Online Roulette
Roulette is a game that has been around since 1796, but when you play roulette online, it doesn’t have to feel old-fashioned.
If you’ve never played before and don’t know where to start, take a look at everything this guide has to offer, including an explanation of the rules, different types and bets, as well as tips on how to play your way to victory.
A great thing about online roulette is that – thanks to modern technology – you no longer have to visit a brick-and-mortar establishment to play. Instead, you can simply select one of the top casino sites and relax in the comfort of your preferred location.
The best roulette casinos offer a fully functional cross-platform experience, so you can play the game on any device. Also, the online versions of roulette are quite pocket-friendly with affordable betting limits and the lack of expenses related to visiting a land-based casino.
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Roulette Main Rules
The game’s main rules have remained pretty much the same since roulette first appeared in the late 17th century in France.
Yet, today’s technology has elevated the gameplay to an entirely new, more exciting level. Before we expand further, however, let us explain the rules. They are pretty simple, so once you get to know them, you can start playing right away, even if you are a first-timer.
Roulette Game Explained
The roulette wheel has 36 numbered divisions, each of them colored in black or red. You also have one or two divisions marked with 0, depending on the type of game you play. The 0 division is colored in green.
There is a ball that gets spun and eventually lands in one of the divisions, thus signifying a winning number. It is your goal to predict this number before the wheel starts spinning. If your guess turns out correct, you win and you will receive a prize.
When playing roulette online, you can place your wager on a number, color, or group of numbers. All you have to do then is wait until the ball lands and see if you have a winner. Fortunately, the game is very fast-paced, and a single round takes approximately 2 minutes, of which 30 seconds amount for the ball rolling. Thus, you will not have to wait long until you find out if you have made a lucky guess.
Roulette Bet Types
Roulette bets are quite diverse, which makes the game all the more enticing. They are fairly easy to grasp once you get familiar with the betting mat.
To begin with, you can bet on a number or a group of several numbers. If you wager on a group of up to 6 numbers, you have placed an inside bet. If the group is larger than 6 numbers, it is called an outside bet.
Inside/Outside bets explained
Inside Bets
The most important thing you need to know about inside bets is that they provide lesser winning odds but give you higher payouts. You can place inside bets on either a single square or on different intersections between the betting mat’s squares. Here is how it works:
- Straight: betting on a single number by placing the chip on the respective square.
- Split: betting on two numbers by placing the chip on the dividing line between them.
- Street: betting on a single row of 3 numbers.
- Six Line: betting on 6 numbers that are located in two adjacent rows.
- Corner: betting on 4 adjacent numbers making up a square on the mat.
- Trio: betting on either 0, 1, and 2 or 0, 2, and 3.
- Basket: this is a bet on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 and can only be made in American Roulette.
| Bet | European Odds | American Odds | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 2.7% | 2.6% | 35:1 |
| Split | 5.4% | 5.3% | 17:1 |
| Street | 8.1% | 7.9% | 11:1 |
| Corner | 10.8% | 10.5% | 8:1 |
| Double Street | 16.2% | 15.8% | 5:1 |
| Basket Bet | n/a | 13.16% | 6:1 |
Outside Bets
Outside bets are very simple, and most people recognize them without even ever having played roulette. Their names are also commonly used in French, following the game’s origin.
- Red or Black (Rouge or Noir) means betting on either of the two colors.
- Odd or Even (Impair or Pair) is when you bet on the winning number to be odd or even.
- 1 to 18 or 19 to 36 are also called low bets or Manque when wagering on numbers 1-18. High bets or Passe are the bets on numbers 19-36.
- Dozens or Douzaine are the bets on numbers 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36.
- Columns or Colonne refer to the bets on one of the three columns of 12 numbers.
| Bet | European Odds | American Odds | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red/Black | 48.65% | 47.37% | 1:1 |
| Odd/Even | 48.65% | 47.37% | 1:1 |
| Low/High | 48.65% | 47.37% | 1:1 |
| Column | 32.4% | 31.6% | 2:1 |
| Dozen | 32.4% | 31.6% | 2:1 |
Announced Bets
- Jeu Zéro (Zero Game): betting on the numbers that are located next to 0 on the wheel.
- Le Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel): betting on 12 numbers on one side of the wheel between 27 and 33.
- Orphelins (Orphans): bets on 8 numbers that are composed of two slices of the wheel.
- Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero): betting on a single number plus two of its neighbors on each side of the wheel.
Announced Bets (Call bets) Explained
| Bet | Bet include numbers | Payouts #1 | Payouts #2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeu Zéro (Zero Game) | 12-35-3-26-0-32-15 | If lands 26 = 36:1 | anything else = 18:1 |
| Le Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel) | 27,13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16 and 33 | over 2 numbers = 17:1 | – |
| Orphelins (Orphans) | 17-34-6 and 1-20-14-31-9 | Straight bet = 35:1 | Other numbers = 17:1 |
| Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero) | 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25 | Split numbers = 17:1 | Corner bet = 8:1 |
Roulette Types
While it may seem like there are endless versions of online roulette, it all boils down to the several major game types, which we will explore in-depth below.
American Roulette
American Roulette, unlike the European and French versions, has a double-zero on the wheel. This slightly reduces your chances of winning. The other thing you need to know is that the house edge in American Roulette is a bit higher – 5.26 %. In other words, this game is more suitable for seasoned players who are willing to take higher risks to potentially win more.
European Roulette
European Roulette is possibly the most commonly enjoyed variation of the game. The rules are quite simple. There is a single zero, and the house edge is quite low at 2.7 % which makes it a preferred roulette type for both new and advanced players.
French Roulette
French Roulette very much resembles the European game, with only one zero on the wheel. However, here you have the “En Prison” and “La Partage” bets, which act as insurance to guarantee you will keep half of your wagered sum if the ball lands on the zero.
Multi-Ball Roulette
This variation of the game allows you to play with up to 10 balls at the same time. Let that not scare you, however. The rules are still very simple, and you get to enjoy a few additional bets. Typically, multi-ball mechanics is applied to the European gameplay.
Live Roulette
Live Roulette is as exciting as it gets. It brings the thrill of a land-based casino to the screen of your device. Plus, you have a real croupier spin the wheel instead of a computer. The most known software provider with live roulette games is Evolution Gaming, one of the pioneer developers of live dealer casino games.
Multi-Wheel Roulette
Multi-wheel roulette can be played with up to 8 wheels in the European format. The betting table is only one, which means that you cannot place different bets on each wheel – you place the same bet across all active wheels. You choose which wheel is active on every bet. After the spin, you collect your winnings from each wheel.
Roulette Odds
Learn How to Get Better Winning Chances! To build solid strategies to increase your winning chances at online roulette, you need to first understand how the odds work.
You will get the lowest odds if you bet on one number, which will result in 1:36 in European Roulette or 1:37 in American Roulette. In contrast, you can enjoy the highest odds if you choose bets that cover half of the available 36 numbers. These include Black or Red, Odd, or Even, 1 to 18, and 19 to 36.
Also, please be mindful of the house edges on 2.7 % in European Roulette and 5.26 % in American Roulette for betting on a single number. You can find below a table with the odds and payouts in those two most popular versions of the game:
| European & American Roulette: Odds & Payouts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet type | Payout | European roulette odds | American roulette odds |
| Single number | 35 to 1 | 2.70% | 2.60% |
| Two Number Combination | 17 to 1 | 5.4% | 5.3% |
| Three Number Combination | 11 to 1 | 8.1% | 7.9% |
| Four Number Combination | 8 to 1 | 10.8% | 10.5% |
| Five Number Combination | 6 to 1 | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| Six Number Combination | 5 to 1 | 16.2% | 15.8% |
| Column | 2 to 1 | 32.40% | 31.6% |
| Dozen | 2 to 1 | 32.40% | 31.6% |
| Even/Odd | 1 to 1 | 48.60% | 47.4% |
| Red/Black | 1 to 1 | 48.60% | 47.4% |
| Low/High | 1 to 1 | 48.60% | 47.4% |
Roulette Strategies
While playing online roulette, you should always be keep in mind that it is largely a game of luck. However, there are a few chance maximizing strategies that players commonly use to enhance their game.
Martingale System
This is the most popular roulette playing strategy. It suggests that you double your bet after every loss.
The logic is that you will recover your past losses plus a profit equal to your original wager after the first time you win. While this might sound plausible, you should still remember that you can run into a long streak of consecutive losses and lose a lot of money.
How it works:
Let’s assume your starting bet is $1 and you increase it by $1 every time you lose.
- You bet $1 and lose
- You bet $2 and lose
- You bet $3 and win
- You bet $1 and lose
- You bet $2 and win
- You bet $1 and lose
- You bet $2 and lose
- And so on..
Labouchère system (Cancellation System)
This is a slightly more complicated approach that is also familiar as the “cancellation system.” You can continue your game until you win your desired amount, or you deplete your funds.
How it works?
It begins by you determining how much you want to win and dividing the sum a sequence. Let’s say your target is 20. Here is an example sequence:
3 – 2 – 3 – 1 – 1 – 3 – 2 – 4 – 1
Afterward, determine your initial bet by adding the first and last numbers in your bet sequence. In this case 4.
If you win, you should remove the two numbers from your list. In case you lose, you add the failed bet at the end of the list.
D’Alembert System
This strategy is similar to the Martingale approach. However, it does not require you to double your wager on every loss.
It is also known as the “pyramid system” and asks you to adjust your bets every time you win or lose to minimize losses. In other words, you need to add one more unit to the bet upon each loss and remove one unit on every win.
How it works?
- Increase your bet by one unit when you lose.
- Decrease your bet by one unit when you win.
Example:
- You bet $1 and lose
- You bet $2 and lose
- You bet $3 and win – decrease bet to $2
- You bet $2 and lose
- You bet $3 and lose
- You bet $4 and win – decrease bet to $3
- You bet $3 and win – decrease bet to $2
- And so on…
Fibonacci system
This system is used for placing even money bets, for example red/black or even/odd. It uses the Fibonacci sequence which is: 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21-34-55-89-144-233-377-610-987-1597…. Each number in the sequence is the sum of the two previous numbers.
How it works
You start with the number 1 and move up or down in the sequence according to the rules shown below:
Example:
Let’s assume your bet site is $1 and each time you bet on red
- You bet $1 and lose
- You bet $1 and lose
- You bet $2 and win – you return two numbers down in the sequence
- You bet $1 and lose
- You bet $1 and lose
- You bet $2 and lose
- You bet $3 and lose
- You bet $5 and win – you go back two numbers down in the sequence and now you start from $2
- And so on…
Please note that the casino always has the higher chance to win in the long term. Therefore, you will probably not need to go any further than 5-6 steps in the sequence.
Start Playing Online Roulette in 5 Simple Steps
Having learned the game’s basics, you are probably already curious about how to start playing. We have broken down the process into 5 easy steps below to help you begin.
Step 1
Choose a real-money roulette site
There are hundreds of online gambling sites that invite you to play online roulette, but not all of them are trustworthy and secure. Therefore, please take your time to select an operator that possesses all the required licenses and implements the necessary precautions to prevent fraud and user information misuse.
Step 2
Get a proper welcome bonus
If you have ever tried playing online casino games for real money, you probably already know why a good welcome bonus is important. However, let us briefly explain it again: A generous welcome pack will give you more money and/or free spins to play with and will thus increase your winning opportunities whilst allowing you to try more different games at the same time.
Step 3
Place a deposit
If you are into real money play, you will need to transfer some funds into your player account. Determine your deposit amount wisely according to your budget and player skills and use the available payment methods to perform the transaction.
Step 4
Select a game and start playing
With so many roulette variations out there, it might be difficult to pick the right ones for you. However, always use your best judgment when considering your skills, experience, knowledge of different strategies, and budget limitations, and chances are you will make the best choice.
Step 5
Cash out your winnings
If your skills and luck have rewarded you with some winnings, please play responsibly and know when to withdraw them.
Online Roulette Tips
As in any other area of our life, you would like to avoid overspending and instead save some money while playing online roulette.
We have prepared a few proven tips to help you stay on track with your cash.
This tip is especially important if you are a beginner or even a seasoned player who is up for exploring a new roulette game. Most online casinos allow you to play their products for free in demo mode, so make sure to try that before wagering real cash.
It is never a good idea to drink alcohol while playing because it can make you lose your good judgment. Also, you should avoid any medicines and other substances that might impact the quality of your decision-making.
Unless you are in it for the ultimate adrenaline rush, you might want to avoid high-risk bets. For instance, outside bets have better odds than inside wagers, which allows you to play longer with a limited amount of money.
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