Classics Never Die: Immersive Roulette Review (Evolution Gaming)

The online casino industry tends to focus on the newest, shiniest innovation, whether or not it actually improves upon the original.

This is partially due to human nature!

Whether it’s a new title, a freshly announced collaboration between big brands, or a big site making its debut, our species tends to focus on whatever is happening right now, or whatever has happened most recently.

(Fun fact: economists call this recency bias.)

This is there reason why the most important news and analysis coverage usually prioritizes whatever has happened most recently. As sophisticated gamblers, however, it sometimes behooves us to take a look a little further back in recent history.

This is the case with Evolution Gaming’s groundbreaking (and classic) 2013 release Immersive Roulette.

Very, very few elements of online gambling can claim to be as relevant at age 10 as they were at birth. Yet, if anything, Immersive Roulette seems to be even more impressive now than when it was when first released!

Why is this?

Let’s take a closer look to find out!

Aging Gracefully

If this title seems even smarter now than it did then, part of the reason has to be the designer’s incredible foresight in building this game.

Nowadays, it’s considered commonplace to see a live table roulette title that focuses on the cinematic element of gaming: TV show-like design has practically become the default mode of live dealer lobbies.

Yet, it wasn’t always this way!

In many ways, this is the release that started the whole trend. Back when it first came out, it was the most impressive Roulette variant on the market. It made a huge splash at the time, with the gameshow-style a big part of its appeal.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised to see this kind of ear-to-the-ground thinking from Evolution, a brand that has to rank among the most innovative and ahead-of-the-curve brands in the industry! Consider their latest big bet, introducing their own live casino – this is a bold move, to put it mildly, and not one most designers would make…

… yet in 10 years’ time, this may have become the industry standard!

The Devil’s in the Details

Innovation is all well and good, but why would any modern player seriously consider placing bets on a title that’s over a decade old?

Because unlike stylistic trends, solid gaming fundamentals never go out of style.

An RTP of 97.3% provides a pretty unrelenting argument in favor of this title. This is due to the standard European rules that rule the wheels here.

Yet, that’s just the start of its appeal!

Consider the broad betting range of $0.50–$5,000 per spin, which also come with six chip value variants to keep things feeling fresh. Favorite wagers can be saved for convenient, time-efficient gambling, including the ever-popular Neighbors and Call bets. Using the multiple tabs available at the right side of the gaming screen, it’s also possible to toggle between standard and racetrack betting formats, view recent history (hot and cold numbers), stats, and more.

(Please note: Neighbors and Call bets are only available when using the racetrack view.)

In terms of the gameshow element, the gaming experience is indeed stylish, but it’s also very easy to understand.

Before each spin of the wheel, the ‘Place Your Bets’ sign will be active for 15 second. In our opinion, this is the perfect amount of time: long enough to make smart betting decisions without feeling rushed, but not so long that one will find one’s mind wandering after just a few betting rounds.

After the betting period is closed, the ‘Bets Closed’ sign will appear, and the table layout will return to its original position.

What’s Under the Hood?

At the end of the day, all of these fine points – both of style and of substance – are well and good, but the outstanding gaming basics of European Roulette underly the effectiveness of this title in every way.

There’s a reason why, along with Blackjack and Craps, Roulette remains one of the most popular table games at casinos worldwide! A relatively low house edge, a thoroughly enjoyable flow of betting rounds, and opportunities for intuitive wagers will always make this variant a winner.

Evolution simply found a stylish, enjoyable way to allow these fundamental strengths to shine!

After ten years, the fact of the matter is that no designer has found a way to improve upon Immersive Roulette. Other releases can indeed claim to have built a different approach to Roulette play…

… but no one can claim to have built a better one!

Evergreen Gaming

Recency bias aside, there’s really no reason any discerning gambler shouldn’t give this game a try!

Other Live Roulette variants may have introduced innovative bonuses, fun features, silly side bets, or visuals unlike anything that has come before… but you have to ask yourself: does any of this actually improve your adds of winning?

If our experience with side bets and zany bonus features provides any guidance, the answer will almost always be a resounding “no.”

That’s why, if you’re looking for a release that matches (or surpasses) any other on the market, the answer may not actually lie in the latest release to come from the hottest new designer on the market. Instead, it may be from the recent past.

While Immersive Roulette may not ‘technically’ be a new game, it is likely to feel new to most gambling aficionados, most of whom spend their time on the newest takes on classic games. It all makes one wonder…

… is there such a thing as a ‘retro’ Live Dealer title? If not, it may be time to create this trend!

Classics Never Die: A Second Look at Live Immersive Roulette (Evolution Gaming) 2023