Roulette is a game that requires you to guess which number/collection of numbers will
appear on the roulette wheel. To decide which number/s appear, the wheel spins in one
direction and a small ball is spun in the other direction by a croupier.
This
combination of opposing spins ensures that the croupier has no control over the
outcome. Indeed, it’s virtually impossible to predict where the ball is going to stop
because the speed and force of each spin will always be slightly different.
Once the
ball comes to a stop, the number it lands on will determine whether you’re a winner or
not. To show you want we mean, let’s run through a quick scenario:
You walk up to a
European roulette table and place three chips on the following: 12, Red and 3rd 12. At
this point, your bets will have covered the following number of options 12 = one
number, Red = 18 numbers, 3rd 12 = 12 numbers. The wheel is spun, and the croupier
calls time. This means the ball is about to be spun and your bets are locked on the
roulette board. Eventually, the ball stops on the number 34. Because 34 is a red number
located in the 3rd 12 section of the board, two of your bets have won. If we take the
same scenario but the ball stops on 13, you’d lose because this number isn’t 12, is
black and is in the 2nd 12 section of the roulette table.
That, in a nutshell, is how
roulette works. The reason it’s become popular with players of all skill levels is that
you can be as general or specific as you like. For those that want high returns, you
can bet on individual numbers. For those that prefer to win more frequently, outside
bets are better.
For more on roulette rules and payouts, check out the next
section.
HOW TO PLAY ONLINE ROULETTE
All forms of online roulette will have a general
set of rules that include:
Bet amounts must be equal to or greater than the table
minimum and not more than the table maximum.
must be equal to or greater than the table
minimum and not more than the table maximum. Betting limits will vary. Limits are
typically lower for inside bets than outside bets .
will vary. Limits are typically
lower for than . You have to make your bet before the croupier calls time .
. Once
you’ve made a bet, you have to wait until the croupier clears the table before
collecting your winnings (only matters live).
If you are new to roulette, read our
dedicated article Roulette Types: A Complete Beginners Guide for an even better
understanding of the rules. In practice, the rules of roulette are fairly simple. As
long as you stick to the right limits and get your bets down on time, that’s it. If you
want to learn more about roulette betting, this complete guide about roulette betting
options might be useful. In terms of what you can win, payouts for each betting option
are as follows.
ROULETTE BETTING OPTIONS: INSIDE BETS
Straight Up/Single Number: This
is a bet on just one number. Get this right and you’ll receive a 35:1 payout .
This is
a bet on just one number. Get this right and you’ll receive a . Split: This is a bet on
two adjacent numbers i.e. you’re splitting the two. The payout on a split bet is 17:1
.
This is a bet on two adjacent numbers i.e. you’re splitting the two. The payout on a
split bet is . Street: A street bet covers three numbers in a row. When you place a
chip on the end of a row and win, you’ll receive an 11:1 payout .
A street bet covers
three numbers in a row. When you place a chip on the end of a row and win, you’ll
receive an . Quarter: To cover four numbers at once, you place a chip in the centre of
an imaginary square. Doing this will split four numbers and earn you an 8:1 payout if
successful.
To cover four numbers at once, you place a chip in the centre of an
imaginary square. Doing this will split four numbers and earn you an if successful.
Six-Line: This is two street bets rolled into one and is worth 5:1 .
This is two street
bets rolled into one and . Top-Line Bet: This is a bet that’s exclusive to American
roulette. To make this bet, place a chip on the line the runs through the middle of 0,
00 and 1, 2, 3. A successful top-line bet is worth 6:1.
ROULETTE BETTING OPTIONS:
OUTSIDE BETS
Dozen: Also referred to as 12s, cover 12 numbers and have payouts worth
2:1 .
Also referred to as 12s, cover 12 numbers and have . Column: Similar to a dozen
bets, columns payout at 2:1 and cover 12 numbers.
Similar to a dozen bets, columns and
cover 12 numbers. Red/Black: This bet allows you to speculate on whether the number
that hits will be red or black. Wins are worth 1:1 .
This bet allows you to speculate
on whether the number that hits will be red or black. Wins are . Odd/Even: By betting
on the number being odd or even, you can win 1:1 on your bet.
By betting on the number
being odd or even, you can on your bet. High/Low: Also known as 1 to 18 and 19 to 36,
these bets cover half the board and payout at 1:1.
How to really get the most out of
your game? check out our guide on How to Play Roulette
ONLINE ROULETTE STRATEGIES AND
TIPS
Okay, so now we’ve covered the basics, let’s think about the best way to play
roulette. Although there are no guarantees when you play this or any other casino game,
there are a few things you can do to improve your experience:
Bet what you can afford.
The beauty of roulette is that you can be as general or specific as you like. Use this
dynamic to your advantage and choose options that not only fit with your level of
tolerance for risk but your budget. For more roulette betting strategies, be sure to
read our article: Roulette Betting: Types, Odds and Payouts.
Play in sessions. Staying
focused for an extended period of time is tough. To ensure you don’t lose your
concentration and make silly moves, split your playtime into sessions. As a general
rule, bursts of 10/15 minutes should ensure you’re always on the ball.
Go for the
double dozen. Perhaps the best way to play roulette is to bet on two 12s at the same
time. Doing this allows you to cover 24 numbers with just two bets. What’s more, when
you wager equal amounts, you can still make a profit if the right number comes in. In
other words, if you bet £5 and £5, the potential return on either is £5. Therefore,
you’ll make a £5 profit and have almost 66% of the roulette table covered.
We cover
more advanced strategies in detail in our guide dedicated to Roulette Advanced
Strategy
PLAY ONLINE ROULETTE
Thanks to innovative software and some creative ideas,
it’s now possible to play in a myriad of ways via your desktop or mobile.
As a
standard, American and European roulette are the most popular options inside any online
casino. However, because virtual platforms don’t have the same space restrictions as
live venues, new variants have emerged in recent years. A great example of this is
multi-wheel roulette. Instead of betting on the outcome of a single wheel, you can
speculate on as many as six.
Beyond the ability to try new variants, online roulette is
great if you want to play for free. Using practice roulette tables, you can get a feel
for the flow of a game, familiarise yourself with the general layout and try some
betting techniques. More importantly, you can use practise roulette tables to have fun.
Then, once you’re ready to win something tangible, you can play for real money by
clicking a single button.
You can also play Live Roulette as part of our exclusive Live
Casino.
OKAY, THAT’S GREAT, BUT IS ONLINE ROULETTE FAIR?
Absolutely. Just as the dealer
has no control over the outcome in a live game, online casinos can’t influence the
results in their own games. By using something known as a random number generator
(RNG), casinos are able to offer games that are 100% fair. RNGs are audited and
certified by third-party testing agencies and any operator without a fair system won’t
be granted a gaming license. Therefore, when you play roulette online for free or for
real money, you can be confident the action is just as fair and entertaining as it was
back in Pascal’s day.
Are you tired of roulette? Have you ever tried poker video
games?
