How to Play Roulette Online
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Roulette is one of the most popular casino games, and it is believed to have been developed from the Italian game Biribi. Players choose to bet where the ball will land after it has been spun in the roulette wheel, and an array of different betting options are available.
We're here to cover the basics of how to play roulette games, the various betting options, variants of the game, basic strategies you can employ, and how to win.
CONTENTS
- How Do You Play Roulette?
- The Best Roulette Strategies
- How to Win at Roulette
- Where to Play Roulette Online
- Other "How to" Casino Game Guides
- How to Play Roulette: FAQs
HOW DO YOU PLAY ROULETTE?
Roulette is a casino game involving a spinning wheel with numbered pockets and a small, usually white ball released onto the wheel by a croupier. On the table is a grid of numbers and phrases outlining the available betting options for players trying to predict where the ball will land.
You can choose from individual numbers, groups of numbers, black or red colors, high or low, or other options you think the ball will land on. Learning how to play roulette is relatively straightforward and relies more on luck than skill, although you'll want to understand the table's layout and the different bet types available.
ROULETTE TABLE EXPLAINED
A regular roulette table roughly forms the shape of a rectangle. It is arranged into inside and outside sections corresponding to the inside and outside bets.
The inside section has 36 squares of either black or red, while the outside section has boxes that refer to groupings of numbers like columns, dozens, high or low numbers, even or odd numbers, or black or red numbers.
Depending on the game, there is also a significant zero (0) and double zero (00), depending on the variant you are playing. You can place your wagers on any of the squares on the table and combinations of the squares.
The wheel is numbered from 0 to 36, but the numbers do not go in order around the wheel or correspond to how they are laid out on the table.
Depending on the type of roulette title you are playing, the wheel will be different, with European wheels containing 18 red pockets, 18 black pockets, and one single green zero (0), while American wheels are the same but with an additional green double zero (00). The order in which the numbers go is designed to balance high, low, odd, and even numbers, and it will look different for European and American games.
ROULETTE BETTING OPTIONS
When it comes to roulette or any of its many variants, you need to know all the available betting options like the back of your hand. Various betting options and kinds of bets can be placed in roulette, primarily grouped into outside bets - also known as general picks - and inside bets.
OUTSIDE BETS
Outside bets, or general picks, cover some of the most well-known roulette wagers, such as black or red, odd or even, and high or low. They are a good choice for players who are just starting out. One of the pluses of an outside bet is they are more likely to succeed; however, outside bets do come with a lower payout.
Here are the different types of outside bets:
- Red or Black: You are betting on whether the ball will land on a red or black number. Black or red wagers pay out at even money, which means you will keep your original wager and the same amount back as winnings. The simplicity of these wagers makes them well-suited to beginners.
- Odd or Even: You are betting on whether the ball will land on an odd or even number. Like red or black, odd or even bets pay out at even money and are suitable for newcomers.
- High or Low: Most roulette tables are numbered 36, with 1-18 falling into the low category and 19-36 considered high. Another even-money bet that is good for beginners.
- Column: You will notice that a roulette table is split into three columns, so column bets refer to one of these columns. There are 12 numbers in each column, and you can place your bets on one, two, or three columns every round. The chances of winning on one column are higher than even-money wagers, paying 2 to 1.
- Dozens: The numbers on a roulette table are also divided into dozens, with 1-12 in the first dozen, 13-24 in the second dozen, and 25 to 36 in the third dozen. Like column wagers, one dozen pays out at 2 to 1.
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INSIDE BETS
Inside bets are named because they are found in the center of a roulette table and refer to individual numbers or specific combinations of numbers. Unlike outside bets, inside bets have a much lower chance of winning, but the payouts are much higher. Because of this, there is inherently more risk associated with inside bets, which makes them more suited towards experienced players.
- Straight/Single: These wagers are on single numbers, with players able to choose any number on the table from 1-36 and 0 or even 00 if they are playing the American Roulette variant. This is a simple bet, and the chances of winning are low, with payouts of 35 to 1 each.
- Split: You are covering two adjacent numbers on the roulette table with chips placed on the line between the two numbers, such as 16 and 17. Winning split bets pay out at 17 to 1, and remember that numbers next to each other on the table won't be next to each other on the roulette wheel.
- Street: Also known as row bets, these cover three numbers in a row and are all consecutive, such as 1, 2, 3 or 4, 5, 6. Place your roulette chips at the bottom of the row below the first number, with the payout for street wagers at 11 to 1.
- Corner: Also known as a square bet, a corner bet covers four numbers in a row that must form a square, such as 1, 2, 4, 5. Players place chips on the corner where the four numbers meet with payouts of 8 to 1.
- Basket: Also known as a sucker or five-number bet, these wagers are unique to American Roulette and include five specific numbers - the two zero pockets (0 and 0) as well as 1, 2, and 3. Their odds of winning are 6 to 1.
- Six Line: These cover six consecutive numbers on two adjacent rows such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - with odds of 5 to 1. They are sometimes referred to as a quint bet.
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THE BEST ROULETTE STRATEGIES
An important part of learning how to play roulette is understanding the different betting strategies, which will hopefully increase your chances of winning:
MARTINGALE
One of the more widely used strategies in roulette is the Martingale, which is based on recovering your losses. Losing bets require you to double your wager so that when you win again, you'll recover any previous losses and potentially gain a small profit. It is easy to understand and apply, but you may need a big bankroll, so the Martingale system is best suited to high-rollers.
PAROLI
With the Paroli Roulette strategy, the reverse of the Martingale is that if you lose a round, you keep your stake the same, but if you win, you double your stake. This is known as 'progression staking,' and the overall aim is to double your stake for three wins in a row, at which point you go back to your starting stake. It is also suitable for first-timers.
D'ALEMBERT
Created by a French mathematician in the 19th century, the D'Alembert system only works on even money wagers like black or red or high or low. Before starting, you decide on a set amount to act as a unit - for example, $1 - and if you win a bet, you decrease the next bet by one unit, and if you lose, you increase the next bet by one unit. It is a good option for first-timers as it is easy to pick up and useful for bankroll management, but you may not win considerable sums.
FIBONACCI
The Fibonacci strategy uses the Fibonacci sequence of numbers named after an Italian mathematician. The sequence is 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, etc, and in line with the sequence, you will make each stake from the sum of the two stakes before. Every time you lose a bet, you progress to the following number in the sequence, while each win takes you back two places or to the start. This system is best suited to risk-takers.
ANDRUCCI
Another one for risk-takers, the Andrucci strategy, is based on the chaos theory and relies on the idea that specific numbers will have periods where they appear more often over time on the roulette table. We only recommend this approach for players with big bankrolls.
LABOUCHERE
A system for high rollers, the Labouchere strategy is named after British politician and journalist Henry Labouchere and works on random number sequences. First, you decide how much you want to win - for example, $10 - and then break that figure down into smaller random numbers such as 1, 2, 4, 1, 2. You combine the furthest left and correct numbers in the sequence to make a bet (1 + 2 = $3). If it wins, you cross off those numbers, and if it loses, you don't cross off any numbers and add the bet (in this case, 3) to the far right of your sequence and start over.
HOW TO WIN AT ROULETTE
Despite the seemingly confusing numbers and bet types, roulette is still a simple game, with players winning by placing correct bets on where the ball will land.
In this section, we have outlined some tips that might help your chances of winning at roulette:
- Know the Odds: You should familiarize yourself with roulette odds and payouts for the different bet types so they become second nature.
- Pick the Right Roulette Variant: European Roulette has a lower house edge than American Roulette, while French Roulette has unique rules like 'La Partage' and 'En Prison'. There are also a host of other roulette variants offering different ways to play.
- Manage Your Bankroll: The best players exercise discipline, choosing an amount to wager with and sticking to it. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and learn how to manage your bankroll most effectively.
- Practice: We recommend utilizing free-play roulette games before wagering your own real money, especially if you are a new player or trying a variant out for the first time. Refine your approach, try different betting strategies, and get a feel for a game's dynamics and features before jumping in for real. Once you become more comfortable with the game's pace, you might even venture into live dealer roulette rooms.
- Remain Calm and Focused: The best players stay cool under pressure, whatever the circumstances. Don't gamble when you are feeling emotional, and we recommend avoiding alcohol as it could affect your play.
- Enjoy Your Play: Remember that you are playing to enjoy yourself, so focus on having fun and either take a break or stop altogether if that doesn't happen. Roulette is a game of chance, after all.
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ROULETTE VARIANTS
Roulette has many different variants, changing how the game is played. The main three types of roulette are American, European, and French, and they refer to where the games originated or became popular.
AMERICAN ROULETTE
An American roulette wheel has 38 numbers in total—1-36, zero (0), and double zero (00). The numbers 1-36 are either black or red, while 0 and 00 are green. The additional 00 slot increases the casino's advantage to 5.26%.
The maximum payout for a single number bet on an American Roulette wheel is 35 to 1. Here are the odds of success for the main bet types:
- Straight: 2.6%
- Split: 5.3%
- Street: 7.9%
- Corner: 10.5%
- Column/Dozen: 31.6%
- Red or Black/Odd or Even/High or Low: 47.4%
EUROPEAN ROULETTE
European Roulette tables look very similar to the American variant, with the only difference being that there is no double zero (00). There are 37 numbers, from 1 to 36 to zero (0), with 1 to 36 being either black or red, while 0 is green. The house edge for European Roulette is 2.7%.
Again, the maximum payout for a single number bet is 35 to 1. Here are the odds of success for the main bet types in European Roulette:
- Straight: 2.7%
- Split: 5.4%
- Street: 8.1%
- Corner: 10.8%
- Column/Dozen: 32.4%
- Red or Black/Odd or Even/High or Low: 48.6%
If you're still learning how to play roulette, we recommend you stick to the European version for a lower house edge.
FRENCH ROULETTE
French roulette is very similar to the European variant, with the same numbers and bet options but an even lower house edge of 1.35%. Unlike the American or European versions, French Roulette has two unique rules that make it a separate game - 'La Partage' and 'En Prison.'
The 'La Partage' rule is only applicable for even money wagers, and players get half of their wager back if the ball lands on a zero (0). The 'En Prison' rule sees the dealer mark all these wagers to keep them in place for the next round, where if your bet wins, you will get your stake back, and if the ball lands on zero (0) again, your bet will stay 'En Prison' for another spin.
WHERE TO PLAY ROULETTE ONLINE
You can play roulette at the real money online casinos below. Be sure to use our links to claim the associated welcome bonuses:
If real money casinos aren't legal in your state, or you want to play beyond demo mode, consider social casinos or sweepstakes casinos as alternatives. These platforms are a good way to learn how to play roulette in a lower stakes environment.
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OTHER "HOW TO" CASINO GAME GUIDES
Once you learn how to play roulette, you might want to master other casino games. Here are a few other "how to" guides and strategies to help you grow as a player.
HOW TO PLAY ROULETTE: FAQS
Below, we've compiled some common questions and answers about playing roulette. Read on to learn more!
HOW DO YOU PLAY ROULETTE FOR BEGINNERS?
If you're a roulette beginner, know that the game's essence is betting on where you think the ball will land on the wheel. You place your bets on the table and may bet on outcomes such which number, color, or row the ball will land on.
WHAT IS THE BEST STRATEGY FOR ROULETTE?
Players can implement a range of betting strategies, such as Martingale, Paroli, D'Alembert, Fibonacci, Andrucci, or Labouchere, which are believed to boost their chances of success. If you are looking to win more often or are new to roulette, we recommend outside bets, while experienced players who are happy to win less often but with bigger payouts should opt for inside bets.
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WHAT IS THE BEST BET IN ROULETTE?
The most significant returns in roulette are found in outside bets, with straight-up wagers on individual numbers paying out at 35 to 1 each. These bets won't win as often, but when they do, the payouts are much higher than even-money outside wagers like red, black, odd, or even.
HOW DO THE ODDS WORKS IN ROULETTE?
This varies depending on the roulette variant you are playing, but each bet type will have an accompanying percentage of success representing its odds. Even money bets like red or black have a 47.4% odds of success in American Roulette, while straight wagers have odds of success of just 2.6% but payout 35 to 1.
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HOW DO YOU PLACE A ROULETTE BET?
To play roulette, you must first join a game and then place your chips in specified positions on the table indicating your bet type. A straight-up number bet on one number requires chips on just that number, while other bets like column nets will require you to place chips on that option on the table.