Roulette is a casino game adored by millions. It offers very exciting gameplay, and there are many different ways to bet, making the game versatile yet super straightforward to learn.
For gamblers worldwide, the idea of placing bets based solely on chance while watching a spinning roulette wheel decide your fate is an excitement that has kept the game a players-favorite since the start of the 1700s. Because of this, the game has become a mainstay for online casinos, and more recently, mobile casinos, with live roulette being one of the most popular live dealer games on offer. The same goes for regular online roulette.
If you are looking to join the fun and learn how to play roulette online, all you have to do is read this guide, and you will be playing and having a blast in no time. Before we go any further, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of playing roulette games at legal and licensed US sites, like the following.
Understanding the Roulette Wheel
To learn the game, you first need to understand how the roulette wheel works. The roulette wheel consists of slots (known as frets) numbered from 1-to 36, in the colors red and black. These frets are the betting options players can combine to make straightforward or more unique bets.
American vs European Roulette Odds
The odds of winning roulette depend on the version you are playing. As we said, the roulette wheel consists of 36 frets, numbered 1-36. However, one or two zero frets represent the house edge, and the amount depends on the roulette version you are playing. There are only two types of roulette tables that offer a different chance of winning.
American roulette:
The American roulette table consists of a single zero and double zero wheel. This means that there are 38 frets. However, when a player places a bet on the number 7, the payout ratio will still be 35-1. That is how the roulette table gets its house edge, and in American roulette, it’s the highest. Here the house edge sits at 5.26%.
European roulette:
European roulette should always be a gambler’s first choice between the two. With a house edge of only 2.70%, it is almost half that of American roulette. Why? Because here you only have a single zero fret, compared to America’s extra double zero. Keep in mind that not all online casinos offer European roulette, but if they do, be sure to play that casino game with higher odds version instead.
French roulette – the best edge
French roulette gives its players by far the best chances of winning. It is played on a European roulette table, but it offers an even lower house edge thanks to its “La Partage” rule (which will be discussed later on). This cuts the already low 2.7% house edge to a further 1.35%, making it the best odds of all the roulette games.
There are plenty more online roulette games to enjoy, and online gambling even bred some. For instance, rapid roulette is the live table game version found on almost every top online casino.
Others include double ball, multi-wheel, mini-roulette and more.
Roulette Table Layout & Chips
For all roulette games, you are presented with a table consisting of all the numbers where you can place your bets before the next spin. While there are a few roulette game versions, they all have similar table layouts, minimum stakes, and bet types. Let us look at some crucial factors before you start playing roulette:
Minimum Stakes
All casino games have minimum and maximum bets you can place, and it is no different from any other roulette game. However, few people know that the type of bet may affect the minimum bet amount or even the maximum bet amount.
Usually, minimum bets for live roulette games can be anywhere from $0.1 to $2, and maximum bets might be $1000 and stretch to $500 000. It all depends on what online casino you are playing at, but we noticed the average minimum bet usually sits around $1.
Knowing the minimum bets is quite essential for players who do not have so much to gamble. If you feel it is still too high, you might want to play blackjack or slots instead as a way to win at the casino with $20 or smaller bankrolls.
Outside and Inside Roulette Bets
There are different ways to place your minimum bet, and it depends on whether you make inside bets or outside bets (we will explain the different bet types of roulette later on). For example, let us say the minimum bet is $1. Here are the types of minimum bets you can make:
Outside bets: Choosing to make an outside bet requires the players to bet the total $1 amount on his/hers chosen bet.
Inside bets: If the players bet an inside, the sum of the different bets has to add up to $1.
Roulette Chips & Their Values
The roulette chips are different from the other table games typically found on the casino floor. Roulette uses its own chips of different colors that can not be used for any other casino games.
This is because every player at the roulette table gets their color chips to help the dealer know whose bets are placed where on the table. It also makes the payout quicker as the dealer knows who got the winning bets.
Gamblers can either pay with cash at the roulette table or swap their standard casino chips for roulette ones to get these chips.
Countdown and the Roulette Wheel in Action
Whether you want to play on the casino floor or see the roulette wheel spinning via a live stream from your mobile device, the betting action stays the same. All bets are placed on specific numbers or combinations of the table, which players think is a winning number.
As the round starts, the dealer spins the roulette wheel and places the ball in a different wheel that spins in the opposite direction. While the ball spins, players still have a chance to lay down their bets until the dealer says “no more bets”. As the wheel slows down, the ball will land on one of the 37 or 38 frets as it comes to a halt. Whoever has a relevant bet on the single number where the ball is, wins the bet.
Roulette Bets & Payouts
Whether you are playing online roulette or at a real casino table, there are many ways to bet. These different bet types can be categorized into two sections, inside and outside bets. Let us take a closer look at the sections and the different types of bets you can make while using the photo as a reference:
Inside bets:
Inside bets focus on the inside part of the board, which are the numbers. Players can bet on numbers or number combinations. Inside bets offer the biggest payouts but the lowest odds of winning. The following fall under inside bets:
Straight-up bet: It’s called a straight bet for a reason. Players bet on a specific number between 1 and 36. The payout is 35 to 1.
Split bet: This is where players bet on two adjacent numbers in one bet. The payout ratio decreases to 17 to 1. For example: 5 & 6 or 8 & 9.
Square bet: This bet is also known as a corner bet. That is because players bet on 4 number that is situated together. For example, nr 1,2,4,5 is a square you can bet on and if it lands, the payout is 8 to 1.
Street bet: This bet covers one row on the table (three consecutive numbers such as 10, 11, and 12). The payout ratio here is 11 to 1.
Five number bet: Here, money wagers are placed on five numbers that include 0, 00, 1, 2, 3. The payout is only 6 to 1 and is one of the worst bets you can make in roulette.
Six Number bet: This bet covers two street lines on the table. It includes six numbers. For example 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. The payout here is 5 to 1.
Outside bets:
These bets are placed outside of the numbers area. Players can make betting combinations that cover much more of the board but lower payouts.
Red or black: Bet on whether the ball will fall on a red or black fret. This is one of the most popular money bets with a payout ratio of 1 to 1.
Odd or even: Players can wager on the winning bet to be an odd or even number. It offers an even money bet of 1 to 1.
Low or high: This bet splits the number into two sections. This means players bet on the winning number to be between 1-18 or 19-36. It also gives an even money payout of 1 to 1.
Column bet: This bet allows players to bet on one of the three columns on the board. For example, 2 – 35. Payout is a solid 2 to 1.
Dozen bet: This bet covers 12 numbers. There are three 12 number boxes, 1-12, 13 -24, 25-36. Payout stands at 2 to 1.
Tips to Play Roulette as a Newbie
Although roulette is an exciting game, and we want you to enjoy it, having a plan or betting system will increase your chances of winning at the online casino with $20 or even smaller bankrolls. Roulette for beginners can be pretty tricky, even with its favorable casino odds. Let’s look at a few tips and tricks to help you land get a winning number:
Don’t go the big pay outs:
It is hard not to go for the high-risk, high-reward bets when you play roulette. But players should try to stay clear of it once they start. Sticking to outside best with low payouts will give you a better chance of hitting a winning bet. Also, do not put too much money on the line at first. Starting small allows you to place more bets and extend your playing time.
Use betting systems:
One of the most popular ways to mitigate your losing bets is following a betting system. The most popular one is the martingale system, and it works for both American roulette games and European roulette. The martingale system only works if you bet on even money bets (1 to 1 payouts). This means only bets like odds or even, black and white and higher or lower will work and not straight bets or any other with a higher payout.
The idea is that if you bet an amount and lose, the next bet you should double your amount. This way, you will have made back your full amount lost whenever you win. Keep in mind that if you go on a losing streak, this system will eat away your money very quickly.
Know when to stop:
Any roulette for dummies guide will advise their readers to take precautions when gambling. Even though roulette is very beginner-friendly and consists of easy bets, the house always has the edge, and players should keep that in mind. When you go on a losing streak, knowing when to stop playing to mitigate further losses is vital.
Best Roulette Casino Apps for Beginners
Thanks to today’s free casino apps, if you want to play online roulette, you can do it straight from your mobile device. With many roulette variations and different online casino operators, choosing a site can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Whether you want to play standard online roulette or a very popular live stream version, our recommended apps have them all.
Live streaming roulette has become a mainstay in the online casino industry, and you can find these versions at some of the best online sites in the US. These online roulette streams have a live dealer and roulette wheel to give you the real-life roulette playing experience, all from the comforts of your own home. Here are some of the best roulette casino apps for you to download:
These casino apps are all licensed and authorized online casinos that are regulated by higher authorities to ensure safe, secure, and fair gambling activities. Players in selected US states can join and play roulette real money with an instant play no deposit bonus, free sign up bonus, etc. Joining any of the above removes any worries of DraftKings roulette rigged, BetMGM table games rigged, or FanDuel roulette rigged. All operators listed are safe and their roulette tables are tested regularly by 3rd parties.
The Easiest Roulette Casino App
Out of all the iOS/Android casino apps we recommended, there is one we believe to be best suited for beginners. It is the highly reputable Golden Nugget Casino.
For beginners, this real money iPhone casino app offers everything you could ask for. With 13 roulette games to choose from, you can play almost every version and make all the bets you want.
You can enjoy American roulette, European roulette, French roulette, roulette advanced, and 3 live roulette versions once you are familiar with the game. Other versions include double bonus spin roulette, 100/1 roulette, and 777 Blazing roulette. We know you might not know how to play all these versions to perfection just yet, but no need to worry. For any roulette game you wish to play, Golden Nugget Casino offers their customers a demo version to play before they have to play with real money.
As we said, the casino is fully licensed so that our readers can enjoy safe gambling and excellent customer service if needed. The Golden Nugget promo code can also boost your balance massively, with up to $2,000 and 200 free spins as a match to play free online roulette.
How to play roulette at an Online Casino
If you are still a bit nervous about sitting around a real roulette table, online roulette for beginners might be a better place for you to start. You can either choose to play regular online roulette, where gamblers play with the computer or via a live stream which is more of an authentic experience. Lightning Roulette is one of such titles available at DraftKings live dealer casino.
With the standard online roulette, new players who have never played the game before can enjoy it with no pressure and clear instructions to guide them through the gameplay. You will have more confidence to play and leave you enough time and direction to enjoy an exciting game with no haste whatsoever.
The roulette live dealer option is one of the best and most popular forms of online gambling. Those that feel a bit more confident can try these live dealer rooms. Gamblers will have time limits as real dealers are present along with other players. You will have a set amount of time before the wheel spins, and the next round starts.
If you are interested in playing online, our recommended apps have some of the best online roulette games in the US. Simply click on the link to get your app downloaded now.
Roulette Rules to Keep in Mind
When playing European roulette, there are two additional rules you might come across. Note: These rules only apply on even money bets such as odd/even, high/lower, and red/black.
La Partage rule:
When this rule applies, the game is usually referred to as French Roulette. This rule states that players who place even money bets will only lose half their money if the ball lands on the green zero.
En Prison rule:
En Prison is a spin-off of the La Partage rule. Once a player’s even money bet lands on a green zero, the bet amount is split in half. However, in this version, the player must re-bet the amount on the next spin.
Summary
So, there you have it. Now you know how to play roulette in a land-based casino and online. If you still need some practice, maybe go to the casino and have a watch. Looking at people playing will help you learn roulette table etiquette, which is also very important.
Another way to get familiar with the game is by signing up for a free online roulette game before you start playing for real money. Some online casino sites even allow new customers to try demo versions of their casino games before playing for real money.
Either way, the game is straightforward and super fun, so you will have a good time either way.
