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#1 UK gambling guide

Online Roulette and All About It

Roulette quickly became one of the most popular casino games after the French mathematician and gambler Blaise Pascal developed the game in 1796. It’s similar to ‘roly poly’ and ‘odd or even’, two popular games from the 1700s.

In 1842, Francois and Louis Blanc enhanced the game’s popularity in Europe by removing the double-zero pocket and reducing the house edge from 5.26% to 2.70%. Their version of roulette is known today as European roulette.

European settlers in Louisiana introduced roulette casino games to the Americas. The double-zero version, now known as American roulette, was the form most preferred by casinos and gamblers there.

Roulette remains popular today, and you can find the spinning wheel in most modern online and land-based casinos. Playing online casino roulette affords you the opportunity of playing different versions of the game instead of relying on what a casino has in their gaming room. We’ll discuss the main aspects of the game, including:

  • The main rules
  • Types of bets
  • Roulette odds
  • Roulette strategies

Page contents

Best Websites to Play Roulette for Real Money

Each bettor has different requirements for an online roulette website. Check our list of websites and choose the best one that fits your needs to play roulette now.

#AD New customers only. 18+

  • Min deposit £10
  • 40x wagering
  • 30 days to complete wagering
  • game weighting and game restrictions apply
  • Max Bet with bonus funds £5
  • Max withdrawal from bonus funds is £2000
  • Neteller and Skrill excluded
  • Eligibility restrictions apply
  • Cash balance can be withdrawn at any time

#AD New customers only. 18+

  • Min. deposit £10
  • Wagering requirements 50x(bonus)
  • Max bet £5
  • No max cash out
  • Bonus expire after 10 days after activation.
  • Welcome bonus excluded for player depositing with Skrill or Neteller

#AD New customers only. 18+

  • Min deposit £10
  • Max. bonus: £50
  • Wagering requirement apply 35x
  • Offer valid for 72hr
  • 100 spins includes 3 deposit

Online Roulette Main Rules Explained

Roulette main rulesRoulette’s uncomplicated rules have helped it maintain its popularity. The wheel is divided into 36 red and black numbered divisions plus the green-zero division. (American roulette has an additional double-zero division.)

  • You have several betting options, including:
  • Colour (red or black)
  • Number group
  • Odd or even numbers
  • Individual numbers

The croupier spins the wheel and inserts a ball into the rim. The outcome that you bet on is which pocket the ball will settle into when the wheel stops spinning. The croupier collects the losing bets and pays successful players before accepting new wagers for the next spin.

The rules to play roulette online are the same except that the computer replaces the croupier. All you need to do to play is:

  • Choose your bet
  • Place the wager amount on the appropriate block
  • Await the outcome
  • Collect your winnings or forfeit your losses
  • Place your new bet

Roulette Types of Bets Explained

Now that we’ve explained the basic rules of roulette and touched on the betting options, we’ll give a detailed explanation of its types of bets and the proper terms for them. We’ll also explain how the chips should be placed on the table to signify which bet you’re making.

Inside Bets Include

Inside Bets Include:

Any bet that includes six or fewer numbers is referred to as an inside bet. You have less chance of winning an inside bet but a bigger payout if your selection is accurate. You can place the bet inside a single square or on an intersection to signify the type of wager you’re making.

  1. Straight: To place a bet on a single number, place your chip inside the square representing that number.
  2. Split: A split is a bet on two adjacent numbers, signified by placing your chip on the line between the two numbers.
  3. Street: To wager on three numbers in a straight line, place your marker on the outside line of the row.
  4. Six Line: A six-line is a wager on two adjacent streets. Place your chip on the outer line between the two rows.
  5. Corner: Placing your marker on the intersection of four numbers is a corner or square bet.
  6. Trio: You can place your chip on the intersecting line between the zero, one, and two, or the zero, two, and three to make a trio wager.
  7. Basket: A basket is a bet on the zero and the first row, indicated by placing your chip on the corner of the first row and the zero basket.
Online roulette inside bets odds
Bet European Odds American Odds Payout
Straight Bet 2.7% 2.6% 35:1
Split Bet 5.4% 5.3% 17:1
Street Bet 8.1% 7.9% 11:1
Corner Bet 10.8% 10.5% 8:1
Double Street Bet 16.2% 15.8% 5:1
Basket Bet n/a 13.16% 6:1
Outside Bets Include

Outside Bets Include:

Outside bets are the best known and most commonly placed wagers in roulette. These basic punts remain the same whether you’re playing roulette games online or at a land casino. Outside bets also have better odds of winning but lower payouts, with the highest being a 2:1 payout on columns and dozens.

  1. Red or Black: ( Rouge or noir) Placing your stake on either the red or black. The zero on the wheel gives the casino a slight edge.
  2. Odd or Even: (Pair or impair) A similar wager to red/ black with the same odds. You bet that the winning number is either odd or even.
  3. One to 18 or 19 to 36: (Manque or passe) Low numbers or high numbers. You can bet on the number being low (one to18) or high (19-36).
  4. Dozens: (Douzaine) You can place a wager on one of the three dozen. One to two, 13-24, or 25-36.
  5. Columns (Colonne) You may choose to wager on one of the three columns of 12 numbers.
Online roulette outside bets odds
Bet European Odds American Odds Payout
Red/Black 48.65% 47.37% 1:1
Odd/Even 48.65% 47.37% 1:1
Low/High 48.65% 47.37% 1:1
Column 32.4% 31.6% 2:1
Dozen 32.4% 31.6% 2:1
Announced Bets

Announced Bets

Announced or called bets cover sections of the roulette wheel. You will typically find these wagers on European or French tables, hence the French names. The names refer to the segments that they cover. These bets are based on the wheel layout. You have a choice of four announced wagers:

  1. Jeu Zéro (Zero Game): Jeu Zéro covers The zero and the three numbers on the wheel to either side of it. It consists of three splits and a straight bet to cover the seven numbers.
  2. Le Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel): This announced bet covers a third of the wheel opposite the zero and consists of six split wagers.
  3. Orphelins (Orphans): The orphans refer to the numbers on the wheel not covered by either the Le Tiers du Cylindre or Voisins du Zéro. It consists of four split and one straight bet covering eight numbers.
  4. Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero): This call covers the zero and the eight numbers to either side of it. One basket, one corner, and five split bets cover the 17 numbers.
French roulette announced bets
Bet Bet include numbers Payouts #1 Payouts #2
Jeu Zéro (Zero Game) 12-35-3-26-0-32-15 If lands 26 = 36:1 anything else = 18:1
Le Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel) 27,13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16 and 33 over 2 numbers = 17:1
Orphelins (Orphans) 17-34-6 and 1-20-14-31-9 Straight bet = 35:1 Other numbers = 17:1
Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero) 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25 Split numbers = 17:1 Corner bet = 8:1

Know Your Odds to Win

Know Your Odds to WinRoulette has uncomplicated odds, with the zero providing the house edge of 2.70% for European roulette and 5.26% for American roulette with the double zero. The highest odds and lowest payouts are bets that cover half the numbers on the table like black and red, high and low, or odds and evens. These wagers give you a 48.6% chance of winning (reduced to 47.4% on American roulette) and a 1:1 payout.

Wagers covering 12 numbers give you 32.4% odds on European roulette and 31.6% on the American version with a payout of 2:1. Six number combinations like a six-line give you odds of 16.2% and 15.8%, respectively, with a payout of 5:1. The highest payout of 35:1 is on a straight bet with a 2.70% or 2.60% chance of winning depending on the roulette version you play. 

You can refer to the table below for a detailed list of roulette odds and payouts.

Odds and payouts at online roulette
European & American Roulette: Odds & Payouts
Bet type Payout European roulette odds American roulette odds
Single number 35 to 1 2.70% 2.60%
Two Number Combination 17 to 1 5.4% 5.3%
Three Number Combination 11 to 1 8.1% 7.9%
Four Number Combination 8 to 1 10.8% 10.5%
Five Number Combination 6 to 1 13.5% 13.2%
Six Number Combination 5 to 1 16.2% 15.8%
Column 2 to 1 32.40% 31.6%
Dozen 2 to 1 32.40% 31.6%
Even/Odd 1 to 1 48.60% 47.4%
Red/Black 1 to 1 48.60% 47.4%
Low/High 1 to 1 48.60% 47.4%

Best Bonuses to Play Roulette Online for Real Money

One advantage of playing online roulette for real money is that you have the chance to claim bonuses from the casino. There’s no harm in claiming a generic welcome bonus or deposit offer so long as your favourite roulette games contribute to the wagering requirements. Otherwise, you can look for casinos with promotions on roulette or at least table games.

Casino Gods
Welcome Package: £100 + 300 Free Spins
18+ | Play responsibly | Terms & Conditions
Bonus Terms

#AD New customers only. 18+

  • Min. deposit £10
  • Wagering requirements 40x(bonus)
  • Max bet £5
  • All Free Spins from the New Player Welcome Bonuses are valid for 72 hours
  • Free Spins will be credited at the rate of 30 per day
  • The maximum withdrawal amount for a player from their Free Spins is £100
  • Deposits via E-Wallets (Skrill/Neteller/Paysafe/Paypal/Ecopayz), are not eligible for the Welcome Bonus
Slotnite
Welcome package: £500 + 200 free spins
18+ | Play responsibly | Terms & Conditions
Bonus Terms

#AD New customers only. 18+

  • A minimum deposit of £10 is required
  • The minimum withdrawal from your cash funds is £10
  • The wager is 35x the value of: your original cash deposit + the bonus funds
  • Max bet £5
  • Any unused bonus funds will be removed from your account after 30 days
  • All Free Spins are valid for 10 days
Joy
Welcome Package: £100 + 200 Free Spins
18+ | Play responsibly | Terms & Conditions
Bonus Terms

#AD New customers only. 18+

  • Min. deposit £10
  • Players need to wager the Welcome Bonus 40 times
  • Max bet £5
  • The maximum withdrawal amount from their Free Spins is £100
  • Free spin are created 20 per day
  • All Free Spins are valid for 72 hours
  • Deposits via E-Wallets (Skrill/Neteller/Paysafe/Paypal/Ecopayz), are not eligible for the Welcome Bonus
Casino Lab
Welcome package: £100 + 300 Free Spins
18+ | Play responsibly | Terms & Conditions
Bonus Terms

#AD New customers only. 18+

  • Min. deposit £10
  • Max bet £5
  • 30 Free Spins will be instantly credited upon qualifying deposit
  • Remainder will be credited at the rate of 30 per day for 9 days on Reactoonz
  • Wagering requirements 40x(bonus)
  • All Free Spins are valid for 72 hours upon activation
  • The maximum withdrawal amount from their Free Spins is £100
  • Deposits via E-Wallets (Skrill/Neteller/Paysafe/Paypal/Ecopayz), are not eligible
Playfrank
Welcome Package: £100 + 50 Free Spins
18+ | Play responsibly | Terms & Conditions
Bonus Terms

#AD New customers only. 18+

  • Min. deposit £20
  • Bonus need to be wagered 35 times the sum of the received bonus amount
  • The wagering requirement must be met in full within 7 days
  • Maximum bonus bet amount is £4.00
  • The Bonus Spins are valid for 24 hours
CasiGo Casino
Welcome Package: 825 Free Spins
18+ | Play responsibly | Terms & Conditions
Bonus Terms

#AD New customers only. 18+

  • Max Bonus Bet £5
  • Min. deposit is £20
  • Get 3 Bonus spins for every £1 deposited up to 165 spins for each of your first 5 deposits
  • All spins are on Book of Dead only
  • Bonus funds must be used within 30 days
  • Bonus spins must be used within 10 days
  • Bonus funds are subject to 35x wagering and withdrawal requirements

Best Roulette Strategies You Should Know

Roulette has been around almost as long as the modern casino, so many gamblers have devised strategies to maximise their winnings. We’ve provided a short description of four popular systems below, so you can decide which one works best for you. You can try a few of these on free roulette games before betting real money.

Martingale SystemMartingale System

The Martingale system is a simple concept. By doubling your bet each time you lose so that you win the first time, you can recover your losses and make a profit equal to the original bet. Once you win, start betting the initial amount again. The problem with this system is that you may quickly run out of funds before placing a winning bet.

Labouchère System

Labouchere System

With the Labouchère system, you first need to decide on your target winnings. Divide the target into six wagers. Add the numbers from the two ends of the line to determine your first bet. If you win, cross out the two numbers and combine the following two numbers in the sequence to decide on your next stake. Add any losing bets to your series and continue until you reach your goal or deplete your bankroll.

D’alembert System

Dalembert SystemThe D’alembert system is designed to minimise your losses. Instead of doubling your bet each time you lose, you deduct one unit from the bet amount with each win and add with each loss. If you start with a wager of 10 and lose, reduce the next bet to nine. If you win, increase your stake to 11.

Fibonacci System

Fibonacci SystemThe Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers where the following number is equal to the sum of the previous two numbers. Using this system, you progressively increase your bet size according to this sequence with every loss and reduce your stake with every win.

Most Popular Types of Online Roulette

Roulette has a few variations, and we’ve described the most popular types found online. Try some of the free roulette games to decide which version you prefer.

European Roulette

European Roulette

  • The European version only has one zero on the wheel
  • A lower house edge of only 2.70%
  • Odds vary from 2.60% for a straight to 48.60% for even-money bets
  • The wheel has a total of 37 pockets
  • The wheel in European roulette is placed in the middle of the table
French Roulette

French Roulette

  • Only has one zero on the wheel
  • Odds vary from 2.60% for a straight to 48.60% on even-money wagers
  • The wheel has 37 pockets
  • The placement of the wheel is the same as European roulette
  • The En Prison and La Partage rules reduce the house edge by up to 1.32%
American Roulette

American Roulette

  • Has a double zero pocket added to the wheel
  • Has 37 pockets on the wheel instead of 36
  • The wheel is placed at the end of the table, not the centre
  • The double zero pocket increases the house edge to 5.26%
  • Faster gameplay than the French or European versions
Live dealer roulette

Live Dealer Roulette

  • Played with a live croupier through a video link
  • You have the option to interact with the croupier and other players during the game
  • It can be any roulette type
  • In the live version, you won’t be able to play roulette for fun

How to Start Playing Roulette for Real Money

  1. Choose a casino from our list

    Select your preferred casino from our list and sign up.

  2. Choose a good welcome bonus

    Select a welcome bonus that you can use on the roulette or table games and contribute to the wagering requirement.

  3. Make a deposit

    Deposit your funds with a preferred payment method to start playing real-money roulette.

  4. Choose roulette and spin the wheel

    Choose your favourite version of the game and make your stake.

  5. Take a win!

    Try our wagering strategies to start winning and don’t forget to withdraw your winnings

A few tips for roulette players that might help

  • Always play single-zero wheels whenever you can

    Always play single-zero wheels whenever you can

    Single zero Roulette wheels are a better choice for free play Roulette and real money games or for players who want to offset the variance effect. The house edge is decreased, and in the long run, players will win more often or at least mitigate losses.

  • Make your money last

    Make your money last

    Roulette casino games have so many varieties that players often don't know which ones to choose. If your budget is a bit tight, look for games with low starting bets. This allows you to play for longer and enjoy yourself. Check the table information and pick a table with low volatility.

  • Focus on the Outside bets

    Focus on the Outside bets

    Outside bets typically fall on Black or Red colours, or you can bet on odd or even, as well as low or high. At times, you could bet on the columns or the dozens. These bets give you flexibility and reduce your risk.

  • Practice Makes Perfect

    Practice Makes Perfect

    No-one is born a master at any game. Take advantage of any free Roulette games to practice your skills. Take time to learn the rules and implement the strategy per the rules and your goals.

  • Don’t rely too much on strategies

    Don’t rely too much on strategies

    No strategy works 100% in beating the house, even if you are playing free online Roulette games. Sometimes you need to go with your gut feeling, and other times the strategy might work better. The thing is, if you rely solely on your plan, you might miss signals or other signs from players and the dealer because you are so focused on playing your strategy.

  • Use Roulette bonuses and have fun!

    Use Roulette bonuses and have fun!

    Besides welcome bonuses, the best online Roulette casinos run promotions regularly. They vary from cash match bonuses to free spins on the wheel. They also offer tournaments and loyalty bonuses to registered players. Always keep your eye out for these as they can help boost your bankroll and enjoy the online Roulette casino games longer. Remember, it is a game after all, and you should be having fun when playing.

FAQ

Is there a sure system to win at Roulette?

There is no known system that works 100% and beats the casino every time. Gambling games are all games of chance with some skill involved.

Is Roulette also available as a live game online?

If your casino of choice has a Live Casino section, then it's very likely you can play Roulette with a live dealer. If that is your preference, then research the casino before signing up.

Is Roulette a popular online game?

Yes. Roulette is a simple and easy to learn game, making it incredibly popular at online casinos.