiquette and rules to be followed to play, and even sometimes just to get through the front door, none of which is a concern to the online player. Many casino payers learn the games online before they head into a land-based casino. This is true for those learning some of the trickier roulette call bets, like the Complete Roulette Bet, that are on offer.

Land-Based Roulette Tips

If you are playing at a land-based casino, at the very least do your research before and make sure that you head to a casino that offers European (single zero) roulette tables. This is one area in which many land-based casinos fall short – you don’t want to be playing on a table with a 5.3% house edge if you can help it.

Play at Les Ambassadeurs

Live Roulette

Let’s not forget that there is another option which is somewhere in between. All online casinos now offer live-dealer roulette games that use a live betting interface with a real table, wheel, and a friendly croupier. The best of both worlds? Try the All British Live Roulette tables out to see for yourself. It’s the fastest-growing segment of the market.

Some of these games stream from a casino, such as Dragonara Roulette which is a Dual Play roulette game that is open to both players online and those who are physically at the casino in Malta.

The best of both worlds!


Pros and Cons of Online Roulette

  • Convenient – play whenever and wherever you want
  • More choice including access to big networked jackpots (eg Mega Moolah)
  • Fast games – good for testing systems
  • Search for games with La Partage and play on a wheel with a lower house edge
  • Play “Live Roulette” for something in the middle
  • Less atmosphere, less of a buzz
  • Not as social
  • You don’t get to play with those chips in your hand and build towers!