Every so often someone, somewhere, comes up with a variation of online casino roulette. It is like the single-zero game – which, by the way, is the only game to play – but with minor adjustments to the hardware, structure, bet types or odds. Are these pimped up versions of European Roulette better than the classic game? That is for you to decide.
To ensure you get the ‘full story’ we delve into a few of the funky, ‘fun’ roulettes available online. We check out what makes them unique and then weigh up key data against the only roulette we feature at Springbok Casino. At the end of our analysis, you will see why we rate trad online casino roulette over the big pretenders!
Why the Rush to Launch Variations of Classic Online Casino Roulette?
Here is food for thought! European Roulette is the original version of the massively popular casino game. It has been around since the 1700s, and still going strong at reputable gaming platforms like Springbok! The question is… why change the game at all? If it’s not broke, don’t fix it!
We all know humans have increasingly short attention spans. We are also inclined to want everything to be bigger, better and more entertaining. That is precisely why we are always adding fresh and exciting promotions, online casino games and banking methods to our repertoire.
Where we do draw the line is adding something purely because we feel we should. Anything that does not enhance our gaming services or our excellent reputation is off the table – and that applies to online casino roulette. Now, let’s get down to the business at hand… exploring a few variations of the classic game.
Mini Roulette: Scaled Down Version of the Money Game
When you play Mini Roulette online there is effectively less of everything. The wheel is smaller, volatility is low and there are fewer numbers to bet on. According to the hype, the smaller pool of numbers increases the probability of winning.
In this form of online casino roulette, you can bet on 13 numbers from 0 to 12. Bet types are reduced to four inside bets and four outside bets. Straight up numbers bets pay out at 11 to 1 odds… and that is a significant drop from the 35 to 1 odds offered by the traditional game.
Lower odds compensate for the higher probability, so statistically there is no real gain. A better number to look at is the average return to player (RTP), and that is the converse of the house edge. The higher the RTP, the better it is.
A Poorer Payback Percentage
In the case of Mini Roulette, the RTP is 96.15%. The edge, or advantage to the house, is 3.85%.
How does that figure compare with the RTP for European Roulette? Play the trad game at Springbok instant play casino instead and you’ll reap the potential benefits of a 97.3% RTP. That is 1.15% higher than the same stat attributed to the scaled-down version of the game.
Conclusion: With a higher average payback percentage, classic online casino roulette is the better bet!
Multi-Wheel Roulette: Bet on Up to 8 Wheels Simultaneously
Multi-wheel Roulette has exactly the same structure, bet types, odds and RTP as European Roulette. The only difference is the wheel is replicated on the gaming interface. It is similar to multi-hand video poker but, in this instance, your chosen bet is replicated across all the activated wheels.
What makes this game a biggie for cash-flush gamers? The chance to scoop up much larger payouts… like eight times larger. That may sound awesome but there is a sting in the tail.
Beware The High Loss Potential
The size of your stake is determined by the number of wheels you have activated. Place R1 on a straight numbers bet, for example, click to activate all eight wheels and your total wager is R8. You may bag a few generous payouts but you’ll lose a lot of moola too.
That is especially true when you consider the best way to play roulette is to cover as much of the wheel as possible. As you are no doubt aware, that requires a spread of multiple inside and outside bets!
Conclusion: In this version of online casino roulette, losses tend to be greater in value. They can also accumulate faster. All in all, it is a high-risk gamble that may or may not pay off.
Lucky Star Roulette: Betting on Spots on a Pentagram
Lucky Star is the Chinese equivalent of online casino roulette. What is most notable about the game is its unique structure. The roulette wheel has been replaced by a pentagram (5-pointed star).
Instead of a ball, a light flashes around the star-shaped structure and randomly lights up the winning spot (number). Bet types also vary radically from the classic game. They include numbers from 0 to 8, green, black or red and odd or even.
More Bets, Lower Payback
In this form of the game, you can also bet on in or out, lo or hi and metal, wood, water, fire and soil. Payouts are quoted as decimal odds and range in value from 1.75 to 22. Again, the easiest way to assess the potential of the game is from the average payback percentage – and that is 96.15%.
Conclusion: Lucky Star may be classified as a variation of online casino roulette but it’s a very different kind of game. That said, it is the RTP that falls short once again.
Roulette Royale: Classic Roulette with a Progressive Jackpot
Roulette Royale is a ramped-up version of European Roulette. All the key indices, from the odds to the payback percentage, match our version of roulette. The only difference is that there is a progressive jackpot and bonus payouts concealed under the hood.
The only way to qualify for the big-paying prizes is via an optional side bet. The additional wager is placed on a single number and usually $1 or the currency equivalent. If the ball lands on that number five consecutive times, you win the jackpot.
Chances of Hitting the Jackpot? 1 in 69 Million!
As you have probably guessed, hitting the same number that many times is highly improbable. In fact, you have a 1 in 69,343,957 chance of winning the Roulette Royale jackpot! Jislaaik, Bokke, you have a better chance of winning Mzansi’s Powerball lottery!
How about the other bonus payouts in the royal version of online casino roulette? How much are they and how can you coin it? As with the progressive jackpot, the bonus prizes are side bet dependent.
They range in value from 4 x to 3,000 x the stake. Your number has to come up two, three or four times to win, and back-to-back to boot!
Conclusion: This variation of online casino roulette may have a whacking great jackpot but you’ve got a significantly better chance of winning the national lottery. Plus, you’ll have to pay more to be in with a shout! Nothing to see here!
Find the Best Online Casino Roulette Now at Springbok
At the end of the day, the RTP is the key to it all. Any game that has a payback percentage closer to 100% than its competitors is statistically the best bet. That makes European Roulette the clear winner of the genre. – and that’s why we feature it under the Speciality tab in the Springbok Casino lobby.
Only registered account holders can unlock European Roulette in the real money mode – and that is what is required to grab your share of winning bets. Sign up, log in and play. Pssst! There is a stellar supply of bonuses and promotions, and they are targeted at YOU!
