Ever since the very first online casinos started to appear over 30 years ago now, there has been a concerted drive to make playing in them as realistic as ever. The very first casinos were undeniably basic. The range of games was limited, the graphics were unimpressive and there was even considerable scepticism about whether the games could ever really re-create the randomness of the real thing. So, even as the features of the software driven casino games were gradually improved, there was a great drive to develop games that gave players the feeling that they were actually in the casino itself.
One of the leading developers of this technology, and still a very big name in the field, is Evolution Gaming. This was the company that first devised a way to capture all the live action and convert it into the sorts of roulette games that you will find offered by the many casinos featured on www.bestcasinosites.net.
How live roulette works
The development of live roulette was dependent on the technology becoming available to make it happen and it wasn’t until 2009 that this started to be possible. Whereas online casinos rely on a piece of software called a random number generator (RNG) to recreate the randomness of the roulette ball landing on a particular number, the actual spinning of physical wheel achieves this naturally.
The hurdle that had to be overcome was how to manage to convert a physical event into digital information that could be used for online play. The solution that arose came from the same kind of technology that is used in car parks to register car number plates digitally – except in this case the number being captured is the one on which the ball has landed.
Once this tech was in place, it was simply a question of setting up a studio in which real dealers could control the game and which had all of the glamorous trappings of a real casino. Players could then choose the games they want to play and carry on as if they are in a live casino.
The continuing appeal
It can be stated, quite categorically, that live roulette sites continue to be popular and that operators like Evolution continue to make advances and win awards for their efforts. What players particularly seem to appreciate is having the ability to communicate directly with the dealer and strike up friendly communication just as they would in a real casino. Naturally, there’s also the pleasure of the game itself with wins being a far more satisfying experience than when it’s a simple electronic outcome to a game.
To see just how popular live roulette continues to be, one only needs to look at how many online casinos continue to offer it. It would be fair to say that way over 95% of them do and, while all are understandably reluctant to release figures, it’s fair to assume that it’s how the vast majority of roulette fans like to play.
According to official figures released by the UK Gambling Commission, remote gambling at online casino raised £3.2 billion in revenue between May 2019 and April 2020, nearly three time the amount taken in traditional, bricks and mortar casinos. So it even seems like players are starting to favour live online roulette over the real experience.
In response to this, the online casinos continue to increase the number different variations of live roulette. So a visit to any of the leading sites will reveal a wide number of different options that go way beyond the standard European and American versions of the game.
One of the most popular of these, and another developed by Evolution gaming, is Lightning Roulette. This fast-paced game was developed in reaction to some criticism that live roulette can sometimes be a little too leisurely in pace for some players. The addition of a special bonus number that can boost winnings in Lightning Roulette has also served to make it even more of a favourite.
What’s next?
It may have been a long time coming, but it definitely seems that the time for virtual reality has arrived. While they are keeping things under wraps for the moment, it is fairly certain that this is an area that developers are working on at the moment. When launched, it’s going to give players a more realistic roulette casino experience than ever before. They may even be able to transport themselves to the virtual casino of their choice, whether it’s in the brash surroundings of a Caesars Palace or the more restrained ambience of Casino de Monaco. They may even be able to meet with friends, or their avatars at least, to enjoy a night together in the virtual casino of their choice.
Whether this will spell the end for the live online casino as we know it now, remains to be seen. But the most likely outcome will be that it will continue for those still not quite ready to throw themselves wholeheartedly into the virtual world – and long may it continue to flourish.