However, there are certain drawbacks for the casino. This way it also has a greater chance to land in the biased section of the roulette wheel. It is useful to note that a more lively ball is required on a truly-biased wheel, as it will pass through a larger number of pockets before it comes to rest. It is exactly the type of balls, which a number of casinos use, in order to curb attempts by players to use number-projecting schemes. More lively balls are usually avoided by visual trackers. Beginners should only note that the more lively a roulette ball is (the more it bounces), the harder it gets to project in which pocket it will land.

To determine what the exact material requires a thorough examination and, to a beginner, it is a pointless endeavor. The material, which the ball is made out of, plays a key role, as it usually impacts the ball's liveliness. At present, in most cases, they are molded out of acetal, Teflon, nylon, or phenolic.

In the past, roulette balls or “pills” were made out of ivory.