Live Roulette differs from online roulette in that whilst the latter is based on software, the former is based on a real live game that is streamed from the casino. This eliminated the need to visit any casino physically to enjoy such. South Africa, despite its strict online casino regulations, now has a few legal and licensed providers of live roulette games.
In this article, we will take an in depth look at live roulette games in the context of the South African gaming industry, as well as where to legally and safely play the games. Currently punters can enjoy live roulette at either Sportingbet or WSB (World Sports Betting)
Live Roulette
Live Roulette seeks to restore the thrills of the brick and mortar casino by streaming live game action via the internet to the punter’s device. The rules of Live Roulette are the same as with any game of roulette. The game works through the streaming of a feed of a live dealer, table, wheel and chips using a set of cameras.
A total of three cameras are normally utilized – one focusing on the table area, one on the wheel and one providing a general overview of the game. All action takes place in real-time, and additionally, players joining the table have the capability of chatting with the dealer, enhancing the whole gaming experience.
Benefits of Live Roulette
Well, there are many reasons why players can consider playing this game, and these include:
- The ability to play the game at any time as many live roulette games are streamed 24 hrs of the day.
- Eliminates the need for traveling to the physical casino. This reduces the cost associated with this type of fun and also enhances security.
- There are more flexible wagering amounts when compared to those used in brick and mortar casinos. Players are able to place lower wager amounts in live roulette.
- All the action that happens is visible and therefore eliminates some fears of some players who may have reservations on the use of the software.
- Bookmakers offering live roulette are fully legal and licensed within South Africa, so it’s safe to play and you’ll have no trouble receiving your winnings.
Paying Live Roulette in South Africa
The existing gambling laws in South Africa do not allow for the operation of online casinos within the borders of the country unless specially licensed by the gaming board. Such casino operators and users of such casinos risk being fined for huge amounts when caught by authorities.
Despite this, there are still many offshore online casinos offering their services using terms such as transacting in the South African Rand currency. We don’t recommend using offshore casinos as they are in a word illegal, we’ll be focusing on legal casinos and bookmakers within our borders.
During the course of 2019, two sports bookmakers acquired licenses to operate live roulette games legally in South Africa, and these are Sportingbet, World Sports Betting and several other betting sites. This appears to be a softening stance from the regulator and may be the start of good news for roulette lovers if more online casino game providers are allowed to operate locally.
We take a more detailed look at their offerings, and we only recommend these at the moment as playing at any other non-SA registered casino would be deemed illegal, and therefore result in severe consequences.
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Sportingbet and WSB Live Roulette
We shall discuss the offerings of both Sportingbet and World Sports Betting in the same context as they offer the same games which are provided by the renowned game provider, Microgaming. Both bookmakers are registered and authorized to provide live roulette to players in South Africa, giving punters protection and assurance.
Accessing the Games
To access live roulette from both casinos, one has to click the “live games” tab whilst on the home page of each. The players are then led to the live games section where they can select their favorite roulette game from a choice of 5 games. These are discussed below.
5 Live Roulette Games to play in South Africa
We’ll be discussing the 5 variants of live roulette that you can legally enjoy with Sportingbet and WSB below.
Dragonara Roulette
Dragonara Roulette is a European variant of the game of roulette and is based on a live stream from the land based Dragonara Casino in Malta. The rules are the same as any European variant of roulette, with the wheel numbered from 0 to 36. Coming to stakes, players can place wagers between R5 and R20, 000, and they stand a chance of winning huge sums of money should they make correct predictions of the landing position of the ball. Chips are in denominations of 1, 5, 25, 100, 500 and 1000, but only denominations less than the account balance would be available to the punter.
There is also a racetrack for placing special bets, which we find to be an exciting feature that enables the fast placement of bets.
Resorts Atlantic City
This is an American variant of Roulette, and therefore has wheel numbers 0 to 36 Plus a double 0. What it means is that as with any other American variant of roulette, the house advantage is higher. The player can place various stakes ranging between R15 to R20,000 depending on the type of bets selected – this a change from the R10 minimum bet that was previously required. The table below illustrates the pay-out odds and maximum allowable bets. A racetrack is also available to place neighboring bets only as no special bets are available.
Grand Casino Roulette
Grand Casino Roulette is also another European variant with numbers 0 to 36. The game offers similar stake options (R5-R20, 000) with other European style casinos found on Sportingbet/World Sports betting sites. A racetrack is available for making quick special bets.
Casino Malta Roulette
Again, this is a European roulette variation, and therefore has similar odds and rules to other similar variants. The only major difference here is that the minimum stake is R10, whilst the maximum stake is R20, 000 depending on the type of bet selected. This version of roulette also seeks to make life easier by providing a racetrack that can be utilised to quickly place special bets
Hippodrome Casino
This is another European variant with a single zero and is based on a live match from the Hippodrome Casino in London. Varying stakes from R5 to a maximum of R20, 000 can be placed depending on the bet chosen. The winning odds are similar to other single zero casinos. We also like that there is a racetrack to place special bets, and provision to save bets which speeds up the betting process during these live casinos.
Live roulette strategy and tips
As with any other casino game, Live Roulette requires some strategy is long term winnings are to be realized. Whilst there is no outright strategy that guarantees long term winnings, some of them have provided reasonably good chances of making progress with some punters. The following strategies can be utilized by punters looking for a fix strategy :
- The Martingale system – This involves the doubling of one’s wager should a previous bet lose. The doubling continues until a win is realised. Of course, the limitation is that one would need an infinitely huge bankroll in case of a prolonged losing streak, and in most cases, it is very easy to blow through one’s bankroll before making a win.
- The D’alembert system – This is a simple strategy that involves reducing the wager by 1 after a win and increasing the wager by 1 each time after a loss. Overall, this ensures that players may have small wins, provided they place bets on evens bets only. It is also good as it does not deplete the bankroll too quickly.
Other strategies include the Reverse Martingale System, the reverse D’alembert system, the Fibonacci system, and others. We highly recommend you do your research on any roulette systems and play cautiously, no system can guarantee you profits!
The Future of Live Roulette and Casino Games in South Africa
It is surely refreshing to note how the regulators relaxed the laws a bit, allowing for Sportingbet and World Sports Betting to provide the casino game of live roulette. Whilst traditionally the laws have explicitly banned online casinos withing South Africa, little has been done to deter offshore bookies from providing gaming services such as online roulette. Some continue doing so, even allowing South African Rand deposits – these are violating local law and there is no ultimate protection of players in the case of any eventuality.
We hope the softening of the regulatory stance on casino games will certainly see more providers coming online in 2020 with more options and variety. Who knows what the future holds, perhaps online casinos will operate after all, offering a full spectrum of live casino games!
In Conclusion
The local online gambling laws remain almost prohibitive for any online casino to operate within the confines of South Africa despite the proliferation of international online casinos, albeit illegally providing their services. 2019, however, saw a softening stance by the regulators, allowing for the legal registration and operation of 2 bookies, Sportingbet and World Sports betting in providing live roulette games.
Both bookies use the same Evolution gaming platform to allow punters to place wagers on both American and European variants of live roulette. South African punters may therefore now enjoy casino games legally with no fear or reservations. We also hope the future will bring along plenty more players onto the market to add to the choices currently available.
If you’d like to know more about the bookmakers who offer the live roulette games then have a read through our Sportingbet Review or our World Sports Betting review. Both bookmakers are well known in SA and have good reputations among punters.