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How to play Roulette

How to play Roulette

Roulette is one of the most exciting traditional casino games.Online casinos have taken the traditional game and expanded it into numerous variations for even more excitement.

This article will explain the basic rules and the common bets of traditional Roulette.For non-traditional versions of Roulette, you should contact the online casino directly for explanations on their variation.

Reading time: 7 minutes.

The Object of the Game

Every round of Roulette requires a ball to be spun around the edge of the Roulette wheel until the ball settles on a particular slot of the Roulette wheel.No two slots on the Roulette wheel are the same, and each one is a different number.Approximately half of the slots are coloured red, while the other half is coloured black.There is normally one (or two) green slots depending on the roulette wheel your online casino uses.

The Roulette Wheel

There are two common types of Roulette wheels in most casinos.The European wheel has 37 slots numbered from 0 to 36, whereas the American wheel has 38 slots numbered from 0 to 36, with an additional double zero (00) slot to increase the casino's odds.

The Betting Area

There are two distinct areas on the betting table.The "inside" betting area is where all of the numbers on the roulette wheel are.They are sorted numerically into twelve rows and three columns, with 0 and 00 centered at the top of the columns.The "outside" betting area surrounds the inside betting area with group betting options.

Types of Inside Bets

Roulette betsPlayers may bet on individual numbers, pairs of numbers, or groups of numbers by placing chips on the number itself or on the lines between numbers.

- Straight Up
A straight up bet is made when a player places a chip directly on a number on the table.If the ball lands on this number, the player will win their bet 35 to 1.

- Split Bet
A split bet is made when a player places a chip on the line between two numbers on the table.If the ball lands on either of the adjoining numbers, the player will win their bet 17 to 1.

- Street Bet
A street bet is made when a player places a chip on the line beside a row separating the inside and outside betting areas.This indicates that the player is betting on the entire row.If the ball lands on any of the numbers in that row, the player will win their bet 11 to 1.

- Corner Bet
A corner bet is made when a player places a chip on the corner of four touching numbers.If the ball lands on any of these numbers, the player will win their bet 8 to 1.

Types of Outside Bets

Outside bets are made by placing chips in the corresponding outside bet boxes.There are often referred to as group bets, because they have lower pay outs but group many of the numbers together into one bet.

- Red or Black Bet
The red or black outside bet is the most iconic roulette bet.A red or black bet is made when the player places a chip in the red or black box.If the ball lands on the colour that was bet, the player will double their bet.It is a common bet for new roulette players.

- Dozens (or Thirds) Bet
A dozens bet is made when a player places a chip on either the 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36 box.Each third contains twelve numbers in consecutive order.If the ball lands on any of the twelve numbers being bet, the player will win their bet 2 to 1.

- Column BetA column bet is similar to a dozens bet except the numbers are not consecutive.They consist of the twelve numbers in the vertical row being bet on.If the ball lands on any of the twelve numbers being bet, the player will also win their bet 2 to 1.

Online Casino Roulette

The betting table can be very intimidating at first.Try Roulette with small bets first until you understand the game and how to bet.To increase your odds at online roulette, it is advisable to find a European wheel based game.If you're new to Roulette, the best way to start is by jumping right in!

Roulette strategy playing

Roulette is probably the casino game with the most strategies attached to it. There are many ways to play the game in a strategy way that could give you more profit. We have a roulette strategy guide where you can read about the most played strategies.

Questions about Roulette

  • Is there a difference in offline and online Roulette?

    It depends on the version of the game you’re playing. If you are playing a live casino version of Roulette then the differences between online and offline Roulette are extremely minimal. While there might be some slight differences in how the bets are taken and paid out, the basic premise is identical. The wheel is spun by the dealer, bets are placed and then payouts are made. There are of course rule variations in place, but this can be the case no matter where you choose to play the game.

    When it comes to online Roulette that’s not played as a live casino version, then there are a few slight differences. Firstly, the wheel is spun using a random number generator rather than spinning an actual wheel. Secondly, there tends to be more rule variations on offer with this version of the game. In general though, the games do tend to be relatively similar, with just superficial differences between them.

  • How to choose the best casino for online Roulette?

    Choosing the best casino for online Roulette takes a number of different factors. The first thing you need to decide is what features are most important to you. Look into the different bonuses that are on offer, whether wagering requirements can be fulfilled by playing table games and everything else related to bonuses you need to know. It’s also important to look at the range of Roulette games that are available. If there is a small selection of Roulette titles, is it really worth playing there? Finally, payment methods are another very important aspect of choosing the right online casino. As a Canadian player it’s important to choose a casino that offers players the chance to use Canadian friendly methods.

    Once you have everything you need set out, then taking a look through our casino reviews will allow you to learn which casinos offer what you need. This step will make it simple for you to find the right casino to play online Roulette.

  • What happens if the ball hits 0?

    Depending on the version of the game you are playing there might be a single green zero or two green zeros. Basically, the zeros work like any other slot on the Roulette wheel. This means that you are able to place a bet on it if you like in combination with some other numbers. If you have chosen one of the even money bets and the ball lands on zero, then you will lose your bet.

    However, some games have an en prison or la partage rule in place. This means that if you have placed an even money bet then you will get another chance at earning your stake back. If the en prison rule is in place and the ball lands on zero after an even money bet then your stake remains in place for another spin. If your bet wins on this spin then you will receive your stake back, although you won’t get your winnings. La Partage is very similar. If this rule is in place then if the ball lands on zero after an even money bet then you will get half of your stake back instead of losing all of it.

  • Do Roulette systems really work?

    This all depends on how you apply it and what system you are using. Most mathematical based systems can work, however they also require a degree of luck and a large enough bankroll as well. When carrying out a system it’s important to make sure that you set your stake at a level that is lined up with the size of your bankroll.

    You might also come into trouble when using a strategy that relies on increasing the size of your bet consistently when losing. The reason behind this is that a lot of Roulette tables have a maximum stake in place. If you need to go above this maximum stake in order to break even then your system will soon fall apart. As such, it’s important to do your research for these systems to make sure that they are appropriate for the Roulette table you intend to play at.