There was a time when you got all dressed up and enjoyed a night at the casino to play roulette. Your host spun the wheel in front of you, and you placed physical chips onto a velvet-like table divided into boxes. It was something of an event, and there would be the hiss of silence as the wheel spun and then the cheer or gasp as it hit the bay of choice. Red or black? Odd or even? Your exact number? So many ways to win and so many ways to lose it all.
Nowadays, this excitement of the roulette wheel is not confined to the brick-and-mortar of a traditional casino. There are many ways to play, whether on a website, an app or even with a Livestream.
Here we explore the experience of playing roulette in these different ways and consider why it appeals to gamblers worldwide.
The physical site of a casino
If you want to create memories, visiting the casino building and interacting with the other players is still the way to play. A trip to Vegas or Macau offers a spectacle that makes the spin of the ball all the more exciting. Even a trip to the local casino dressed smart and enjoying the social aspects of the game add to the experience. There is something about crowding around the table, pushing through a crowd of faces, to see where the ball lands.
Playing in a physical casino not only allows you the thrill of gambling with your chips on the roulette table but living the experience of others. While you can experience multi-player games via the internet, the atmosphere of an in-person game is unique. Equally, the physical act of pushing a pile of chips onto a square is much more powerful than allocating a cash sum you want to bet. It all feels so James Bond.
An online casino website
While all this is true about the live experience of roulette, it is far from convenient to attend a casino, and some people find the atmosphere intimidating. Playing over the internet on casino websites offers excitement and convenience. It also feels much more acceptable to play with smaller sums, as you are not directly pressured by other customers or overtaken by the exciting atmosphere of the arena.
It is also fair to say that online roulette is available 24/7/365 and accessible wherever there is Wi-Fi. If you have a burning desire for a quick put on the red, you can easily log in and play. Equally, it is easier to set your limits on a website and stop what should be entertainment from turning into anything more serious.
Online websites are also getting clever with graphics, so the visual and audio experience of the roulette wheel is captured beautifully.
Livestream
If you adore live-action, you can still experience this over the internet. Casino websites are becoming ever more imaginative in how they deliver roulette into your home. The use of video and streaming software means a live roulette table can be played by anyone worldwide at the comfort of their home and still feel the atmosphere of a traditional casino.
Livestreaming roulette intensifies the play experience as you are pulled into the pace created by the experienced host. Rather than click on a spin button yourself, you are watching the action of a table through your screen. You will feel the pressure of choosing what to bet in the window available between spins, bringing impulse and instinct to play. The website game can become an intellectual play of odds, but this Livestream has all the high-pressure action of the casino while you sit on your sofa.
What are the downsides of these Livestream events? They are obviously scheduled, and you need to be online when they are available. Equally, you lose a little of the sense of group excitement of the physical building.
An app
The final option is a casino app. Playing on a smartphone or tablet is the ultimate convenience, and roulette is a game that you can pick up and put down when you want. Clicking open the app and having one or two spins while waiting for your train is perfect. Unlike games such as poker, there is no long build-up to the excitement, as you can bet and spin.
Like a website, apps are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the experience is vibrant and exciting. Clever user-interface design mixed with video allows you to view the table and place your bet and then watch as the ball spins around the wheel. You can also choose to play with money or for the excitement of putting imaginary bets and seeing where your fortune takes you.
Apps, like websites, are finding inventive ways to bring a community of players together to build a sense of excitement.
So many ways to play
Roulette is a classic casino game. On one level, you can try to play the odds and cleverly build your winnings using your best mathematical understanding of chance. Equally, you can get dragged into the emotion and use all your instincts, intuition, and reliance on your lucky number to boost your chips.
While part of the allure of roulette is the camaraderie with the other players, it is also a simple game that transfers easily to a website or an app. The concept of choosing a number and colour and watching a wheel spin is a perfect concept for any online format. Computer games are often most successful when simple and highly addictive gameplay.
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