Roulette has been around since the 17th century, and it’s a classic game to play in both online casinos and brick and mortar establishments. Both new and veteran players can benefit from either learning the basics or brushing up on their knowledge, so here’s your guide to all the essentials, from the history of roulette and payment methods to bonuses and FAQs.
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The main objective of roulette is to predict which numbered pocket on the wheel the ball will land in. The method is fairly simple: whether using a strategy or seeing which number ‘feels’ lucky to you, pick a number – or sequence of numbers – and place a bet on them. You can choose how little or how much you place on the bet. The more you bet, the more you could win – or lose. Conversely, the less you bet, the less you will lose – or win. Always stay within your budget or bankroll, so that you don’t leave the casino in financial difficulty.
Once all bets have been confirmed, the dealer will spill the roulette wheel in one direction and spin the roulette ball the other way. The suspense and excitement will grow as you wait for the ball to land in a particular slot. When it has stopped, you will know if you’ve won or lost, and receive any winnings you may be lucky enough to receive.
In an online casino, all you have to do is place your chips on the bet you want to make, then press the ‘Spin’ button. Then, you can either bet again by clicking ‘Rebet’ or abandon the game by clicking ‘Clear Bets’.
In a land-based casino, there will typically be four members of staff at the roulette table. This group comprises of two croupiers, who will handle the bets and spin the ball into the roulette wheel, and the ‘table end’ and ‘game supervisor’. These two people make sure the game runs without any hiccups.
There will typically be between 1 and 8 people present at a roulette table. Once the croupier calls ‘place your bets’, players will know the game has begun. Once the wheel has been spinning for a while, and has about two complete spins left before drawing to a stop, the croupier will call ‘no more bets’. Once the ball has ceased spinning, the croupier will announce the number. Winning bets are paid out, and losing bets are given up to the house.
It isn’t completely clear where roulette originates from, but many believe the concept came from the Wheel of Fortune. This wheel has its roots in medieval and ancient philosophy, where the goddess of fate would turn the wheel in order to show the rise and fall of a king. In itself, the wheel of fortune as an object represents luck, which is the key tenet of gambling.
Many believe that a primitive version of roulette was created by Blaise Pascal in the 17th century, as he endeavoured to find a perpetual motion machine. The roulette mechanism in itself is believed by many to be a hybrid of a gaming wheel which was invented in 1720 and Biribi, a game of chance which is similar to Lotto and played for low stakes.
The first edition of roulette as it is played today was first seen in around 1796 in Paris. It was described in the French novel La Roulette, ou le Jour by Jaques Lablee. But some can trace it back to New France in Quebec, where regulations in 1758 banned the games of ‘dice, hoca, faro and roulette’.
In the late 1790s, the roulette wheels used in Parisian casinos would have red for the single zero and black for the double zero. However, starting in the 1800s, green was used for the zeros in roulette wheels.
Some early American roulette wheels featured numbers 1 to 28, a single zero, a double zero and an American Eagle. This Eagle slot symbolised American liberty; it was a house slot that provided the casino with an extra edge. However, this tradition didn’t last for long, and since then, the wheel has only featured numbered slots.
Roulette rapidly rose in popularity during this time, and it was known as one of the most popular and famous casino games. The German government abolished gambling in the 1860s, but this was bypassed by the Blanc family, who moved to the final legal casino operation in Europe at Monte Carlo. The single roulette game became a premier option at this point, and was sent around the world – except for in the US, where the double zero still reigned supreme.
Cheating sometimes became a problem with US games, and the culprits would be both operators and gamblers. The French double zero wheel was placed on top of the table because of this, so that devices couldn’t be hidden within the table or wheel to rig the game. Gambling dens evolved across the new territories in America, and makeshift games were created, while the French game evolved separately at a leisurely and stylish pace in Monte Carlo.
There were clear hubs for roulette action during the first part of the 20th century. Roulette fans could either go to Monte Carlo for games with the traditional single zero French wheel, or head to Las Vegas for a spin of the American double zero wheel. As this century progressed, roulette flourished around the world, with casinos offering this game globally during the 1970s. By 2008, several hundred casinos around the world offered roulette games. The double zero wheel was dominant in North and South America, Canada and the Caribbean, and elsewhere, the single zero wheel could be found. The first triple zero wheel was introduced by The Venetian Las Vegas in 2016, and it can be played in a few additional casinos now.
If one adds all the numbers on the roulette wheel – from 0 to 36 – they come to a total of 666, also known as the ‘number of the beast’. One legend states that Francois Blanc made a deal with the devil to discover the secrets of roulette.
Although the history of American roulette is intertwined with the European version, it also has a distinct story of its own.
The game was introduced by European settlers who landed in Louisiana in the early 19th century. It wasn’t a smooth operation, though, as casino owners wanted to increase the house edge from 5.26%. This led to players falling out of love with the game, due to their low earnings, and playing it less.
Furthermore, American gamblers rejected the single zero version of roulette, and this led to the edition we now know as American Roulette, which features a double zero.
Despite the fact that many believe roulette has its roots in the 17th century, there are also records of those from ancient times playing various versions of the game. For example, many people believe that roulette is based on an ancient Chinese board game with 37 animal figurines that needed to be arranged into a magic square totalling 666 in number. It’s thought that Dominican monks who had a deep interest in Chinese life discovered the game and took a modified version over to Europe, where it developed further. These monks were said to have changed the basic layout shape, turning the square into a circle and adding a 0 slot.
Another culture associated with a version of roulette is ancient Rome, where soldiers would be provided with as many fun activities as possible by their commanders. This was to combat morale going down due to the gruesome sights they witnessed in battle. Activities included gambling games, one of which required players to spin a shield or chariot wheel – much like roulette.
A slightly different version of this has been observed in ancient Greek records, where soldiers would draw various symbols inside a shield before placing an arrow next to it on the floor and spinning it, placing bets on which symbol the arrow would fall next to.
It’s important for players wanting to enjoy a real money game online to consider the table limit of the table they’ve chosen. On a basic level, it’s important to have a table limit that suits your budget, but it’s also good for those who follow specific strategies while playing. If you are using a high quality and reputable online casino, you will have a whole host of table limits to choose from.
As a general guide, table limits at most online casinos fall between 10p – $/€10,000 per table. This means that casual and occasional players will be able to find a roulette site that offers them a low-risk wager amount. Additionally, those who enjoy playing for high stakes will also discover a limit that suits them.
Live dealer casinos tend to be more flexible, offering both high and low table limits. Some live casinos offer high roller limits that can go up as far as $/€400,000.
This isn’t the only factor to consider – all roulette tables will place an internal wager limit on specific bets within every game. This is because the casino doesn’t want to risk paying out a huge amount because someone won a large wager with an equally large payout ratio.
With simple cases, the table limits in a game of roulette will refer to the minimum and maximum amount allowed for each bet. This is the format seen with the majority of online roulette games. However, there are some differences seen with live casino games, namely that the maximum bet limit displayed in the game lobby or on the table can be subject to one of two meanings.
Some casinos will only display the maximum limit for a certain type of bet, and these will have a payout of 1:1. This is part of the casino managing its risk, and avoiding a payout being so high the company would be impacted.
The other meaning is that the maximum table limit refers to the absolute maximum that can be bet per spin, and there will be maximum bets for each different type of bet being played.
Sometimes, land based casinos will offer a third scenario, whereby the minimum table limit is only true for certain kids of bet. Generally speaking, inside bets will have the lowest limits, and lower payout bets will have a higher minimum bet limit. This approach is taken by the casino to prevent large numbers of players from using low stakes.
This is one of the advantages of using an online casino, as it won’t be uncommon to find roulette variants that allow players to bet from as little as 10p on any kind of bet.
The most important thing to remember about table limits, overall, is that you need to fully understand the information before placing any bets with real cash. To help familiarise yourself with the rules, it could be worth playing the game with play money, which can help you understand exactly what kind of bets you can place once you move on to real money.
The three types of roulette are American, European and French. That being said, there are only two types of roulette wheel – American and European. The main difference is that the American one has 2 zeroes, and the European one only has one. Furthermore, they have different layouts, with each one displaying the numbers in different places across the wheel. The final main difference concerns house edge – while the American wheel has a house edge of 5.3%, the European wheel’s house edge is 2.7%, which is much more beneficial for the player.
Roulette table size and betting layout
While the American roulette table is typically 2.9m by 1.7m, the French one is a little larger, as it measures 3.3m by 1.8m.
The American roulette table features the wheel on the shorter side, with one dealer standing next to the wheel while the players sit opposite the wheel and also opposite the dealer.
Meanwhile, the French roulette table features two croupiers (or dealers) holding a 60cm rake sitting around the wheel on the shorter side. The players sit on the remaining sides of the table. Some French roulette tables are double in length, with a wheel in the center and two layouts for betting – one on each side of it.
The layout of the roulette table is also different depending on which version you play. While the American version has all outside bets laid out on the longer side of the table, the French tables have their outside bets split between the two long sides.
The racetrack
American tables are pretty common across Europe, and when one plays roulette with an American layout in this location, there will also be a racetrack representing the wheel. This is used for placing bets on Tiers, Zero play, Orphelins, Voisin du zero and neighbor bets. These are also known as ‘called bets’ as only the croupier can place them on the table once the player has instructed him/her to do so.
Called bets explained
Referred to by some as French bets, these are a niche category of wagers in roulette, seen most often at high-stake tables in land casinos. Instead of placing the chips on the table themselves, players ‘call’ what they want to bet and let the croupier do the work.
This task is only given to the professional dealers, as it allows players to bet on complex numerical combinations with ease.
Call bets are also put in place when there is a large crowd at a table, and a player cannot get close enough to put down the chips themselves.
Zero play
This bet originates in German gambling establishments, and involves placing a bet on seven numbers. These digits are those which are closest to the single-zero pocket on the wheel. The full sequence is 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32 and 15. 1 chip is staked as a split bet on 0-3, one is staked on the split between 12-15, another is staked as a straight up bet on 26 and the final one is staked on the split between 32-25.
Neighbors of Zero
Nine chips are taken and placed on several splits. Five are put on the 4-7, 12-15, 18-21, 19-22 and 32-35 splits, two are staked as a split bet where 0, 2 and 3 intersect, and the final 2 are a corner bet for 25, 26, 28 and 29.
Finales en Plein
Players bet on numbers ending with the same digit. Numbers which end in the digits 0-6 use four chips, and the numbers 7, 8 and 9 use three chips. The reason for this is due to only three numbers on the European roulette wheel having these three digits as the final digit.
Finales a Cheval
This bet is placed on splits of numbers ending with the same digit. Five chips are required for 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 4-5 and 5-6, while four chips are needed for bets placed on 0-3, 1-4, 2-5, 3-6, 7-8 and 8-9. Finally, three chips are used on the pairs of 4-7, 5-8, 6-9, 7-10, 8-11 and 9-12.
Tiers du Cylindre
These bets cover a third of the wheel and involve chips being placed on 12 numbers between 33 and 27. There are six chips involved in this wager, and they are placed on the six splits of 5-8, 10-11, 13-16, 23-24, 27-30 and 33-36. The payout for this bet is 17 to 1.
Les Orphelins
There are two more sections of the wheel once the Tiers and Voisins have been allocated, and these eight numbers are targeted in the Les Orphelins bet. Four chips are placed on the splits 31-34, 17-20, 14-17 and 6-9, while the remaining chip is a straight up bet on 1.
Voisin du zero
This is one of the most popular types of call bet. It includes the 17 numbers between 22 and 25 on the wheel, so the complete sequence is 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25. It can only be used in European roulette as the numbers around the zero on an American wheel are arranged differently.
Some may not realise the difference between called bets and announced bets. In many land casinos, call bets are banned because it’s considered betting on credit. This is because when players call the bets, there aren’t any chips on the layout already.
Announced bets, on the other hand, are accepted by many casinos, and high-stake players can call or announce bets if they have enough chips on the layout to cover their wagers.
It isn’t just land casinos where these complex bets can be placed, as many online casinos also offer this option. For example:
In such games, the player would usually need to switch to expert or advanced mode to place call bets.
Technically speaking, although a European wheel exists, there are no European rules, which means that ‘European Roulette’ does not exist as a game. However, there are a few distinct rules which separate American roulette from French roulette:
American Roulette rules
When the ball lands on zero, all outside bets are lost.
Multi Wheel Roulette offers an intriguing and unique twist on the classic roulette game. There is more to grasp, but also much more to be gained in terms of winnings. You will wager on the outcome of eight roulette wheels simultaneously, and you can choose how many spin each time you take a turn. There is only one betting table, so you can’t place different bets for each wheel. Once you’ve made a bet, you collect your winnings from each wheel. Multi Wheel Roulette follows the instructions seen in European Roulette, which essentially means the casino edge is low and the RTP is pretty high.
Age of Gods Roulette allows you to place bets with a value between 0.10 and 1,000. There are four progressive jackpots in a standard game, and they can be worth over 100,000. In-game stats are available so players can improve their play.To get started, a player will need to bet at least 0.10 on a single number or combination of numbers, plus 1.00 or more on outside bets like red/black or columns. After making your picks and setting bets, just hit the spin button.Payouts range between 1:1 for outside bets and 35:1 for a single number. There are also bonus rounds available with this version of roulette. You can get access to these by betting on the bonus option. Placing at least 0.10 on the Age of the Gods Bonus bet and having it spin in will take the player to a three-reel slot game. Depending on the symbols the player matches, there’s a chance to win between 5x and 100x the original stake.
As mentioned, there are also four progressive jackpots to look out for. These will trigger at random intervals, and it doesn’t matter which stakes are being played for. The mythical gods will reach down and pull the player up to a jackpot game in the sky, where mystery coins have to be uncovered in order to win one of the jackpots.
New AR Roulette – It’s simple to get the basics of New AR Roulette. You have to try and predict where the ball will land after a wheel spin, and you can place multiple bets if you choose. Every correct bet wins a payout, and in New AR Roulette, there are two bets not seen in any other roulette game before.The additional bets unique to this roulette game are Even Red and Odd Black, and these pay out at 3:1. You just have to place your chips on the specified spot on the betting table to make your bet. You can also place standard bets, such as the single number bets, colours, high/low, split bet, corner bet and odds/even.
Turbo Roulette is a good option for those who like a charged roulette experience. Instead of spinning the wheel and waiting for the ball to land in a segment, the number will appear instantly, speeding up your gameplay and allowing you to make several bets in quick succession.
Multiplayer Roulette Diamond Edition – This edition of roulette embraces the social aspect of online casino gambling. Players can chat with each other and zoom into the roulette wheel to see what other players have won. There is a controllable game speed, where you can activate 20, 40 or 60 second spins.As with many roulette variations, multiplayer roulette diamond edition is based on the rules of classic European roulette, so the numbers between 1 and 36 alternate between black and red. The additional single green 0 brings the total options up to 37.Common betting options are inside and outside bets, and call bets are also possible. Advanced wagering options include Les Orphelins, Tier Du Cylindre and Voisins Du Zero. Table limits will be different depending on the online casino you choose to play at.
VIP Roulette is designed for the high rollers. This game enables high bets to be made for those who are experienced in the online casino gambling world.
Penny Roulette – As the name suggests, Penny Roulette involves making a bet for a penny before watching the wheel spin. It’s good for beginners who want to keep things simple and place small wagers, although it’s possible to bet up to 20 on a single bet.That being said, the maximum table stakes are capped at 500. As with any standard game of roulette, a player has to pick a chip value before placing it on the table and choosing a bet, then letting the wheel spin.
3D Roulette – The 3D version of roulette is a good option for those who enjoy a realistic gaming experience from the comfort of their own homes. It’s a European Roulette style game, which means it’s a single 0 wheel, as opposed to the double 0 seen in American Roulette. Many options will allow players to try out 3D Roulette for free before playing real money roulette.
1000 Diamond Bet Roulette – This version of roulette has five diamond jackpot slots. Each diamond is coloured, so there is green, red, blue, white and purple. If you place a bet on one of the diamonds and the roulette ball lands on it, you’ll receive a large jackpot as a reward. You can customise the game in other ways, such as turning quick bet on and off or selecting the lucky number option. Lucky number enables bets to be placed on all numbers touching the corners and borders of your number of choice.
Double Ball Roulette is fairly easy to master, as the clue is in the name – it plays like a normal game of roulette, but has two balls instead of one. Compressed air is used to shoot the balls out of a tube at the same time. As they travel at the same speed, the second ball will always be behind the first one. Although a player has two chances to win, the payout is less. For outside bets, both balls have to win, and payouts are higher.
The player can also bet that both balls will last on a single number. Both balls have to be successful for outside bets to win – so if you bet on a black win, both have to land on a black number. For inside bets, on the other hand, either ball needs to be successful, but if both are, there is twice as much to be won. If both balls land in the player’s selected number, they will win a double ball jackpot.
Immersive Roulette – Those playing immersive roulette will find themselves experiencing the feel of a high-end casino. Multiple camera visuals and a slow motion replay feature allow you to get more out of a roulette game than you would at a brick and mortar casino. You can interact in real time with a professional dealer and other players. There are varied betting opportunities, and payouts can be as massive as 1000/1. There are also statistics available on the best players so you can use the Bet Behind feature, and you can save up to 15 bets in the favourite bets menu.
Live Auto Roulette La Partage – This game was created by NetEnt, and the action goes down on a realistic layout with an automatic roulette wheel. The stakes on offer are 0.10, 0.50, 1, 5 and 25. There are additional options such as ‘Clear all bets’ ‘Undo last bet’ ‘Rebet from previous round’ and ‘Double all bets’. The good thing about Auto Roulette is the ability for players to input their favourite bets, which are saved for future use.
Additionally, you can either view or hide the other players’ chips on the table, which is good if you want to avoid distraction.Predictably, this game comes with the La Partage rule, which means that half the value of all non-winning Red/Black, 1-18, 19-36 and Even/Odd bets will be returned to the player if the ball lands on the 0 slot.
Dragonara Roulette – This offering from Evolution Gaming is a single-zero roulette game which follows the rules of European Roulette. The tables are located in Dragonara Palace, which is a casino built in Malta in 1870. Both online and offline players visit this casino to play roulette, and the winning odds and payout are typical of any classic European roulette game. There is a unique multi game play feature which allows players to join up to four live dealer games at once, and a set of game statistics which allow punters to view the results of the last 500 rounds. The croupier and other players can be contacted using a live chat feature.
Roulette is available to play on the go, making online casinos even more appealing for busy players. Some casinos will have an app to download, which is good for those who want a dedicated experience with ease of access for logging in and returning to games. However, those who don’t want the extra storage an app would require will find their needs are met with a mobile-optimised website, which will offer the same quality and experience as the desktop site if you are dealing with a reputable casino.
Many mobile casino games will load in landscape mode, which makes full use of the screen. Unfortunately, only a select few will offer special bets and a racetrack. Software providers used for mobile roulette games include:
Common games seen with reputable mobile casino sites include:
The boat is often pushed out with live roulette tables on mobile, as the offering on these includes the same betting range and options as you will find on desktop.
History of live dealer games
The first classic live casinos featured a single dealer, one table and usually only offered blackjack. Now, though, many table games are the staple of live offerings, with roulette ranking among the most popular.
Live dealer games offer a player the chance to play their favourite casino games from the comfort of their own homes. First introduced in 2003, they allowed people to access live streaming and communicate with real dealers without needing to travel to a land casino or play a virtual game with no form of human contact. The additional features such as game replays and multi camera angles lead to many saying that live dealer games are better than attending a casino in person.
Online roulette live dealer games
Examples of live dealer roulette games available at online casinos include:
The Martingale Strategy is seen by many as the most popular or well-known method in roulette gameplay. Players start out with a small amount, such as the table minimum, and proceed to bet the same way until they lose. When this happens, they will double the size of their bet for the next spin. By doing this, players recover the money they lost plus extra if they win. And if they keep on losing, they keep doubling the bet, as the rule still applies. Once a player wins, restart the strategy and bet the smallest amount for the next spin.
As the name suggests, this strategy involves doing the opposite of what the Martingale Strategy instructs. In other words, you should double your bet after each win. To start out, wager the smallest amount of money possible on an even bet. Then keep flat betting the same way until you achieve a win. After that, double the size of your bet for the next spin, and when you lose, start from the top. People use this strategy due to the fact you can’t lose a lot at once, and losing streaks aren’t going to impact you much, as the minimum amount is always wagered for them. However, by using this system, the odds aren’t in your favour – even bets have a 48.6% chance of winning, due to the green 0 slot. If you’re playing American Roulette, the chances are lowered even more due to the double zero setup of the wheel.
This strategy is good for players who want to play it safe. The general idea is to limit your bet progression to three consecutive games, upon which time you resume playing with the lowest bid you can opt for. It works well when there are winning streaks in your game, but if these are lacking, it will not be good for your losses. However, you are overall more likely to leave the game at a profit if you use this approach, as it is less aggressive.
Constant Bet Strategy – This strategy is used by anyone who doesn’t have a particular strategy and just wants to have fun. There isn’t a particular thought process behind how they can increase their chances of ending the game with a profit. Essentially, as the name suggests, this strategy involves placing the same bet repeatedly. While this sounds simple in theory, players should choose the best kind of bet and an ideal bet size in order to have the highest chance of winning. The key tenet behind this strategy is finding a middle ground between two kinds of volatility:
1)Low volatility: Your chances of winning big are low, but you can play roulette for longer
2)High volatility: Your chances of winning big are high, but you could also lose everything in a flash
Constant Proportion Strategy – Those using the constant proportion strategy will wager a certain percentage of their bankroll in each spin. As a result, the sizes of the bets will change, but the way they relate to your bankroll will remain constant. It’s similar to the Constant Bet strategy, except for the fact that bet sizes remain the same whether the player is doing badly or well. If a player is experiencing a winning streak, bet sizes will keep rising, and more will be won as a result. But if they are losing, the bets will decrease in size and losses won’t accumulate as quickly.
All-In Roulette Strategy – This strategy is pretty simple – it involves wagering your entire bankroll in a single round, either once or multiple times, depending on how much you want to win. As a result, there are only two possible outcomes – achieving a huge win, or walking away with massive losses.
It’s a pretty volatile process, so it isn’t recommended for players who want to be involved with a round of roulette for a while. The only particular issue this strategy could encounter is the bet size limits imposed by the casino. It’s therefore advisable to check the casino table limits first, in order to make sure you’re actually allowed to place all of your planned bets.
D’Alembert System – This system is often used by players who want to play on the outside bets – in other words, red/black, even/odd and 1-18/19-36. The logic behind this strategy states that the frequency of winning outside bets will balance out over time. To get started, place one chip on an outside bet. If you keep winning, keep placing the same bet. If you lose, increase each bet by one chip. This means that, with your next win, you can take a chip away again. If you keep following this process, you will eventually return to the original bet of one chip. Once you reach this point, you will have made one chip for every win.
The Contra D’Alembert System – This strategy is popular because it doesn’t decimate your bankroll too much. It uses a progressive betting pattern and makes use of ‘even chance’ bets. Essentially, bets should be raised if a player wins, and lowered in the event of a loss. It follows the original D’Alembert System in that a player will begin with 1 unit, and start the progression again upon winning a profit. Broken down, this is how it works:
The Three-Two System – This little-known system aims to provide players with modest profits, won on a frequent basis. Red/black bets are combined with column bets to increase a player’s chances of winning at least once per bet on each round – while your bankroll will last for a decent amount of time. If you want to bet on 26 pockets for every spin, there are two options:
The logic behind this process is to cover as many pockets as possible when placing a combined unit wager, as this will increase the likelihood of a player winning a profit.
The One-Three-Two-Six System – This is considered by many to be a popular twist on the Reverse Martingale system, which doubles the bet upon a winning spin. It is essentially a positive progression system, which uses a set of numbers to raise the bet amount after every win. All players have to do is raise the bet on a win and lower it when a loss is experienced. It can be broken down in the following way:
A player can win up to 12x the starting bet in four rounds by following this progression.
The Labouchere System – For over a century, people have used the Labouchere System, which relies on even-money bets to generate a profit. Here’s how it works:
The Labouchere Reverse System – This process shares many features with the original Labouchere System, but it reverses some elements, so that it uses positive bet progression to capitalise on winning streaks. These are the steps:
The Kavouras Bet – This strategy is less well-known than those such as Martingale and Fibonacci, but it’s an intriguing setup once you’ve got the hang of it. The basic principle is that 20 different numbers on the table will be covered via various bet alternatives. This creates a certain betting pattern which should be followed with every round:
The total stake in this betting setup is always eight units, which means that a winning hit will be guaranteed to provide a one, four or ten unit net profit. The value of the unit can be decided by the player – it’s just important to remain consistent.
Tier et Tout – To master this strategy, you just need to do some calculations before getting started. It’s important to know what amount you’d like to start with, as this will decide what stake your first bet will be. Divide your first amount into three, and stake your first bet at one of these thirds. If you lose this bet, you can then place another bet with the remaining two thirds. Whenever you win, divide your new amount by three, and bet the first third, only betting the remaining two if you lose the first one. As a result, you’ll never be able to place more than two bets at the most with your current bankroll.
Andrucci System – There are some basic rules to follow if you’re a roulette player employing the Andrucci system. Firstly, observe and record the numbers which the ball lands on for 30 to 35 spins. Then, see which number is the luckiest out of this selection – in other words, which number the ball favours the most. Make a straight up bet on this number, and stick with it for between 15 and 25 spins, or until you make a win. Then go back to the start and observe another 30 to 35 spins, as you should only keep with a lucky number for the short term.
If you reach an amount that can’t be divided by three, round it off and put the remainder to one side as a profit. Setting aside a portion of your bankroll in this way will lead to your overall profit steadily growing much higher. Overall, the aim of this strategy is to always achieve a winning round between two bets.
Payment Options
A range of payment options is important for players, whether they are making a deposit or cashing out a withdrawal. The use of traditional methods such as Visa, Mastercard,Skrill,Neteller, Paypal, Paysafecard, Trustly or Bank Transfer is always reassuring to see, but additional options such as e-wallets or Bitcoin show that a casino has pulled out all the stops to make it easy to play real money roulette or withdraw your roulette winnings.
It’s important for many online casino players to have the option of playing their favorite games with live dealers. As streamed gaming has become increasingly popular, casinos with this option are sure to be the go-to choice. Games such as Lightning Roulette and Immersive Roulette offer a thrilling experience, with camera angles and replay options which some say are better than the offering in land casinos. You may even find roulette tournaments for those who are particularly invested in the game, and a range of language options to suit players across the world.
With the advancement of technology, players have been able to enjoy their favourite roulette games on the go. Checking to see what mobile options your online casino of choice has is important. The best ones will have both a mobile optimised website and an app available for download on a range of mobile devices, although sites with just one option and a range of titles – or even the full range of roulette options – available for an iOS, Google, Android or Windows device is often good enough. At least the most popular editions of roulette, plus live dealer tables, should be available on mobile roulette casinos.
Some may have come across the term ‘roulette bonus’ before, but there aren’t technically any bonuses specifically for this category of game. Generally speaking, there will be bonuses which include an additional amount of virtual money to spend with online casino games, and/or free spins to be used on a specific game. Those who choose their casino and bonuses carefully may strike lucky and find that their free spins can be used on a roulette game, but this isn’t guaranteed.
As for welcome offers, certain types of games will be given a different weighting, as certain table games will be subject to varying house edges. Due to the fact roulettes’ house edge is pretty low, many online casino operators won’t count a large proportion of wagers toward meeting bonus playthrough conditions – and some may even exclude roulette altogether from being eligible for meeting wagering requirements. A good offer for roulette can be found with Playtech operators, and at certain individual casinos such as William Hill and InterCasino, but it’s worth doing your research and striking a balance between what you want most – a bonus reward or offer, or a variety of games in general.
The perks of being a VIP member in an online casino are undeniable. Benefits include tailored bonuses, higher table limits, a personal account manager, increased weekly payouts and faster transactions. But are there any particular benefits for those who specialise in online roulette?
There will be seasonal promotions for VIP members which include bonuses on roulette games from time to time, so players should be constantly keeping an eye on the promotions page of their online casino website in order to grab any roulette offers which come through as soon as possible. Classic table games, however, aren’t featured in promotional deals and offers too often. Most commonly, there will be a deal on slots available, because they are an easy option for players, low risk and possess a good house edge. As they are a large source of income for casinos, more money is pumped into them as a result. Therefore, there aren’t the same levels of resource available to reward players who prefer table games such as roulette.
These are the jurisdictions online casinos can obtain a gambling license from:
A common misconception is that Costa Rica offers a gambling license. Companies in Costa Rica that offer online gambling services do need to obtain a data processing license, but this isn’t the same as a gambling license and it isn’t recognised as one by most game providers and banks.
The Random Number Generator ensures that all games played in a casino are safe, so if you are playing a virtual game of roulette, it’s likely that there will be a RNG involved with every spin of the wheel.
A random number generator is a computer program or chip inside a machine which uses mathematical algorithms to produce a string of completely random numbers. It’s capable of producing thousands of numbers every second. The concept of this number production being random is of the utmost importance, because when it comes to casino games, random means fair.
The random nature of a RNG will be tested. In order for numbers to come randomly, they must not be linked in any recognisable way. A programmer will instruct a RNG to follow certain patterns during the design process. Once it has been fed a random number, this is multiplied by itself. Then, the middle numbers in the result are put out, and this is the random number used to follow the same algorithm
It can be disconcerting and frustrating to place a big bet on a number, watch the roulette wheel spin, then discover your internet connection has gone down. This situation triggers a lot of questions – has my money been lost? Have I won or lost? What will happen to the game when I reconnect?
The answers to these queries depend on what information had been transferred to the casino server upon the point of disconnection. When you reconnect to the casino, gameplay will pick up from where you last were.
So if you had clicked spin after placing a bet, then found the internet had disconnected, the information would not have reached the server, so the bet wouldn’t have been placed. Upon reconnecting, you would find that the bet amount is still in your account. But if you disconnect after the roulette wheel has begun to spin, you will see the result once you log back in, with any winnings getting automatically transferred to your account.
When it comes to live dealer roulette, you’ll find that the game will continue without you if you disconnect, but if your spin won while you were offline, the outcome will be available in the game history and any profits will have been placed in your account.
If you find your life is being taken over by a need to play online roulette, and you are experiencing financial difficulty and obsessional thoughts, you could be addicted to gambling. There are resources available for you to seek help and support. All reputable and licensed casinos will have help options available on their web pages, or you can visit sites such as Gamblers Anonymous, which offer a range of support. You can take a test to find out if your gambling is presenting a problem for you in life, read FAQs and other literature, and most importantly, you can attend a meeting. Just find the meeting located closest to you and turn up – no appointment is required to attend.
Over time, people have devised a huge variety of strategies to aid them in their game of roulette, or provide structure to their play. But it’s worth remembering that casinos will not give players access to a game that can be easily won, as they would quickly suffer as a business. Therefore, there are no strategies that work 100%, and overall, the winning slot on a roulette wheel is down to luck.
Some of the more popular strategies, such as the Martingale System and Paroli, can help players to improve their game, but if a losing streak is experienced, you will stand a chance of losing large amounts of money. Therefore, roulette strategies that are more popular don’t necessarily equate to a higher chance of winning.
It’s not strictly possible to describe bets which are ‘better’ or ‘worse’ to make, due to the game of roulette being down to chance. However, many will recommend that people don’t place single number bets or five number bets (only found on the American Roulette wheel, which has a double zero). This is because these bets have the largest difference between true odds and actual payouts. When considering the best bets, it’s often advised to make the most of the European single-wheel roulette game rules of En Prison and La Partage, as these will reduce your risk of losing funds most effectively.
This decision is subjective and has no clear answer, as the choice is down to the player and their individual needs. Some will want to go with a larger, more well-known company, as they will rely on the positive reviews of other customers and the trustworthy reputation that comes with it, while others may prefer a lesser-known casino, which may offer more unique bonuses, offers or VIP clubs.
Other factors to consider include the variety of games, ease of withdrawal and deposit, availability of mobile and live dealer games, and more. It’s worth making a note of what’s most important to you, then finding a casino which suits you. For example, if you want to play a range of roulette games, an online casino which specialises in slots may not have many table games. On the other hand, if you want to play roulette games as well as a variety of others, you may want to find an online casino with a vast games library so you’re spoilt for choice. Regardless of which casino you choose, an important consideration is checking that it’s properly licensed, audited and regulated, or you’ll be at risk of poor customer treatment and/or losing your money due to poor security measures.
While the names are similar, Russian Roulette is not the same as American, European or French Roulette. While the latter are casino table games that involve spinning a wheel, Russian Roulette is a dangerous and lethal game of chance whereby the player will place a single round in a revolver, spin the cylinder, place the muzzle against their head and pull the trigger. This means that there is a one in X chance of the player being shot in the head, depending on the number of chambers in the cylinder. Due to the random nature of the game, the word ‘roulette’ in this instance refers to the spinning of the cylinder, which reminds some of a spinning roulette wheel, while the word ‘Russian’ refers to the country the game is said to originate from.
Not necessarily. Some casinos will let prospective customers play a game of roulette in demo mode, giving them a chance to experience the game without parting with real money. The downside to this method is that you won’t win anything, so if you want to be in with a chance of making a profit, it’s advised to make a deposit. Fortunately, deposits at many online casinos can be as low as $10, and will often come with generous welcome bonuses, including a 100% match deposit and free spins on certain games to get you started.
Those who are new to roulette playing or want to try a different strategy will generally need to choose between a flat betting strategy and a progressive one. The advantage of flat betting is that it’s harder to lose your bankroll, as progressive systems rely on luck with larger bets. If you want to play safely, using flat betting is the better option. But for those who want to experience higher volatility and risk a larger amount for the chance of winning big profits, progressive betting will work, as the general principle is that increasing your bet after losses will mean you have a chance of a big win that will return your losses.
What criteria make a good online casino for roulette games?
License and Regulator
Probably the most important consideration when selecting an online casino for your roulette games is the license and regulator. There are many reasons why having a gambling license makes a casino worthy of your time, as you will discover. Additionally, regular audits and testing from independent agencies make the roulette casino a safe and fair choice for players.
Quality of User Interface
As players will spend a lot of their time browsing an online casino site, it’s imperative that the user interface is simple, effective and enjoyable. A site that looks crowded, loads slowly or is confusing to navigate will be immediately off-putting, and this won’t help a casino maintain or build its user base. Therefore, most top quality online casinos will offer a clear and striking homepage, where a menu is clearly visible, all main offers are detailed and the selection of games is easily accessible.
Graphics
Those wanting to use an online casino for roulette will expect to see high quality graphics. There is no point in playing a game of immersive roulette if the experience isn’t truly immersive! Experiencing a game with high quality graphics, no lag or buffering and decent resolution is key to enjoying your roulette experience at any online casino.
Range of Online Roulette Games
Every reputable online casino with a roulette section will offer at least the traditional options, as well as some unique offerings to make its selection stand out. So as well as European, French and American Roulette, there could also be tables with low stakes, plus novelty games which add an exciting twist to those looking for something new.
Software Providers
Software providers are also an important consideration. If a range is used, you can be sure the roulette offering will be varied and interesting. A combination of the bigger providers and some smaller ones is always a sign you’ll have a good experience with the roulette games at that online casino.
Payment Options
A range of payment options is important for players, whether they are making a deposit or cashing out a withdrawal. The use of traditional methods such as Visa, Mastercard or Bank Transfer is always reassuring to see, but additional options such as e-wallets or Bitcoin show that a casino has pulled out all the stops to make it easy to play real money roulette or withdraw your roulette winnings
There are several elements an online casino license holder must consider as part of their trading process, and it’s worth checking all of them have been met by your casino of choice before proceeding.
Responsible advertising
Online casinos need to advertise and market their products and services responsibly. Essentially, this means they can’t sell their product or service in a misleading way in order to gain an advantage over their competitors. This includes:
Providing fair games
Legal bodies that provide gambling licenses for online casinos will ensure that the games available on the site are fair, coming out with numerical results that are 100% random at all times. Third party testers will be involved to check that the RNG is providing such results, so that players can get stuck into games without fear of results weighted against them.
Providing thorough gameplay information
It’s important for online casinos to make players fully aware of the circumstances under which their gameplay is happening. This means all necessary information must be provided, and it has to be honest, so that players can make informed decisions about how they are spending their money. Generally speaking, this information can be found on the casino website.
High quality technology
It’s required for licensed online casinos to follow their commission’s technical standards, which means the gaming software must be of a sufficiently high standard. Furthermore, this is tested before games are officially released to punters on the website.
Ensuring underage gambling is prohibited
Policies must be put into place to make sure that those under the legal age aren’t able to access online casino services. Any jurisdiction can punish the practice of underage gambling, so casinos will want to do their best to ensure the law is being obeyed. As part of the regulation process, the strength of a sites’ online verification procedures will be tested.
Ability for customers to file a complaint
Online casinos will be overseen by the license providers to ensure they aren’t breaking any of the rules. If they do, they have to answer to those who gave them the license. Additionally, players who feel they aren’t being treated correctly by the casino can file a complaint, whereby investigations will be carried out. It’s worth bearing in mind that you can’t file a complaint if you work at an unlicensed online casino – so this puts you at risk of being treated badly or losing your money.
Process to tackle money laundering
It’s imperative for licensed online casinos to put systems or processes into place that tackle money laundering, terrorist financing and other illegal operations. These regularly undergo assessment, and casinos participate with law enforcement and the gambling commission to weed out suspicious activity.
Addressing problem gambling
Those with a casino license must be contributing to the treatment of problem gamblers, whether this is providing money for research, education or services for those struggling with addiction. The casino will make donations to one or several organisations or charities that help problem gamblers.
Visa Debit/Electron
This financial service facilitates electronic fund transfers across the world, and is headquartered in the United States. Visa does not issue cards independently, but many banks make use of credit and debit cards with Visa branding. Visa is one of the most widely accepted payment methods for financial transactions, so most people will have one or more Visa cards in their possession.
When depositing funds at an online casino for roulette games, you’ll be glad to find that most, if not all, casinos will accept Visa cards. As it’s such a well-known method, it’s relied upon by many people for smooth and efficient online casino transactions.
What’s more, many Visa cards will offer rewards for usage such as aeroplane miles, hotel vouchers, or points that can be exchanged for cash. Therefore, by choosing the right Visa card and online casino, a player could receive a lucrative welcome bonus for roulette as well as a Visa-specific rewards.
MasterCard
Along with Visa, MasterCard is one of the two most popular payment methods, especially with online casinos. MasterCard have stated that, on average, they process more than 23 billion transactions each year. Founded back in 1966, the company is now a huge worldwide organisation. Their headquarters are in New York, and they are one of the biggest financial corporations on the planet.
As with Visa, MasterCard deposits can lead to rewards such as miles for travelling or points that can be swapped for cash. It’s worth making sure that if you intend to use a MasterCard for an online casino deposit, your card won’t be flagged by the fraud department. This can be resolved by a phone call to your service provider.
Neteller
This payment method has been around since the beginning of internet gambling. The company was founded in Canada in 1999, then moved its operations to the Isle of Man in 2004. They are run by Optimal Payments PLC and over 180 countries use this service.
As an e-wallet service, this is one of the fastest payment methods for online casino withdrawals and deposits. It’s seen by many as one of the most commonly used services in the digital casino industry.
The company is listed as an Authorised Electronic Money Institution, and has been processing payments with gambling websites since 2000. They offer a premium service called Neteller VIP, which allows users to access additional features and lower fees.
Customers in the US and Canada should do some research to ensure they can be provided with Neteller as a payment option, as this may be limited in certain locations.
Skrill
Also known as Moneybookers, this payment service is a popular transaction provider for players using online roulette casinos. In 2011, the company changed its name from Moneybookers to Skrill, but both names are used interchangeably by many people.
Like Neteller, this company is an e-wallet service, and operates worldwide. They allow a user the option to make a payment or withdrawal using an online account, without needing to use a money order or wire transfer. This bypasses the fees that usually come with such services.
Moneybookers was started in 2001, and was based in the UK. By 2013, they had rebranded as Skrill. They are linked to large brands like Skype, eBay and Facebook. As of August 2013, the company has been owned by CVC Capital Partners, who bought them for 600 million euros.
PayPal
PayPal is a popular household brand name around the world. It’s used on many sites as a payment option, and online casinos are no exception. It’s particularly popular for mobile users, who will find it more convenient to log into their PayPal accounts on the go instead of typing out a credit or debit card number.
This payment option was established in December 1998 under the name Confinity, which was a company developing security software for handheld devices. In 2002, eBay acquired the company for $1.5 billion, and over 70% of eBay auctions accepted PayPal payments. They increased their security in 2005 by acquiring the VeriSign payment solution, which makes roulette game deposits and withdrawals more secure.
Bank Wire
Bank Wire is a simple banking method whereby you use your traditional account to wire money for your online roulette account or transfer winnings. Although seen by many as the staple banking method, it is now being taken over by more popular and efficient methods such as e-wallet banking.
EcoPayz
EcoPayz allows players to receive, send and spend money worldwide using an online account. It’s quick and easy to open an account, which is appealing for players wanting to avoid fees from transacting money in different currencies. There are multiple ways to top up funds, and there is also an app for users on the go.
One benefit EcoPayz users enjoy is that they do not have to pass checks such as verifying a traditional bank account or going through a credit check, making the service accessible for a range of players.
Over 45 currencies are available, and users can apply for up to 3 ecoCards in different currencies, as well as one-use virtual cards for additional security. You can top up your account using your online banking, credit or debit card, by going into your bank or using local services.
EntroPay
Online roulette players may find that Entropay is the payment option for them. There are two options on offer for those wanting to make a transaction with an online casino. You can either use a physical prepaid credit card or a virtual credit card.
You can fund your virtual account with a range of funding services, such as your bank account, Visa or MasterCard credit, or with an e-wallet solution such as PayPal.
Instadebit
This company is based in Toronto and prioritises the security of customer private information. 128-bit encryption is used to enable secure data connections, and all sensitive information is protected by firewalls and constant monitoring.
Your existing bank account will be linked with your Instadebit account, and there is no need to deposit funds upon registration. It is useful for players who want to keep their bank account information and credit cards separate from their online roulette accounts during virtual casino gameplay.
There are no fees when transferring with Instapay – in fact, the merchant is charged a small fee instead. It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that if a user initiates a transaction without having sufficient funds in their account, they will be subject to a $25 fee.
Click2Pay
Many people see Click2Pay as one of the most popular e-wallet payment solutions. Deposits are always credited immediately upon using this option, and it’s available in several currencies. It’s a solid choice for those who don’t want to use their credit or debit cards when playing a game of online roulette.
During the account registration process, the only steps you need to take are submitting your financial information and phone number. The company will call you back to verify the number, and you’ll get a separate call to verify your credit card information. If you use a credit card with Click2Pay, you will be subject to a 3% fee, but using direct debit is free.
To transfer funds between your Click2Pay account and your casino account, all you have to do is select Cashier from the menu, then select Click2Pay. At this point, you will need to enter your email address and PAN – also known as the Personal Account Number for this service. If you want to withdraw Click2Pay funds from your account, you can either have it sent as a check or transfer it directly to your bank account. A check will take around 2 weeks to arrive, and cost you $2, while a bank transfer is free of charge and takes around 48 hours to process.
Qiwi
Qiwi is a Russian payment service which is headquartered in Cyprus. It primarily administers electronic online payment systems in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, the US, the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is an increasingly popular payment method for online casino gamblers, as it isn’t regulated by any form of government – rather, it is regulated by other bitcoin users. It allows transactions by transferring value between wallets. Each wallet has a unique digital code which identifies them, and they can be bought and sold in various marketplaces in whatever currency you choose.
Although the initial setup requires some technical knowledge, it’s a service which offers many advantages. Not only are bitcoin transactions completely anonymous and free, the value fluctuates, so they can be worth more than the initial buying price. What’s more, withdrawals can be transferred to any wallet, and converted to any currency you like.
GiroPay
This internet payment system is based in Germany, and offers a convenient online banking solution for online roulette players. Introduced to consumers in 2006, this method allows people to buy securely online using direct online transfers from their bank account. It’s similar to the iDEAL payment system, as well as the Interac Online service in Canada and the Secure Vault payments seen in the US.
The level of security offered by this payment method varies depending on the bank used. For example, some German banks offer two-factor authentication, while others will offer a simpler PIN-based online banking service. The advantage of this service is the fact that no sensitive information, such as credit card or Giro account numbers, gets shared with the merchant, meaning that players can deposit and withdraw funds for roulette gaming with ease and peace of mind.
Paysafecard
Many online roulette players opt for paysafecard as their payment method of choice. This transaction involves a voucher with a 16-digit PIN code, so bank accounts, credit cards or other personal information aren’t involved. Vouchers can be purchased from local sales outlets, and payments can be made online by entering the code at the checkout of the site.
There are some limits to using a voucher purchased in one country in another, but in most countries, there is a personal account called my paysafecard available, where customers can upload their PIN.
This company started in 2000 in Austria, and now operates in over 40 countries, with British company Ukash and Dutch service Wallie being absorbed into the organisation.
WebMoney
WebMoney has been around for roughly the same time as companies such as PayPal. This Moscow-based money transfer service is particularly adept at processing multi-currency transactions and high risk payments. Instead of using traditional banking, customers can purchase and transfer WM Units, which are then withdrawn from digital wallets in the customer’s chosen currency. This is similar to Bitcoin operations, although WebMoney is around ten years older.
Trustly
Trustly is a payment method designed for European users to make payments directly from their bank account. It’s a relatively new banking option, but it’s proving to be popular in around 29 countries across Europe.
The company was established in 2008, with the aim of making customer transactions quicker and safer. This means that online roulette players using Trustly can make instant online bank transfers to their favorite online casinos. The only prerequisites for obtaining an account are owning a bank account in one of the available countries, possessing enough funds for your deposit and knowing your online banking details.
Western Union
This well-known brand is seen as a payment option on many online casino sites. It allows customers to send money to places around the world, where the currency is changed during the transfer. The advantage of this payment method is that high amounts can be easily transferred – over $60,000 can be sent in one go to another account, with no transfer fee.