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?
