In addition to that, playing online roulette is really easy. However, there are numerous aspects to consider and mechanisms to grasp as well. It is for this reason that our team of casino experts has compiled this comprehensive guide to help both beginners and experienced players enjoy online roulette from home.
We will be covering everything that one needs to know about it, starting with the fundamentals of how it works and what different variations are on offer. This will also include things like playing for real money and bonuses available, the best chances at winning roulette and odds, and professional tips. So, let’s begin!
What is roulette online in a nutshell?
Online roulette is a virtual form of the classic casino game in which you gamble on the location of a ball’s landing on a rotating wheel. Legal and controlled in Michigan, it provides gamers with a practical means of savoring the excitement from home. You may play with a live dealer for a more realistic experience or choose from many game varieties, including European or American Roulette.
Here are the key characteristics of online roulette:
- Played online with computer software rather than at a real table, it follows the same fundamental guidelines as traditional roulette.
- Uses random number generator (RNG) software to ascertain the result of every spin and guarantee equity.
- Along with a green 0 (and 00 in American Roulette), the virtual roulette wheel has numbered pockets alternating between red and black.
- Clicking on the virtual roulette table, players choose the numbers, colors, or sectors they believe the ball will fall on. Betting choices include individual numbers, ranges of numbers, odd/even, red/black, and more – each with distinct chances and rewards.
- The player presses a button to start the game and spins the virtual wheel once bets are made.
- They win according to the payout odds of that wager type if the ball falls on a pocket matching the player’s stake.
To put it simply, the main goal of online roulette is to bring the excitement and basic gameplay of traditional roulette to digital platforms so that anybody, anywhere, may enjoy the game.
How do you play roulette online?
Online roulette closely mirrors the rules of traditional roulette, with a few added conveniences for online play. But before you start playing, you’ll have to learn some rules to dominate the game. Here are some basic rules that you must know:
- The roulette table consists of a spinning wheel and a betting layout.
- The wheel is divided into numbered pockets, typically 37 (European) or 38 (American), including a 0 (and 00 in American roulette).
- The pockets are colored red and black, except for the zero(s), which are green.
- The betting layout is where you place your chips to make your bets.
You need to know how to wager on roulette in order to play any of its many types. You can be general or specific with your predictions, as we said before. This means you could try to successfully predict the precise number on which the ball will land, the color (red or black) that the ball will land, and many others that we will explain below.
But, as we give you a breakdown of how to bet on roulette, note that some variations of online roulette have slightly different rules. Each game has rules that determine the payouts. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of bets and the amounts of money they pay:
- Inside bets: These are placed on certain numbers or nearby groups in the betting area. They have the least chance of winning but offer more prizes.
- Outside bets: These are bets on bigger number clusters like red/black, odd/even, or high/low. Their probability of success is much higher, albeit with small winnings.
| Inside bet | Example | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Up (one number) | 27 | 35x |
| Split (two neighboring numbers) | 17/20 | 17x |
| Street (three numbers in a line) | 1/2/3 | 11x |
| Corners (four connected numbers) | 20/21/23/24 | 8x |
| Six Line Bet | 1/2/3 + 4/5/6 | 5x |
| Outside bet | Example | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Column | 12 numbers in a column | 2x |
| Dozen | 12 numbers on a third of the board | 2x |
| Odd | Every odd number | 1x |
| Even | Every even number | 1x |
| Red | Every red number | 1x |
| Black | Every black number | 1x |
| 1-18 | Every number from 1 to 18 | 1x |
| 19-36 | Every number from 19 to 36 | 1x |
Step-by-step guide on how to play
Ok, so now that you know the basics, here is a general step-by-step instruction on how to play roulette online:
- Choose an online casino: Go for a roulette game that is offered on the internet by only trustworthy online casinos.
- Place your bet: Put chips on the appropriate part of the betting layout depending on your chosen bet type. Some online roulette games even have quick pick choices where bets are made automatically based on hit numbers or random patterns. (We will explain this right after these steps, so make sure to read on!)
- Spin the wheel: Click the “spin” button to start playing. The wheel will rotate while releasing a ball.
- Determine the outcome: The ball will eventually fall into one pocket marked with a number.
- Payouts: You get paid when you win any bet according to its category and amount positioned.
- Repeat: Keep placing bets and click spin as many times as you want.
That’s how to play roulette online. But what exactly are quick picks and call bets?
- Quick pick: Some online roulette games offer a “Quick Pick” option that randomly selects a bet for you.
- Pay table: The pay table displays the payouts for each type of bet. You can usually find it by clicking on a button or icon within the game interface.
Roulette online types
There are many types of roulette online available. These are:
American Roulette
American Roulette is among the most often played kinds of this game. The double zero pocket on the American Roulette wheel causes the roulette odds and rewards to vary somewhat from European Roulette. Though the house advantage in American Roulette is bigger at 5.26%, there are more possibilities to win the straight-up wager.
European Roulette
At 2.7%, European Roulette has a greater house advantage than American Roulette. One green pocket—the single zero—improves your odds of either Red/Black or Odd/Even betting not being invalidated.
French Roulette
With few exceptions, the features of French Roulette are exactly those of European Roulette. The La Partage rule distinguishes them most. Should the ball drop in the zero pocket, you get half of your lost wagers if you are in French Roulette. This brings the house margin on even money wagers down to 1.35%.
Live Dealer Roulette
Best live casinos also allow you to enjoy roulette against a real dealer. You lay bets online in these games using your keyboard or smartphone. Still, an experienced croupier handles the table game in real time.
Which type of online roulette suits you best?
Online roulette has a large selection of choices to meet your need for excitement. Should you like the classics, European, American, and French Roulette are always great options with their own appeal. For a very immersive casino experience, I personally like the realism of live dealer roulette, when you may engage with a real dealer and other players.
However, you may attempt multi-wheel or multi-ball roulette if you’re seeking something faster-paced and maybe more gratifying. These games boost the excitement and your chances of winning large by letting you gamble on many wheels or balls at once. And if you’re feeling bold, Lightning Roulette adds a random multiplier component that may greatly increase your rewards.
Should all of this seem a little daunting, rest assured! For novices or those who want a simpler game, Mini roulette is a fantastic choice. Its smaller wheel and fewer betting choices help one to grasp and appreciate it.
So, in summary, the type of online roulette that suits you best depends on your experience level, preferred style of play, and what you’re looking for in the game:
- Beginners should start with European Roulette for the simplest rules and low house edge. Mini Roulette is also beginner-friendly.
- Experienced players seeking the absolute lowest house edge should opt for French Roulette with the La Partage rule. European Roulette is a close second choice.
- American Roulette enthusiasts may prefer the double-zero wheel, but they should be aware that the house advantage is nearly double that of European/French wheels.
- Players looking for more exciting variants can try Multi Wheel Roulette to bet on multiple wheels at once, or Lightning Roulette for a unique live dealer experience with high-payout potential.
Ultimately, European and French Roulette offers the best odds for players, while the more innovative variants provide additional betting thrills and features. It’s a good idea to try free-play demos of different roulette types to see which you enjoy most before playing for real money.
Play roulette for real money online
The first step is locating a reliable online casino that is registered and regulated in your location. Then, you just need to establish an account and provide the required information after you have identified a reliable platform.
Following that, you may fund the account safely using credit cards, bank transfers, or e-wallets. Then, choose from the range provided at the casino the type of online roulette that suits you using money in your account.
Once this is done, one picks their bets from the accessible virtual betting layout on their screen should they like to participate. Players have a lot of options with several kinds of bets ranging from single number bets, red or black, odd or even, and many more. To lay your wager, just click “spin”. The ball may be seen landing on numbers/sections we wagered upon, leading to winnings if it does so!
BetMGM Casino
Boasting the largest game library in the business, roulette is prevalent at BetMGM Casino. Head over to the ‘Live Dealer’ and ‘Table Games’ sections to find the array of roulette options.
You will find live dealer roulette variations like American Auto Roulette, Lightning Roulette, European Roulette, and more. Meanwhile, BetMGM Casino players can try more niche options like Blazing 7s Roulette, Black and Yellow Roulette, along with many others. BetMGM offers great local sports team-related roulette options also.
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Caesars Palace Online Casino
Caesars Palace Online Casino is another top-tier destination for online real-money roulette players. The online casino provides all kinds of fun variations, including Space Invaders Roulette and Roulette Classic.
The live versions that are available at Caesars Palace Online Casino are highlighted by Live Dealer French Roulette, First Person American Roulette, and First Person Lightning Roulette.
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Stars Casino
Stars Casino is amongst the best online casinos for real-money roulette due to both volume and quality. You will find a couple of Stars Casino exclusives as well, like Mega Fire Blaze Roulette Live and Quantum Roulette.
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Here are the pros and cons of playing roulette online:
Pros:
- You can play from home anytime on your computer or mobile device.
- Online casinos offer more roulette variations than most land-based casinos
- Claim welcome bonuses, free spins, and other promos to boost your bankroll
- Some online roulette games allow bets as low as $0.10-$1 per spin
Cons:
- As with all gambling, there’s no guarantee of winning
- You must deposit and risk your own funds to play
- Some players may miss the experience of a live casino floor
- Cashing out winnings can take a few days, depending on the banking method
Play online roulette for free
If you are a beginner, playing online roulette for free is a fantastic way to learn the game. You can practice different betting strategies and simply enjoy the thrill without any financial risk. Many online casinos offer free demo versions of their roulette games, allowing you to play with virtual chips and experience all the features of the game without wagering real money.
To play for free, simply select the “demo” or “play for fun” option when choosing a roulette game at an online casino. You can then place your bets, spin the wheel, and see how the game works without worrying about losing any money.
Perhaps the ideal way to play roulette online for free is by signing up for an online sweepstakes casino. These sites utilize a sweepstakes model where you can win prizes and redeem them for withdrawable cash. The best ones to play roulette at are:
Ding Ding Ding Casino
Encountering table games at online sweepstakes casinos isn’t all that common. Ding Ding Ding Casino is far and away the premier sweeps casino for online roulette players.
Ding Ding Ding offers over half a dozen live roulette options, including Live Vegas Roulette, Live American Roulette, Live French Roulette, and several others. You will also be able to play American Roulette in non-live dealer form at Ding Ding Ding Casino.
Sweepslots Casino
It is Sweepslots Casino that secures the runner-up spot in best sweepstakes casinos for online roulette. The site offers a trio of non-live dealer roulette: American Roulette 3D, European Roulette, and French Classic Roulette.
This is a great selection because no matter which variation of roulette you like most, Sweepslots Casino has you covered.
Pros:
- Learning with no financial responsibility: Perfect for beginners to understand the rules and practice betting strategies.
- No financial pressure: Enjoy the game purely for fun and entertainment.
- Test different variations: Explore various roulette types without risking real money.
- No deposit required: No need to create an account or share personal information.
Cons:
- No real winnings: You can’t cash out any virtual winnings.
- Limited features: Some free versions may have fewer features than real money casino games.
- Less excitement: The thrill of playing for real money is absent.
- May not reflect real games: Free versions might not perfectly replicate the experience of playing with real money.
Guide for roulette odds and payouts
Roulette payouts closely relate to the probability of a bet winning. The possible profit increases with the increasing risk. Making wise selections on the field depends on knowing these chances and payments. So here is a guide for roulette odds and payouts:
Inside bets
Placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers on the inner part of the roulette table. They have higher payouts but lower odds of winning.
Outside bets
Placed on larger groups of numbers on the outside part of the table, such as red/black or odd/even. They have lower payouts but better odds of winning.
Online roulette odds and payouts
| Bet type | Payout | Probability (European) | Probability (American) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 35 to 1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Split | 17 to 1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
| Street | 11 to 1 | 8.11% | 7.89% |
| Corner | 8 to 1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| Six Line | 5 to 1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
| Column | 2 to 1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Dozen | 2 to 1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Red/Black | 1 to 1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Odd/Even | 1 to 1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Low/High | 1 to 1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
As you can see, the payouts are inversely proportional to the probability of winning. Bets with higher payouts, like straight up (35 to 1), have a lower chance of hitting (2.70% on European wheels).
Roulette house edge comparison
On any bet the casino makes, there is a house edge that is an in-built gain. This value differs according to the roulette wheel design. For example:
- European Roulette: It has a single-zero wheel with 2.70% house edge on all bets.Marginal odds are slightly better for players.
- American Roulette: It has double-zeros and higher house edges of 5.26% on most bets. The house advantage of the casino increases nearly twofold with this additional double zero pocket.
House edge example
For instance, if a person places $100 on red in European Roulette, his chances of winning will be 48.65%. Hence, his expected Return is:
- $100 x 48.65% = $48.65
However, since the casino pays out at Even money (1:1), he receives $100 if he wins. Therefore, the House Edge amounts to $100 less $48.65 equaling to 2.70%.
Over time, this advantage enables casinos to make money from roulette stakes, while the presence of a higher 5.26% margin results in even more advantages for casinos.
