How to Play Roulette Online

How to Play Roulette Online: Step-by-Step

Roulette is one of the easiest games to play, both online and in the casino. Once you understand some of the wagers and the payouts, you can easily start betting with confidence. We’ll dive deeper into the types of roulette games and wagers later on. First, here’s a quick, three-step guide to playing online.

Roulette Bets 

With lots of different roulette bets to choose from, it can often be difficult for beginners to know which options to target. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of the most popular roulette bets, explaining how each one works. 

It’s important to note that there are two main kinds of roulette bets: inside and outside bets.

• Inside Bets – these wagers have higher risk, higher reward. You’re betting on a smaller group of numbers for a potentially high payout. (Inside bets include Straight Up, Split, Street, Corner, Six-Line).
• Outside Bets – These wagers are low risk, low reward. They involve betting on groupings of numbers by placing your chips on the “outside” of the mat, such as on red or black, odd or even. (Outside bets include Red/Black, Odds/Even, High/Low, Columns, Dozens).

Inside Bets

Straight Up

This is a bet on a specific number. Although it’s a simple bet, the chances of winning are low. You can choose as many numbers as you like, and the payout is 35:1

Split

This bet enables you to cover two adjacent numbers by placing a chip on the line between your chosen numbers. Split bets pay out at 17:1, as you’re covering two options.

Street

This bet allows you to wager on a group of three numbers that are in order. Each column is made up of four streets (four columns of three numbers each). This wager pays out 11:1.

Corner

This bet allows you to place a wager on four adjacent numbers, hence the name “corner”. These numbers have to be within the same column and can’t cross over into another column. This wager pays out 8:1.

Six-Line

This bet is essentially betting on two adjacent streets, for a total of six numbers in order. This is the largest of the inside bets, and it pays 5:1.

Outside Bets

Red/Black

This is the classic roulette bet. As the name suggests, all you need to do is predict whether the ball will land on a red or black number. This bet pays out even money.

Odd/Even

This bet allows you to predict whether the winning number will be odd or even, meaning it covers 18 odd numbers or 18 even numbers. Again, the bet pays out even money.

High/Low

Numbers 1-18 are classed as low, while numbers 19-36 are classed as high. This even-money bet enables you to wager on the high or low end of the wheel.

Columns

A roulette table is separated into three columns, and this bet covers an entire column. Although the chances of winning are lower than other bets, the payouts are higher at 2:1.

Dozens

A roulette table is also divided into dozens: 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36. You can bet on which dozen the ball will land in. Like column bets, dozens pay out at 2:1.

Types of Online Roulette 

There are three main types of roulette: European, American, and French. While each variant is very similar, there are some notable differences that you should be aware of if you’re serious about learning how to win online roulette. 

Let’s take a closer look at the nuances of the three main roulette variants. 

American Roulette

An American wheel has 38 pockets. In addition to 37 pockets numbered 0-36, there is an extra pocket for double zero (00). Consequently, the house edge is higher. American Roulette is the most common variant of the game, despite being worse for players.

European Roulette

A European roulette wheel has 37 pockets numbered 0-36. European roulette also allows you to place call bets, which cover a group of numbers on the wheel as opposed to the table. Some high-end casinos also use this “call bets system”, but this feature is uncommon at online gambling sites.

French Roulette

Like European roulette, the French wheel has 37 pockets. However, there are unique bets like La Partage and En Prison that can return a portion of your stake when the ball lands on zero. 

• La Partage Rule: If you place an even-money bet (e.g., red/black, odd/even) and the ball lands on 0, you get half your bet back.
• En Prison Rule: Instead of losing your even-money bet on 0, the bet is “locked” for the next spin. If it wins, you get your full bet back.

Roulette House Edge 

For those unaware, the house edge is the advantage that the casino has over the player. The higher the percentage, the greater the advantage for the casino. Thankfully, most roulette games have a low house edge. 

• French – 1.35% (with La Partage)
• European – 2.70% 
• American – 5.26% 

As you can see, French roulette has the lowest house edge, while American roulette has the highest. The extra double zero pocket on an American wheel gives the casino more of an advantage.

Roulette Betting Systems

As you may have already noticed, roulette isn’t a game of skill. It’s all about luck, as it’s impossible to predict where the ball will land on the wheel.

However, there are some betting systems you can use to help minimize losses and improve overall return. These systems have nothing to do with the ball or roulette wheel, and instead involve the size and frequency of your wagers.

There are multiple betting systems for roulette, but the four most popular include:

Answering Common Roulette Questions

It only makes sense that we dedicate a section of our online roulette guide to answering some of the most commonly asked questions about the game.

Is Online Roulette Fixed?

Answer

Isaac Payne,

When you play roulette online, you’re likely playing either an RNG game, or a live dealer game. Computer roulette is powered by certified random number generators (RNG), while live dealer games have measures in place to prevent cheating. So, no, online roulette is not fixed.

What's the best roulette strategy?

Answer

Isaac Payne,

Because roulette is a game of chance, anyone trying to sell you a strategy is lying. The best strategy is to follow basic gambling principles. These include setting a budget, betting within your means, and avoiding impulse bets or intoxicated wagering.

What other kinds of roulette are there?

Answer

Isaac Payne,

While American, European, and French are the main variants, they are not the only ones! Mini roulette uses a smaller wheel, auto roulette is a live dealer game with no croupier, and multi-ball roulette ups the stakes with more than one ball.

Please Gamble Responsibly

Gambling can easily become more than a hobby. Remember to gamble responsibly. Set limits and stick to them. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of gambling addiction to protect yourself and your loved ones.

• National Problem Gambling Helpline
• National Council on Problem Gambling State Directory
• Gamblers Anonymous

Start Spinning the Roulette Wheel Today

Now that you’ve been familiarized yourself with the main kinds of roulette (American, European, and French) and understand both inside and outside bets, you’re ready to start playing!

Online roulette is very similar to in-person roulette, but it’s a bit faster. Make sure to take the time to get comfortable with the controls for RNG and live-dealer roulette games before betting real cash. You can often play demo games at places

like Las Atlantis or other roulette casinos.

Good luck, and remember to gamble responsibly!