Roulette
Quick Summary
Roulette is a classic casino game that is loved for its excitement and simplicity. Players bet on numbers, colors, or groups of numbers while a small ball spins on a wheel. The game has different versions and various betting options, making it enjoyable for both beginners and experienced players.
Basic Rules of Roulette
- The game revolves around a spinning wheel with numbered sections (1-36) colored in red and black, plus one or two green zero pockets (0 and 00 in American Roulette).
- Players place bets on a table layout that corresponds to the wheel numbers.
- The dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball.
- The ball lands on a number, determining the winning bets.
Types of Bets
Roulette bets are divided into two main categories:
- Inside Bets (higher risk, bigger payouts)
- Straight Up – Bet on a single number (pays 35:1)
- Split – Bet on two adjacent numbers (pays 17:1)
- Street – Bet on three numbers in a row (pays 11:1)
- Corner – Bet on four numbers in a square (pays 8:1)
- Line – Bet on six numbers in two rows (pays 5:1)
- Outside Bets (lower risk, smaller payouts)
- Red/Black – Bet on the color of the winning number (pays 1:1)
- Even/Odd – Bet on whether the number is even or odd (pays 1:1)
- High/Low – Bet on numbers 1-18 or 19-36 (pays 1:1)
- Dozens – Bet on groups of 12 numbers (pays 2:1)
- Columns – Bet on a vertical column of numbers (pays 2:1)
Special Bets (European and French Roulette)
- Voisins du Zero – Covers 17 numbers around zero.
- Tiers du Cylindre – Covers 12 numbers opposite zero.
- Orphelins – Covers the remaining numbers.
- Jeu Zero – A smaller bet on numbers close to zero.
Online and Live Roulette
- Online Roulette: Players use virtual chips and an RNG (Random Number Generator) determines the outcome.
- Live Dealer Roulette: A real croupier spins the wheel in a live-streamed casino setting, making the experience more interactive and social.
Popular Roulette Variations
- European Roulette: 37 pockets (single zero), lower house edge (2.63%).
- American Roulette: 38 pockets (double zero), higher house edge (5.26%).
- French Roulette: Includes special rules (La Partage & En Prison) to lower losses.
- Double Ball Roulette: Played with two balls, offering more chances to win.
Roulette Strategies
While roulette is a game of chance, some strategies can help manage bets:
- Martingale: Double the bet after a loss to recover losses quickly.
- Fibonacci: Follow a mathematical sequence to adjust bets.
- D’Alembert: Increase bets slowly after a loss and decrease after a win.
Conclusion
Roulette is an exciting and simple casino game with many betting options and variations. Whether playing online, in a live casino, or using a strategy, the thrill of watching the ball land on a winning number keeps players coming back for more!
More about Roulette
Besides slots and card games, roulette is one of the staples of any casino lobby. It is a basic game of chance with a long history, yet it brings excitement with every wheel spin to new generations of players year after year. Roulette evokes glamour while delivering simplicity and thrills, allowing both beginners and seasoned players to test their luck in the way they see fit. The roulette wheel is big enough for everyone!
Online Roulette Games
Roulette Bets in US Casinos
Roulette is a game built around a spinning wheel divided into sections. Each of the sections is presented on a betting layout, aka the betting table. The props that round up the game are chips, which substitute real money, and the ball, which goes into the wheel and determines the winning number.
Roulette bets are designed to cover various aspects in the game, starting from the numbers themselves. Each section of the wheel is numbered. So, players can bet on specific numbers. Furthermore, these sections are colored red or black. The only section which is different is the green zero section. With all this in mind, players can start contemplating possible bets.
The way the sections on the wheel are represented on the roulette table also influences how certain bets are made. The rows and columns on the board can represent bets. Placing chips on the line which divides certain parts of the board can also be a bet. But, let’s not ramble on and explain each bet separately in a table.
Inside Bets and Outside Bets
Broadly speaking, roulette bets are divided into inside and outside bets.
- Inside bets are placed on individual numbers or specific number combinations. They are in the center of the table layout.
- Outside bets provide a wider table coverage, involving categories of numbers.
| Bet Name | What it Covers | Where To Place the Chip | Payout |
| Inside Bets | |||
| Straight Up | A single number | On the chosen number(s) | 35:1 |
| Split | Two numbers | In the middle of two numbers | 17:1 |
| Street | Three numbers | At the beginning of a horizontal lane | 11:1 |
| Corner | Four numbers | In the middle where the four number borders intersect | 8:1 |
| Basket (Sucker) | Five numbers (in American version only) | On the end of the line separating 0 and 00 from other numbers to cover 0-00-1-2-3 | 6:1 |
| Line | Six numbers | At the beginning where the two rows intersect | 5:1 |
| Outside Bets | |||
| Column | Twelve numbers | At the bottom of the chosen column, on the 2 to 1 field | 2:1 |
| Dozen(s) | Three possible groups: 1-12, 13-24 and 25-36 | On fields 1st 12, 2nd 12 or 3rd 12 | 2:1 |
| Red/Black | All red or all black numbers | On the red or black field | 1:1 |
| High/Low | Eighteen numbers, 1-18, 19-36 | On fields 1-18, 19-36 | 1:1 |
| Even/Odd | Eighteen numbers, even or odd | On fields Even or Odd | 1:1 |
The Racetrack Layout and Called Bets
Besides inside and outside bets, there is another group of bets in roulette. These bets are known as called, announced, or racetrack bets. The racetrack layout is present in selected European or French Roulette games, showcasing the numbered pockets on the wheel in their correct sequence. It has an oval shape and is easily recognized.
The bets in this context follow specific patterns on the layout. Here’s their breakdown below:
Neighbors of Zero (Voisins du Zero)
This bet covers 17 numbers that are closest to 0 pocket on the roulette wheel. It makes sense to cover numbers surrounding 0, given the name of the bet. However, one has to be aware that this bet includes a large section of the wheel, using a combination of other bets such as corner, split, and basket. Some tables may refer to Voisins du Zero as Series 0/2/3.
Don’t be surprised to see that this is a 9-chip bet. As for payouts, they can vary. Returns offered include 1:1, 10:1, and 16:1. The odds of winning are 45.9%.
Thirds of the Wheel (Tiers du Cylindre)
Thirds of the Wheel allows players to bet on 12 numbers at once, and these numbers are located on the opposite side of the wheel to the Voisins du Zero area. The name comes from the fact that this wager occupies nearly one third of the layout.
The Tiers du Cylindre bet combines split bets, and comes with solid odds of winning (32.4%). The payout is 17:1.
Zero Game (Jeu Zero)
This combination involves a 4-chip bet with 3 splits and a straight up on number 26. In total, the wager covers 7 numbers (0, 3, 12, 15, 26, 32, 35). It is similar to the Voisins du Zero wager, allowing you to bet on numbers closest to the green 0 pocket.
The odds of winnings are 18.9%, and the payout varies depending on the individual bets. For splits, you can get a 17:1 payout, whereas the straight up bet on 26 can award a 35:1 payout.
The Orphans (Orphelins)
The Orphans focuses on the remaining numbers that are not included in the Voisins du Zero or Tiers du Cylinder bets. The number includes pockets from 1 to 9 and 6 to 17. Usually, this is a 5-chip bet which consists of 4 split bets and one straight up bet.
The splits offer a payout of 17 to 1, and the straight up bet awards a 35:1 payout, as per usual. The odds of winning are 21.6% for the Orphelins wager.
Roulette Chips in Online Games
One of the essential elements of every online roulette game is the chips. The chips serve to represent your betting funds in the game. Unlike on the casino floor, where you place the chips yourself and the dealer keeps track of your chips on the table, online roulette uses dedicated software to supervise the bets. The chips are managed virtually, and they usually have different denominations and different colors to reflect their value.
When the betting time opens in an online game of roulette, you will have the chance to select from an array of virtual chips. You click on the chip and then on the betting table to place it in the corresponding position.
It’s possible to place different-value chips, or more of the same chips, on the same bet. Once you’re finished selecting the chips, you can confirm the bet, and only then will the software register it as a placed bet for the round.
Live Casino Games: Roulette with Croupier
The live roulette experience is the closest to visiting a land-based casino and betting at a physical roulette table. Before we dive into live dealer roulette, it’s important to emphasize that the rules, odds and overall gameplay doesn’t differ significantly from other forms of roulette.
In other words, the rules of RNG online American roulette and live casino American Roulette are the same. Partly, this is what makes live dealer roulette games so attractive. You don’t have to learn any new rules while interacting with a qualified croupier, enjoying boosted visuals through a seamless real-time stream from the comfort of your home.
How live roulette works? Live roulette games are produced in specialized studios by companies that recreate a land-based casino setting. Once you launch a live dealer roulette game, you will see the croupier by the wheel. They will greet you and react to your comments in the chat.
The croupier releases the ball to start the round. Of course, you are previously prompted to place your bet(s). Cameras shoot the wheel from various angles, especially from above while it rotates. As the wheel slows down, the camera focuses on the ball, capturing the exact moment it stops and enters the winning pocket. The dealer will announce the winning number and the winning bets will receive corresponding payouts.
Live casino roulette has interesting variants will multipliers and special effects that are nor available in RNG online games. In addition, they allow you to interact not only with the dealer but with other players, as well. The gameplay is more social and, many would agree, more exciting.
How Do You Play Online Roulette?
If you’re new to online roulette, seeing the table, the betting options, and the wheel itself may be overwhelming. How do you approach the gameplay? What comes first? Sit back, relax, and let us explain every step of the process in detail.
Choose the roulette game
After registering at one of the best USA online casinos, visit the lobby to review its roulette games. Pick the one you wish to play and launch it. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the game’s interface, settings and controls.
Wait for the betting time to start
An on-screen notification will inform you the betting time has started. Within this period, you need to decide on your wagers, pick the chips, and place them on the betting layout. Once the time expires, all bets will be closed and you will no longer be able to add or remove any chips. The exact betting time depends on the type of game you’re playing. However, it is 20 to 25 seconds in most online roulette variations.
Observe the round play out
As soon as the betting time is over, the ball is released and the wheel starts spinning. In this stage of the game, everything is up to chance. The game will not keep you in suspense for long, as the bets are settled the moment the wheel comes to a halt.
The ball settles into one of the sections, and the winning number is announced. The round is concluded with the winning bets paid. The losing wagers result in funds being deducted from the player’s balance.
A new round can commence
New betting time opens, and players are free to place their next bet. The round replays in the same way.
Different Roulette Versions Online
No matter how classic the game of roulette is, software development allows for the gameplay to branch out into different online variations. These new and different roulette types maintain the core rules and elements of the game. However, they include special modifiers or slight bending of the rules on top of the essentials. As a result, players can enjoy enhanced roulette types with more options to win, more thrills, and greater visual appeal.
Check out our descriptions of the most popular roulette versions you can play at casinos online in the USA.
European Roulette
Many consider European Roulette to be the basic version of the game. Many casino software developers have built upon it to create their own innovative roulette variants.
In European Roulette, the wheel has 37 sections. It includes numbers from 1 to 36, scattered in random order. The numbers occupy either black or red pockets. The only green pocket is reserved for the zero. There is only one zero in European Roulette which is why this variation is widely known as single-zero roulette.
The majority of players prefer European Roulette to other types due to low house advantage. The chances to win are solid when the house has an edge of only 2.63%.
American Roulette
If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas, you’ve seen mostly American Roulette wheels and tables. They have the standard zero and another section with a double zero. This game ups the stakes in the sense that the pacing is typically faster, and the house edge is much higher.
One may think an additional pocket can’t have such a significant impact, but it does. The extra zero pocket on the wheel pushes the house advantage up to 5.26%. The way the numbers are scattered across the wheel is also slightly different in American Roulette, but this minor difference doesn’t affect the gameplay as much.
French Roulette
Online French Roulette is much rarer at online casino sites in the USA. It’s tougher to find, but it is worth the search. All the best online gambling sites, like FanDuel or bet365, have French Roulette with an RTP of 97.30%. At bet365, you can find the Premium French Roulette version with a return rate ranging from 97.30% to 98.65%.
What makes French Roulette special? Firstly, it has the lowest house edge. Secondly, it offers players a chance to save their even-money bets. For example, when you bet on red/black or odd/even in American Roulette or European Roulette your wager loses when the ball lands on zero.
Here, you can make use of French Roulette rules and mitigate the “damage”:
- En Prison rule allows you to spin again if you placed an even bet and the ball landed on zero.
- La Partage rule allows you to split and lose half your bet.
In addition, French Roulette has announced bets we’ve talked about when we described the racetrack layout. These bets allow for complex strategies and plays, which makes French Roulette suitable for experienced casino goers.
Of course, you can always stick to standard bets if you want a more relaxed session. French Roulette will reward you more than any other roulette type for regular bets and give you the opportunity to showcase more ambitious plays when in the mood for it.
Double Ball Roulette
Another interesting version of roulette you can play both at land-based casinos and online gambling websites is the Double Ball Roulette. The name itself reveals its greatest characteristic – it’s played with two balls instead of one. The game was first seen at The Tropicana in Las Vegas, in 2014.
You can visit the Golden Nugget online casino to try the Felt Gaming version of Double Ball Roulette run by RNG. It features the standard European wheel and allows you, the player, to launch the second ball after the first one is released. Since there are two balls in play, the payout for a straight up bet is 17 to 1 instead of 35 to 1. The game also offers neighbor bets and has a few other rules and details worth checking out before wagering.
More Variants
USA online casinos house many more versions of roulette, each with a unique quirk that makes gameplay refreshing and new. For example, you can play New York Jets Roulette at Borgata online casino, as well as Double Bonus Spin Roulette or Black and Yellow Roulette.
The Golden Nugget offers Blazing 7s Roulette and Space Invaders Roulette, among other options. Members of Virgin casino online can enjoy Bank it! Roulette, Fusion Roulette or 10c Roulette. Of course, there are many more, so we encourage you to explore various lobbies and find your favorite.
The Roulette Strategy
The wide range of roulette betting options became fruitful soil for the development of various betting strategies to win in roulette. From mathematicians to casual roulette players, people have been fascinated by the game. As a result, we now have many creative ways to improve the odds of winning roulette.
In our quest of finding the best roulette strategy, we’ve focused on the most reasonable systems. Of course, none of them guarantees a 100% success rate. They represent fun ways to plan your bets and potentially reap better results over time.
Martingale System
Although mostly used for roulette, the Martingale is one of the most popular betting patterns in gambling generally. Players love the Martingale because it is the easiest to follow. Therefore, it’s recommended to beginners.
The basics of the Martingale strategy require the player to repeat the same bet but with double the money each time they lose. The bet needs to be an even-money bet, like red/black or odd/even.
The idea is to recoup all losses as soon as one bet is won. In theory, this is a good safety net. In reality, however, the bets grow exponentially each round, creating a risk of reaching unmanageable stake levels.
The best advice for people planning to use the Martingale roulette system would be to start at the lowest possible bet. Following the progression closely should allow one to manage their stakes and not risk exhausting their entire balance. If they continue doubling until they’ve won, at that point the stakes should reset to the minimum.
Fibonacci Strategy
Believe it or not, the famous Fibonacci sequence found its use in roulette. Players can use the sequence as a guideline for their roulette strategies, but it doesn’t float everyone’s boat. Experienced players do better with Fibonacci than newbies, but who’s to say you won’t master it quickly after following the rules and trying it out is a free roulette game online.
So, what are the basics of this strategy? It makes use of the first ten numbers of the Fibonacci sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, and 55. You start with one unit and move to the next number in the sequence after a loss. Winning means you need to jump back two positions in the sequence to the corresponding number. Choosing even-money wagers is also necessary, so you can only work with outside bets.
Here’s an example to better grasp the concept of the Fibonacci roulette system:
- Each number in the sequence is the sum of the previous two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence.
- You start playing with a wager of $1.
- If this wager loses, the next would be $2. If that one loses, the next would be $3, and after another loss, the next wager would be $5, then $8 and so on.
- If your wager wins, move back two numbers in the sequence (if the first round bet wins, return to $1).
D’Alembert System
The D’Alembert strategy is often seen as a close alternative to the Martingale. They share a similar concept, but D’Alembert takes it a bit further. The player also starts with an even-money bet and sticks to it throughout the session. It’s best to begin with the minimum wager and build upon it.
If the bet loses, the strategy proposes not to double the bet, but to add a bet unit. For example, if your initial wager is $1, the second one will be $2, then $3, then $4 and so on. What happens when your bet wins? Instead of going back to the initial bet like in Martingale, D’Alembert suggests deducting a unit. So, you practically go backwards – from $4 to $3, then $2, and eventually come to $1.
The D’Alembert system uses negative progression and puts less strain on your bankroll. It works best in low-house edge games, though.
Labouchere System
The Labouchere strategy is strikingly different than other popular systems. To use the Labouchere strategy, one has to set a goal for how much money they’d like to win. One also has to establish the unit value. For example, if you’d like to win $100 in total, you could set the unit value at $10. Therefore, you would aim to win 10 units.
You need to take these units and create a betting line to follow in future rounds. For example: 1 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 2 (adding up to 10 units). Once the line is established, you take the number from the left side of the line and the number from the right side of the line and add them together. This gives you the amount for your next bet.
If you win, the system says you need to cross the numbers you previously added. The second important rule is to always add the number you’ve just bet to the right side of the line after a loss without crossing any numbers off.
Like others we mentioned earlier, this system also requires wagering on even-money bets.
Angelika System
The youngest system roulette players use is called the Angelica system. It was named after a German woman Angelika Tepperwein, who invented it in the 1960s. Some consider it a variation of the D’Alembert system. As usual, the rules require to bet on outside bets, aka even-money bets (red/black, high/low and odd/even). Before wagering, you need to set your starting bet and a betting unit. For example, a starting bet can be $5 and a betting unit can be $1.
The starting bet is reserved for the first spin of the wheel. If you win, your next betting unit should be 1 unit lower. Whenever you lose a spin, your next bet should be 1 unit higher.
In other words, you put in one unit higher after each loss and after a win, you make your bet one unit lower. It’s a simple system, suitable for both new players and experienced roulette fans.
Tips for Playing Roulette Online
Roulette is a game of chance, and the most important thing is to have fun while playing it. While there is no guaranteed strategy that wins in roulette every time, there are some tips that can help you enjoy the game more. Have the best roulette experience online with these in mind:
- Set aside your budget and never go over the limit.
- Manage your budget well. Don’t spend the entire balance on one spin of the wheel. Instead, plan ahead and enjoy the game longer.
- Start with the basic bets. Playing online means you can save common betting patterns as favorites and use them in future rounds.
- Keep track of the odds since roulette has many bets available, each with unique odds.
- Experiment with strategies to develop a playing style. Roulette is often available in demo mode, which can help you practice.
- Don’t try to recuperate multiple losses in a single spin. Chasing losses is rarely a good idea. It’s better to take a break and resume playing with a clear head another time.
FAQs about Roulette
The federal law doesn’t prohibit gambling online. Each state has its own laws that regulate online gambling. Many American states have legalized internet gambling thus far. As long as you stick to trusted casinos with valid licenses, you can play online roulette legally without any issues.
Sure. You can play real money roulette games at the best USA casinos online. They include RNG games and live dealer games.
Online roulette is not fake, it is digitally rendered. In other words, it is a virtual version of the game you can interact with. In the case of live casino roulette, you’re joining an authentic roulette round, with a real wheel and a proper roulette ball.
Check out our list of the top USA casino sites with roulette games. We’ve tested and reviewed them all, and rated their performance.
Most reputable casino brands offer free mobile apps for download. If you prefer playing on the go using an iPhone or iPad, this is one of the best options for you.
Roulette History
There is a lot of debate within the realm of roulette history but some facts cannot be denied. The origin of roulette as we know it today is undeniably French. Many agree that a French physicist, inventor, and mathematician Blaise Pascal invented roulette. However, it’s known that he wasn’t trying to invent a casino game. He was developing a perpetual motion machine. This was in the mid-1600s.
The zero was added to the wheel in the mid-19th century. Francois and Lois Blanc designed a roulette wheel with a single zero for King Charles III of Monaco in 1842. One could say that roulette saved the kingdom and they wouldn’t be wrong because the casino King Charles built generated a lot of income for Monaco.
Roulette also made its way across the ocean and reached America in the 1800s. The double-zero wheel was born, and the American roulette version dominated Canada, the Caribbean, and the Americas for decades to come.
Roulette remains one of the most popular casino games in the 21st century, now also available in online casinos across all continents.
Did You Know
- The numbers on the roulette wheel add up to 666. That’s why some have called roulette “the devil’s game.” There is even such a thing as hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia – fear of the number 666.
- The most wagered number in roulette is 17. Many people wager on 17 simply because it’s the first number they notice on the layout.
- The name “roulette” is derived from the French term meaning “little wheel”.
- Early American tables incorporated a zero, a double zero, and an “eagle slot”.
- There is a version of roulette played with cards, California Roulette. The cards are numbered identically to the numbers found on a roulette wheel. Since playing roulette with the traditional wheel is banned in CA, Californians thought of a creative alternative to bypass the law.
