Roulette

The name roulette which comes from the French “little wheel” is one of the most popular and enjoyable online casino games. Most casinos offer a number of variants including:

• Classic
• Double Ball
• Live
• French
• European
• Premium

Single and multi-player modes are generally available and rules may differ between the variants.

Online Roulette Rules and Betting Limits

The roulette wheel consists of alternating red and black numbered pockets. The number of pockets will vary depending on which version the casino offers. The American system generally uses a wheel with 38 slots including a zero and a double zero while the European wheel has 37 pockets with one zero.

Although strategies and side bets add an extra dimension, the principle of the game is straightforward – the player bets on the ball landing on a certain number or group of numbers. Players bet against the house and not fellow gamblers with each participant distinguished by different coloured chips. In roulette games, betting limits vary considerably. This means that conditions are ideal for both the newbie who is just dipping his toe in the water and the more experienced player looking to play for high stakes.

How to Play Roulette

The game begins with a player placing a bet, within the house limits. Once all the bets are received the wheel is spun and the ball is rolled in mid-spin. When the ball has settled in one of the pockets and the wheel stops, the game is concluded by paying the winners or collecting the money for the house.

For online roulette games, all of the numbers are selected by a Random Number Generator (RNG). To ensure strict conditions of fair play, this is licensed and tested by an independent third party company.

Types of Bets Which Can Be Placed

Bets which fall into inside and outside categories can be placed on one or more numbers whether it’s red or black, odd or even.

• Straight up Bet – One numbered covered (inside bet). Payout odds are 35:1.
• Corner Bet – Four numbers covered (inside bet). Payout odds are 8:1
• Split Bet – Two numbers covered (inside bet). Payout odds are 17:1.
• Line Bet – Six numbers covered (inside bet). Payout odds are 5:1.
• Street Bet – Three numbers covered (inside bet). Payout odds are 11:1.
• Even Odd Bet – Eighteen numbers covered (outside bet). Payout odds are 1:1
• Colour Bet – Eighteen numbers covered (outside bet). Payout odds are 1:1.
• High Low Bet – Eighteen numbers covered (outside bet). Payout odds are 1:1.
• Column Bet – Twelve numbers covered (outside bet). Payout odds are 2:1.
• Should the ball settle in the zero pocket the player can take back half of his bet.

The European version of roulette, with its fewer pockets, offers a higher probability of a win.­

Playing Live Casino

When the time comes to sign up for a live casino account and play for real money there are a number of things to consider. For example, while large welcome bonuses are very tempting the advantages are often offset by the rules around wagering requirements and cashing in your winnings.

So be sure to compare promotions and newbie offers carefully. Also, take into account the casino’s reputation, site security, customer service support and learn how quickly payouts are made. Most importantly take some time to read through the Terms and Conditions. As with any online casino game, there sometimes exist some pretty unfair stipulations.

Online Roulette Summary

Roulette, despite its larger house edge (in comparison to some other table games) remains very popular. Basic rules are easy to pick up. And once you’ve taken the time to learn more about some of the strategies it becomes an absorbing, exciting game that can actually be quite profitable.

You can play roulette casino games on PCs, Android and iOS devices. However, using 4g or a wireless connection is highly recommended. Like other casino games, roulette software is provided by a number of leading companies including:

• Playtech
• NetEnt
• Microgaming
• IGT

Online Game Versions

A few aspects of roulette like minimum and maximum betting levels as well as game variations may be different. With that said, the main rules of the game (either European or American) remain the same irrespective of which software the casino uses. Most distinctions relate to subtle gameplay nuances as well as the quality of graphics. For all games of roulette, the long-term average expected Return to Player (RTP) is 97.30%. Here’s a run-down explaining some of the most popular versions of online roulette. They’ve been developed by some of the biggest developers in the industry.

Auto Roulette Live

As the name infers, Auto Roulette doesn’t feature any dealers. Instead, the wheel is spun automatically after participants have placed their bets. The Auto Roullete Live variant follows the La Partage rule and is especially popular among standard gamers because of the low betting requirement.

Auto Roulette Low

Auto Roulette Low is played using European rules and is also well suited to those with small-to-medium budgets. This version doesn’t have a dealer either and is heavily influenced by French betting by including ‘tiers’, ‘orphelins’ and ‘voisins du zero’ wagering options.

Auto Roulette VIP Live

Whenever you come across a classic table game with VIP in the title, the chances are it’s going to more suited to players with high bank-rolls. However, this roulette variant is something of an exception to the rule. Although it does feature quite a lofty betting limit of $20,000, the game also has a small entry requirement of only 20c.

Classic Roulette

The quintessential game for enthusiasts of traditional rules, this version follows the classic European format. It uses a wheel that comprises a single zero pocket and allows bets such as voisins su zero, black/red splits and tiers du cylinder. Suitable for players of all budgets, this particular online roulette game offers a no-frills experience that’s free of the visual accoutrements present with many of the more recent live roulette game variants.

Double Ball Roulette

Double Ball Roulette is played with two balls, of which at least one must end up in a player’s chosen pocket in order to pay out. Those looking to up the ante can place an outside bet. For these types of wagers, both balls must land within the desired number range for a win. Because of this, many players opt instead to focus on inside bets simply because the odds of better.

Dolphins Roulette

This kind of live online roulette game is becoming increasingly popular with web-based players. It fuses basic French roulette rules with an online slot bonus game in which players can make side-bets. The slot is based on Dolphin’s Pearl – a single reel title that can pay up to 80 times your initial stake.  Although probably not the liking of traditionalists, Dolphins Roulette is certainly an entertaining take on a classic theme.

French Roulette Gold

Classic European rules such as La Partage are in play for French Roulette Gold which means a higher RTP. It also means that players can make some of their money back should the ball land in the zero-pocket. Developed by Microgaming, the game comprises a pretty basic interface which won’t be to everybody’s liking. However, Evolution casinos have also developed a live version which, needless to say, looks far more polished. Like all live roulette games from this esteemed developer, it’s overseen by professional, fully-trained croupiers.

Immersive Roulette Live

Immersive Roulette Live showcases the strides made by Evolution in live dealer casino play over the past decade. The game is played with standard European rules and features an assortment of HD cameras that stream gameplay from all manner of different angles. As well as detailed statistics and in-game chat, players can also access slow-motion replays of key moments. All games are dealt by Female croupiers and make use of official casino gaming equipment such as an authentic roulette wheel.

Roulette Live

Netent has also thrown its hat into the ring when it comes to roulette games. This variant is played with traditional European rules and a wheel that’s numbered from 1 to 36 with a single zero pocket. Although not quite as engaging as Evolution’s Immersive masterpiece, Roulette Live employs a betting time limit that makes for high-paced, exciting game-play. Needless to say, games are beamed in crisp HD.

Best Places to Play Roulette Online

Given the game’s huge popularity, it’s difficult to imagine an online casino that would not have roulette on its list of table games. Indeed, there exist a multitude of variations. So how does a new player decide which one to go for?

Many online casinos now offer the play free Roulette option (some casinos call it the play for fun option). This is a great way to learn the rules and develop your own strategic approach. You’ll also be able to get a feel for the pace and etiquette of the game without denting your bank-roll.

Check out our favoured casinos for playing online Roulette in the list below.