Maybe you can recall some references to it in popular culture, or perhaps you’ve encountered the wheel yourself, online or in a land casino. Well, no matter how, when, where and why, it’s highly likely you’ve crossed paths with roulette and its iconic red and black wheel. And despite being one of the most enduring of casino games, it’s also likely to seem daunting and convoluted at first glance, especially if you’ve never taken the wheel for a spin before. But have no fear! Roulette is a perfect example of a typical casino game that looks more complex than it actually is, and some would say that’s even part of its charm. At the heart of it, the game is simple yet challenging, and the probability inherent in the game’s mechanics can be very entertaining – if you know what you’re looking at!
So if you’re looking for answers on how to play roulette games online, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ll slow down the roulette wheel and break it down.
Learn how to play roulette online step-by-step
Your best bet is to start with the basics through some easy-to-learn beginner roulette tips. In a few mock spins, you can have a fair understanding of how roulette games work and what you are supposed to do as a player, as well as what variations you can find at online casinos. Soon, you can start playing and betting more like a pro.
Step 1:
To start a roulette game, first place your bets. This can be either an inside bet or outside bet (we’ll go into more detail about these later). Your bet can be adjusted by selecting the virtual chips found on the user interface. Always be responsible when you place bets, to maximise your safety.
Step 2:
Once you have placed your bet, the live dealer throws the ball and spins the roulette wheel. The roulette wheel is spun in the opposite direction of the ball.
Step 3:
Depending on where the ball will land when it’s thrown, you may lose the bet or win it. If you win, you’ll get a payout. If you want try to prevent losses as much as possible, you may want to try using betting systems to potentially boost your chances.
Types of Roulette Bets
If you plan to bet at the roulette table, you’ll no doubt be curious to know the probability or odds of winning the bet. Unlike many other betting games, roulette is quite mathematical, and there are all kinds of numbers and data available about the odds of different types of bets.
Roulette is such a craze among the betting community because of the fantastic range of bets that can be made in the game, each having its own odds of winning or losing. Though it is not hard to remember these odds and use the information to select the type of bet you want to place, the large number of options may not always mean good things to players. The odds tell us the probability of a particular bet to win, but ultimately, any bet can win. So, in roulette, a player can earn a payout even if the odds are not much in their favour. Conversely, the opposite can also be true.
Bets placed on roulette can be categorized into two broad categories: inside and outside wagers. The probability of winning is higher if the bet is placed outside of the betting area, and consequently, the reward is smaller, while the likelihood of winning is lower when wagering inside the betting area, but rewards are greater.
Bear in mind that minimum and maximum bets may vary depending on the table. A minimum bet determines the level of your stake at the table.
Inside Bets
As we mentioned, inside bets are wagers made on the inside of the betting table. They have the best payouts in terms of potential returns, but as you might imagine, they are quite specific which makes them the most difficult to win. Generally, when making an inside bet you’ll bet on a single number in the betting area or a small group of numbers, as opposed to a general category like red and black which would be classed as an outside bet.
Outside Bets
Outside bets are wagers made outside the betting table, and tend to feature more general categories such as whether the number will be red or black, or odd or even, and so on. These bets are more popular than their inside counterparts as they have lower house edge, meaning there is less degree of risk on this kind of betting and, therefore, these bets are more suitable for beginners.
There are also a couple of rules to keep in mind with regards to betting — but these are only available on French tables.
- En Prison Rule: Applicable only to even-money bets, when the ball lands at zero, the player can reclaim half the bet while they loses the other half. Alternatively, they can leave it for the next spin, where they either earn the bet back or lose it fully.
- La Partage Rule: Similar to En Prison Rule but in this case the player loses half the bet.
Roulette payouts
Each roulette bet comes with its own payout. Roulette bets are classed depending on whether they sit inside the roulette table or outside. There are many more bets out there, but here are the basic ones.
Inside Bets
- Straight bet: Involves betting on a single number. Although betting on a single number is pretty risky, it is also the most rewarding bet where you get paid 35:1 on a winning number.
- Split bet: Involves wagering on two numbers, by placing your chip on the line that separates the numbers. This wager awards a payout of 17:1.
- Street bet: If you want to bet on three numbers, you can do so by placing chips on the line that separates the inside and outside areas. The odds are 11:1.
- Double street: In this type of bet, you place a chip that separates two rows of numbers between inside and outside areas of the table, covering two streets. This has 5:1 odds.
- Corner/ Square bet: This wager involves placing chips on the intersection of four numbers. The odds are 8:1.
- Basket Bet: Found on American roulette tables, a basket wager is a stake on five numbers, covering the zero, double zero, one, two and three You get paid 6:1.
Outside Bets
- Red/Black: This wager involves betting on either all red numbers or all black ones. The odds are 1:1.
- Odd/Even: Places a bet on all odd numbers or all even ones. Here again, the payment is 1:1.
- 1-18/19-36: Betting on the possibility of the roulette ball landing on a number than ranges between one and 18, or from 19 to 36 (high numbers). These are also called field bets that pay 1:1
- Dozen: Dozen bets involve betting on the first, second or third set of the ‘dozens’ out of the 36 numbers on the roulette wheel and pays 2:1.
- Column: Column bets place a stake on a column of numbers on the table and pays 2:1.
Roulette betting options
To summarise all that has been discussed so far, inside bets include:
- Straight bet
- Split bet
- Street bet
- Double street
- Corner or square bet
- Basket bet
And, outside bets include:
- Red or black.
- Odd or even number.
- Field bets
- Dozen bets
- Column bets
Other roulette variations
There’s such a wide variety of betting options in roulette, and just as many variants of the traditional game! Whether you want to play against a live dealer or a computer, here’s a small taster of the versions of roulette you may encounter.
European Roulette
This variation of roulette is one of the three classic versions that founded this timeless game. Like other tables, European roulette features a spinning wheel and colored pockets alternating in black and red. The total number of pockets is 37 (numbered from one to 36) and a green zero pocket. The European version is widely played at various online casinos, and you can find it in all manner of themes.
American Roulette
Taking things up a notch in relation to its European counterpart, the American roulette wheel has 38 divisions including numbers from one to 36, 0 and 00. The numbers that range from one to 36 are alternately colored red and black, while the single zero and the double zero are marked in green. The extra division provided by the double zero brings an added layer of complexity to the bets, making American Roulette games renowned for having the highest house edge.
French Roulette
The French variation of roulette is sought out by many fans of this epic game, and certainly not for nothing – out of the three widespread variants, French roulette has the lowest built-in house advantage, which can help relieve some of the pressures on betting that are part of European, and especially American, roulette.
Mini Roulette
All the fun that comes with playing roulette online, in half the size! Mini Roulette is a streamlined roulette variation that takes place on a small wheel. Rather than the full 37 or 38 pockets like a European or American wheel, Mini Roulette only has 13 pockets. This type of roulette is perfect for anyone wanting to dip their toe into the roulette pool without the pressure of the larger wheel.
Live Roulette
When it comes to online roulette games, the themes, styles and variations at your disposal are endless, but some players may find online roulette impersonal to an extent. To counter that, casino sites may feature live roulette in their arsenal. The objective is to simulate the experience as close to the real thing as possible and create an authentic, immersive game for players to enjoy.
Everything is live, from the roulette chips on the physical roulette board to the live dealer. There’s a wealth of styles based on the live concept, notably by the online casino giant Evolution. Browse through our Live Casino section, and you’ll see a whole range of Live Casino games designed by Evolution, among other casino games released by other providers, of course!
Multi-Wheel Roulette
Another popular online roulette variant you may come across at an online casino is Multi-Wheel roulette. If Mini Roulette is scaling things down, Multi-Wheel Roulette is takes things up a notch.
With up to eight wheels in one game, roulette rookies might find themselves in over the heads, but a roulette pro may find the gameplay exciting. However, there can only be one betting table, so your wager applies to every wheel present in the game. This means if a game has eight wheels, your bet is increased eightfold. It’s always vital to set limits and ensure responsible gambling, but perhaps it is particularly evident when dealing with more than one roulette wheel; just one bet in this game has a higher potential for losing bets implied, and that same bet is going at eight times the rate of a single roulette wheel!
Double Ball Roulette
You can add up to eight roulette wheels in one game, but it’s also possible to see double; Double-Ball Roulette has (you guessed it) not one roulette ball but two! Generally, everything else in the game is based on the standard European layout, and while you can never predict where the ball will land, the extra ball implies your chances of winning double when you place bets.
What are the odds of winning at roulette?
You’re probably wondering what the chances of winning are, especially when placing more complex wagers. No need to wonder anymore, though! Take a look:
Online Roulette vs. Live Roulette
We’ve briefly touched upon playing this game live, but what exactly differs between live and online roulette? Well, it’s actually very simple!
When you play roulette in its live form, you’ll be playing in real time with a live dealer. Online roulette, also referred to as First-Person roulette is played against a computer algorithm. It is also the only way to play free roulette games, and free games are especially helpful for players that are still a little green to the game. That said, free games are also beneficial for players who want to explore betting strategies without the risk of putting down actual money.
Conversely, there are many fans of live roulette who like to feel much more immersed when looking to play roulette online. Ultimately, as long as you play responsibly and safely, there’s no reason not to try out both types for yourself!
FAQ
✅ How to play roulette and win?
To play roulette games, all you need to do is place a wager using the virtual chips found on the betting interface and spin! Unfortunately, no outcome can be guaranteed, and there’s no surefire way to win.
✅ What is the trick to win roulette?
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee for winning. Roulette is a game built on luck. Though, you might be able to boost your odds with a playing strategy. However, it is recommended to follow best practice when partaking in online gambling, by sticking to a preplanned budget and getting to grips with the game rules in question.
✅ How does the game of roulette work?
Roulette has a few rules that are very easy to follow. The game works by placing a bet which can be either inside the betting table, or outside. Once the bet is placed, the ball is thrown into the spinning wheel, and wherever it lands determines if you’ve won or lost. There are variations in betting types and the value of minimum bets.
✅ Can you bet on red and black at the same time?
The rules of the game do not permit simultaneous bets. There is a complex system of betting choices in roulette, which can change even depending on whether it is American, European or French roulette. That being said, although there isn’t a specific option that involves betting on red and black at the same time, high-ballers may enjoy betting on all the numbers on the table.
✅ What is the house edge on roulette?
Roulette is a game in which you play against the ‘house’. The bets that you lose go to the house, but when you win a bet it’s the house that pays you.
The house edge comes about with the addition of the zero slot in European roulette and the double zero in American roulette. Even in even-money bets, players still don’t have a 50% chance of winning.
American roulette has the highest house edge out of all types of roulette games, sitting at 5.26%. European roulette offers an edge of 2.70%, while French tables slice that in half with a house advantage of 1.35%.
While it certainly helps to skew the game to the casino’s advantage, individual players may not be overly affected by the house edge. The reason for this is that individual players can bet on a maximum of 18 numbers in case of even bets, while most other bets cover a much smaller set of numbers. The rest of the numbers in roulette are with the house, giving them an unbeatable advantage over players in the long term. What, however, works in favour of players is that the luck and pure chance of the spinning wheel hitting a winning bet can give them a huge win in one spin. Though house edge may often be referred to in the analysis of the game, it is not a significant factor in the overall outcome of a game.
✅ What is an “inside” bet?
An inside bet is a bet that is made inside the betting area when playing roulette. Examples of inside bets include a straight bet, corner bet and split bet, among others. Inside bets carry a greater risk than outside bets, while also potentiating larger wins.
✅ What is an “outside” bet?
This is a bet that is made outside the betting table when playing roulette. Examples of such bets are field bets, column and dozen bets. Betting outside the betting table may lead to lower wins but is an overall safer option than placing inside wagers.