Online Roulette Guide

Online roulette is a thrilling casino option for players looking for a rush and a means to win big. You’ll be pleased to know that, of all the most popular casino games, online roulette boasts great payout potential and has a reputation for being one of the more lucrative table games out there.

For new players, this game is a fantastic way to become accustomed to the online scene, seeing as its rules are simple and bets can yield significant winnings. Since most of the top casinos offer this game, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide that will get you on your way to playing roulette online like a pro.

Best Online Roulette Casinos

What is Roulette?

Roulette was invented by Blaise Pascal in the 17th Century. It involves a dealer or croupier spinning a pocketed wheel. Each individual slot or pocket on the wheel is numbered and is either black, or red. The game begins once the croupier spins a ball in the opposite direction of the wheel. While the wheel is spinning, players have the opportunity to place their bets based on which pocket they believe the ball will land. Players can continue betting until the dealer lets players know they are accepting no more bets.

Once the wheel stops spinning and the ball lands in a particular slot, that determines the winning bet.

As online gambling took off, so too did one of the world’s most popular casino games. When playing roulette online, you as the player spin the wheel. However, if you’re playing a live roulette game, then it will be like playing at a land-based casino.

The Roulette Wheel

Like we mentioned above, the most standard roulette wheels have numbered pockets from 0-36. Depending on what version of roulette you’re playing, these numbers will vary. The original roulette wheel featured 25 pockets and a zero and double-zero slots. When playing online roulette at an online casino, players will likely see variations with 37 and 38 pockets.

The Roulette Table

When playing roulette online or in person, this is where players place their bets. Understanding it is pretty simple. You decide where you think the ball is going to end up in the roulette wheel, and put your wager down at that spot on the table. The more precise your bet, the higher your payout, i.e. betting on red vs. betting on double-zero.

Types of Online Roulette

There are so many variations of online roulette that you can find at casinos, including a live roulette option. By far, the most popular versions are: European, American and French roulette. Each individual version of roulette has their own special rules though, like “en prison” or “la partage”.

At any casino that offers online roulette, you will find one of or all of these variations:

European Roulette

European Roulette uses a wheel with 37 pockets, the numbers 1 through 36 and a single-zero. For this reason, it’s called single-zero roulette. It has a house edge of 2.70%. This is the game played in Monte Carlo and throughout most of the world.

American Roulette

American Roulette uses a 38-pocket wheel, including the numbers 1-36, the 0, and the 00. For this reason, it’s called double-zero roulette. The house edge on this variant is 5.26%. This is the game played in Las Vegas and throughout North America.

French Roulette

French Roulette uses a 37-pocket wheel, but includes special announced bets. Many players call these the French bets, because they have French names: Voisins du zero, Tiers du cylindre, and Orphelins. This game became famous in Monte Carlo and France, but is especially popular with high rollers in Central and Eastern Europe.

Multi Ball Roulette

In Multi Ball Roulette, there can be up to 10 balls in play at a time. Bets are taken in the same way as the traditional variations, but players have the option to select and de-select balls in any manor they please. The overall odds of winning in this variation are higher, because no two balls can land in the same spot.

Multi Wheel Roulette

Up to 8 wheels can be spinning in Multi Wheel roulette. Players make bets that extend across all wheels and have the opportunity to select as many of the wheels as they want. No matter how many wheels are in play, they all mirror that of the European version with only a single-zero.

Mini Roulette

There isn’t much that is unique to this roulette variation except for – you guessed it – it’s mini. Exactly how mini you may ask? A mini roulette wheel only goes from 0 to 12 (unlike the standard wheel which is 0-36). Like its European counter-part, the mini roulette wheel only has a single-zero. Play for this variation is standard.

La Partage

If a casino uses the “la partage” house rule, place even-money bets on this game. La Partage (“of the parts”) means you lose only half the bet when the ball comes to a stop on a zero slot. This means the house edge in European Roulette is reduced to 1.35%.

En Prison

If a casino uses the “en prison” house rules, place even-money bets in this game. When the ball lands on the zero slot and the En Prison (“imprisonment”) rules are in effect, the bet is placed in prison for the next wager. If you win the next spin, you win back the original stake. If you lose, both bets are lost.

Free vs Real Money Online Roulette Games

There are two primary ways players can enjoy their favourite online roulette games, and they both have their advantages. The chart below compares the benefits playing roulette for free, and playing roulette for real money will give to a player. Let us take a look:

FREE	REAL MONEY
1No commitment is necessary and no financial information is required to play	More variety of games are available to play
2Players have the opportunity to test their skills and develop strategies prior to registration	Players are able to claim bonuses and other promotional offers
3Completely cost-free with no cap on play time	The live dealer version is exclusive to real money roulette games
4Players have a chance to find the game that best suits them	The progress players make lets them earn points towards the roulette casino’s loyalty program

FREE ROULETTE BENEFITS	REAL MONEY ROULETTE BENEFITS
1No commitment is necessary and no financial information is required to play	More variety of games are available to play
2Players have the opportunity to test their skills and develop strategies prior to registration	Players are able to claim bonuses and other promotional offers
3Completely cost-free with no cap on play time	The live dealer version is exclusive to real money roulette games
4Players have a chance to find the game that best suits them	The progress players make lets them earn points towards the roulette casino’s loyalty program

Online Roulette Betting Guide

The roulette table can be quite intimidating for some, as the betting options for players are quite extensive. While it can be overwhelming, this element of online roulette is what keeps things exciting for players. The table can gives many ways to win, and you can take advantage of it if you understand how to place your bets correctly. The betting options range from low risk, high risk, and anywhere in between. With such a great variety, players can feel comfortable and match their betting strategy with their risk tolerance. To keep things simple, we are going to be discussing the two primary categories of online roulette bets: Outside and Inside.

Outside Bets

Outside bets are for the more risk averse player, who is willing to forgo a large payout in exchange for a better chance of winning. The concept of the outside bet is that a player is not wagering any money on a specific number, but rather a certain category that a number falls into. These bets occur on the outskirts of the table of numbers, hence the term “outside bet.” Here are some of the most common categorical outside bets you are able to make at an online roulette table:

Red vs. Black

Players bet on the colour of the number selected being either red or black. The payout is 1:1 and is one of the most basic bets a player can make.

Odd vs. Even

Players bet on the number selected being either odd or even. The payout is 1:1, but players should keep in mind that if the ball lands on the 0 or 00 slot, they lose their wager.

Low vs. High

Players bet that the number selected will be low (1-18) or high (19-36). The payout is 1:1, but players should once again keep in mind that if the ball lands on the 0 or 00 slot, then they lose their wager.

Dozens

Players place their bet on one of three sets of 12 numbers. The first group contains the numbers (1-12), the second contains (13-24), and the third contains (25-36). If the number selected falls within the group you bet on, then you receive a 2:1 payout.

Columns

Players place their bet on one of three squares that reads “2:1.” Each square represents a column of 12 numbers that the player is betting on. You will find these squares typically at the bottom of the board. Players are betting the same amount of numbers as the Dozens bet, but the numbers are different.    

Inside Bets

Inside bets are for players who are able to tolerate a bit more risk in exchange for a larger payout. The concept of the inside bet, is that players wager on specific numbers within the inner section of the table, hence the term “inside bet.” Here are the most common inside bets you are able to make at an online roulette table:

Straight Up

Players place their bet on a single number. If that number is selected, the payout is 35:1. It is a very simple bet, but is much harder to win.

Split Bet

Players place their bet on two numbers that sit adjacent to each other, such as a 35 and 36. If the number selected is one of those two numbers, the payout is 17:1.

Street Bet

Players place a bet at the end of a row that contains 3 numbers. If one of the three numbers is selected, the payout is 11:1.

Corner Bet

Players place their bet at the corner of where 4 numbers meet. Very similar to the street bet, but increases your odds of winning by one number, and reduces the payout to 8:1.

Line Bet

Players place their bet between two adjacent rows that contain 3 numbers each. Players now have 6 numbers that will yield them a winning bet, and the payout is 5:1.

Basic Online Roulette Strategy and Tips

When it comes to online roulette strategy, you won’t find many roulette tactics that change the odds in your favour. No equivalent to card counting exists for roulette. One of the advantages of online roulette is that players don’t have to learn a bunch of complicated rules.

Instead, players should consider a couple different things:

• Their odds of winning with different types of bets and the betting structure of the game.
• The different variants of the game and how they impact the odds.

These things may seem obvious, but when a game is almost completely luck-based, it’s important to know the ins and outs of details you have control over. If there is one thing you take from this strategy section, it should be not to rush your bets. That’s the beauty of online gaming. You can take your time and really think through your next move.

When it comes to things players should avoid, we also have some tips:

Avoid Progressive Betting

Don’t use progressive betting schemes to make a roulette play, like the Martingale system. Progressive betting involves increasing the casino bet after every loss and resetting to the base bet after a winning bet. While these give the illusion that you’ll win after every bet sequence, it actually increases your risk of losing.

Say No to Betting Systems

Your brother-in-law, cousin, or neighbour might have a can’t lose combination of online roulette bets that they swear works. They’re wrong. So are any gaming experts who claim they have a betting system that assures wins when playing roulette at a casino.

Don’t Watch the Tally Board

The online roulette electronic tally tells players which numbers won in the past 10 to 20 spins. Ignore the tally board, because it is meaningless. Hot streaks and cold streaks are illusions. With a balanced roulette wheel (and most are balanced), each spin is independent of the other spins.

Ways to Play Roulette Online

With the evolution of the  casino industry, there are now more options than ever for players looking to play roulette online. As a player you can play from your phone, tablet, or computer.

• Phone / Tablet – More and more casinos are catering to mobile players. In some cases you can download a roulette or casino app to your phone and in almost every other case you can play online roulette directly through your phone’s browser. Options exist for both iOS and Android users.
• Laptop / Desktop – PC/Mac users can download the casino software directly to their computers in some cases. Otherwise, they can play roulette at any casino via their browser. Most roulette casinos will work with Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge.

Is playing online giving you the feeling of playing a video game more than playing at your favourite land-based casino? We have a solution for that. Live dealer roulette.

Deposit Options for Online Roulette

When it comes to playing a popular roulette casino games, it’s always important to know what your deposit options are at any online casino. Below are some of our favourite options for players that are usually available at every roulette casino we offer.

Debit/Credit

Debit cards and credit cards are the most popular banking option that is available at every casino we recommend. This deposit method is great for roulette players as it can usually be used for both deposits and withdrawals, which isn’t possible with all methods. Visa, Mastercard, Electron and Maestro are great credit and debit methods when choosing your roulette deposit option.

E-Wallet

You may be wondering what an E-wallet is and why it’s a good option for roulette players looking to make a deposit. PayPal and ecoPayz are two of the most popular options not just for casinos, but for everyday purchases. E-Wallets are extremely safe and even add an extra layer of security to the payment process which means you never have to worry about where your money is.

Cryptocurrency

Now this is a method that may not be available everywhere you play roulette, but that we do recommend using if you have the opportunity. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin are a safe, secure and most importantly, lightning-fast banking option for those who don’t like to fuss around with processing periods on their deposits and withdrawals. Any deposits or withdrawals you request for playing roulette should be instant with cryptocurrencies.

There are plenty of banking options like Interac, Bank Transfer and Pre-paid cards, the options we mentioned above are just the most commonly found at roulette casinos.

Live Dealer Roulette

We are a huge fan of playing any casino game with a live dealer. The experience is the closest thing a player can get to standing at a table at the casino, but from the comfort of your own couch. Many of our top recommended casinos offer a live option, not just for roulette online, but many other games too. See our Jackpot City Casino review to see their full catalogue of live dealer games.

When it comes to live roulette, the casinos don’t usually hire a staff to run their live studio. Instead, they license a live casino provider like Evolution Gaming or Ezugi. These croupiers spin real roulette wheels in the gaming studio somewhere in the world, which is streamed live to players’ computer screens in real time.

Evolution Gaming Live provides many of the live game options for casino players. Outside live roulette, Evolution offers live poker, blackjack and baccarat games. Evolution has studios in Riga, Latvia and Toronto. In order to cater to the Canadian market, English and French options are usually available.

Online Roulette Bonuses

Bonuses are one of the most exciting elements of playing roulette online. They often give your bankroll a hefty boost and allow you to maximize your deposits and earnings. When it comes to the most popular roulette bonuses, there are a couple that we like to make sure our players are ware of.

Here are some of the most common roulette bonuses at online casinos:

1. Welcome Bonus

New players receive a bonus for making their first deposit at a casino. The bonus is generally a match of the deposit. For example, you deposit $100, and the casino will match the deposit 100% with $100 in bonus cash. Some casinos allow players to use the bonus on roulette games.

2. Reload bonuses

These deposit bonuses are generally usable on table games like roulette. The match bonus portion is the portion usable for roulette games.

3. Free Bets

Free bets are exclusive to table games like roulette. As the name implies, players will get free bets to use on table games. Generally, free bets are worth between $25 and $50. The bet may have additional limitations, such as requiring the total bet to be used in a single round.

4. Cashback

Some online casinos will give cashback on roulette and other table games. With cashback, you get a percentage of your losses back as a casino bonus. Depending on the casino, you may have to lose your entire deposit to receive cashback.

Read the Fine Print Concerning Bonuses

When using roulette bonuses at online casinos, pay careful attention to the fine print. The two things to watch for are the rollover and wagering requirements. The rollover is the number of times a bonus must be wagered before you can cash it out. On average, you will have to wager the bonus 40x to cash out a casino bonus.

The wagering requirement is the percentage that each bet contributes to the rollover. At most casinos, roulette games contribute much less than other games. On average, roulette games contribute 10 to 15%. If the wagering requirement is 15%, only .15 of every $1 wagered goes toward the rollover.