ONLINE ROULETTE CASINOS

Different Types of Roulette Games

Roulette translates from French as ‘little wheel’ because the game uses a wheel. It is thought that the game originated from the Italian game Biribi.

However, the first version of roulette as we know it today appeared in the 18^th century in France.

Over the centuries, there had been many changes and tinkering around the wheel. Roulette wheels are classified based on the number of zeros that accompany regular numbers. Today we have three types of wheels:

• Single-zero
• Double-zero
• Triple-zero

The best and most player-friendly versions are the single-zero tables. They are commonly found in Europe, so this is called European Roulette. There’s also a French variant, also a single-zero, but with a few key distinctions that make it even more player-friendly.

The American Roulette uses a double-zero layout, which doubles the house edge. Ultimately, the worst option is the triple-zero roulette, typically found at land-based casinos in the USA.

Although roulette is based on standard rules, slight variants set variants apart from one another and change their house edge in a big way.

European Roulette

European Roulette is the most common variant of roulette. It’s called European because it is mostly prevalent in Europe. It has the same layout as the French table, but this one is more common.

European roulette is played on a wheel with 37 pockets, numbered 1 to 36 and one zero (0). This single zero makes the layout known as the single-zero roulette, something you will often encounter while browsing roulette games online.

Having just one zero lowers the house edge to only 2.70%, which means standard European roulette tables have a 97.30% RTP.

Besides a lower house advantage, European roulette is also popular because it is very straightforward, widespread, and player friendly. In fact, game-makers prefer this one as it’s the best balance between house and player-friendliness. American roulette is better for the house, while the French variant is more player friendly.

American Roulette

The other side of the coin with European roulette is American roulette. American roulette is the name of the variant that features two zeroes on the wheel besides the 1-36 numbers. That means that the wheel has an extra pocket that, besides 0, houses the 00.

Thanks to this tiny change, the house edge jumps to 5.26%, which is double the edge found at European tables. And this is the main reason why this table is less favored than its European counterparts.

Bets are similar to the other variants, but because there is an extra zero, players have a slightly lower chance of winning a wager. This inclusion adds to the game’s volatility, which is why it’s preferred at American casinos, especially in Las Vegas. It’s common at land-based casinos, while online casinos greatly prefer European and French tables.

French Roulette

The third variant commonly found at online casinos is the French Roulette. French Roulette has the same layout as European Roulette.

Because it is a single-zero roulette table, French roulette is great for payouts for the players. There is one zero, 36 other numbers, 37 pockets in total, but the edge is even lower because of two unique table rules called En Prison and La Partage.

• La Partage: If you place an even-money bet (red/black or odd/even) and the ball lands on zero, you get back half of what you wagered.
• En Prison: If you place an even-money bet and the ball lands on zero, your bet is locked (or “imprisoned”) for the next wheel spin. If the result is a win in the next spin, you get your money back.

Thanks to these two rules, French Roulette has an edge of only 1.35%.

Online Roulette Variants

In a bid to attract players and to refresh rules that have been rigid for years, game developers have created several variants of roulette.

In addition to the traditional variants of roulette such as American Roulette, French Roulette, and European Roulette, online casinos offer newer variants such as Double Ball Roulette, Mini Roulette, Live Dealer Roulette, Auto Roulette, and Multi Wheel Roulette, to mention just a few.

Most variants have taken European Roulette as the basis and expanded the rules to either include a different paytable or rule that affects gameplay. Here are some of the most common roulette variants found at casinos online.

Multi Wheel Roulette

Multi-Wheel Roulette is a special variant of roulette.

In Multi Wheel roulette, players can wager on more than one wheel at the same time. The cap is typically 8 wheels at once, but that depends on the table players have chosen.

Moreover, Multi Wheel games use European rules. However, the outcome of the bet does not refer to only one wheel, but rather all wheels at play at the time of placing the bet.

In other words, a single bet can cover all active wheels.

Every wheel spins separately, and players can win on more than one wheel within the same round.

Thanks to this setting, the excitement and payoff chances increase, but so does the risk of losing more.

Auto Roulette

Auto Roulette and Multi Wheel roulette can be generally mistaken for each other, but they are two different roulette variations.

Namely, Auto Roulette is a type of roulette where the ball is automatically spun using a mechanical wheel. There is no dealer/host to spin the wheel.

It’s often played in live dealer mode, but not land-based casinos. The variant is generally used in online casinos because it provides faster game speed and uninterrupted action without an actual dealer to slow down the process.

There are more than one instances of Auto Roulette, with major live dealer game-makers creating their unique version of the variant.

Some Auto Roulette variants feature live streams of the wheel – or multiple wheels, depends – while others use computer-simulated results (RNG). The game operates with standard roulette rules, but you might encounter European, French, or American versions.

Mini Roulette

As its name suggests, Mini Roulette is an abbreviated form of the game on a smaller wheel with only 13 numbers (1-12 and one 0).

Because fewer numbers are on the wheel, the odds and payouts are reduced proportionally.  Winning a straight-up bet, for example, gets you a payout of 11:1, rather than the usual 35:1.

Mini Roulette is popular because it is more regarded as quick play rather than high-risk exclusive roulette gameplay. The game facilitates low-risk wagers, but the presence of a single zero increases the house does affect the edge. Namely, the one zero increases the house advantage unless specific rules (e.g., La Partage) are in force.

Live Roulette

Live Roulette is the newest and most popular roulette variant on the internet. It refers to actual roulette table gameplay broadcast via video streaming.

Players can join a specific table and play the game in real time. The entire process is broadcast live, with actual dealers spinning the wheel and announcing winners. There are also instances where there’s no dealer – such as Auto Roulette Live.

The idea behind live roulette is to deliver gameplay that’s just like playing in a casino but enjoying it from your own home. Special features like chat options, camera angles, and side bets are offered to bridge the gap between live and land-based roulette.

It’s possible to find European, French, American, and even special ones like Lightning Roulette or Immersive Roulette. Each version has different special features that players can enjoy.

Basic Rules of Roulette

Roulette is a classic casino. It’s the definition of traditional gambling found on every online and brick-and-mortar gambling floor.

A major part of the appeal is the simplicity of the rules. Another part is the ease of adjusting said rules to fit different settings, thus generating variants that are fresh and entertaining.

However, most variants rely on the standard rules.

Standard roulette is a classic casino game where players place bets on a small ball that spins on a spinning wheel. The place – called pocket – in which the ball lands is numbered, and players can either place bets on specific numbers – called straight-up bets – or a group of numbers where the ball could land.

Typically, the wheel consists of 37 or 38 pockets, numbered 1-36 with one or two zeroes. There are examples of wheels with three zeroes, but that’s neither common nor player-friendly, which is why we will not discuss that roulette variation.

• The dealer (or RNG system in online roulette) spins the wheel in one direction and drops the ball in the opposite direction.
• Players place bets on a layout on the table that features numbers and bet types. This happens before the ball stops in a pocket.
• When the ball stops, winning bets are paid out according to the odds, and a new round begins.

Even if the layout and wheel change – by adding or removing a zero or some other rule – the fundamental rules remain the same.

Types of Roulette Bets

Roulette bets are divided into two main groups:

• Inside bets (placed on specific numbers)
• Outside bets (covering broader sections of the table)

Inside Bets have higher payouts than outside bets, but they are not very likely to hit. The odds of winning an inside bet is lower than winning an outside bet.

Here are all inside bets that you can wager on.

1. Straight-Up – Bet on a single number (pays 35:1)
2. Split – Wager on two adjacent numbers (pays 17:1)
3. Street – Bet on a row of three numbers (pays 11:1)
4. Corner (Square) – Bet on four numbers that form a square on the layout (pays 8:1)
5. Six-Line – Bet on two adjacent rows, which means six numbers (pays 5:1)

Then there are outside bets.

Outside Bets have lower payouts than the inside ones, but that is because they are more likely to hit. The odds of winning a wager by betting on an outside bet is higher.

1. Red or Black – Bet on whether the ball will land on a red or black number (pays 1:1)
2. Odd or Even – Bet on whether the winning number is odd or even (pays 1:1)
3. Low (1-18) or High (19-36) – Bet on whether the number will be low or high (pays 1:1)
4. Dozens – Bet on 12-number groups: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36 (pays 2:1)
5. Column – Bet on one of the three vertical columns of numbers (pays 2:1)

The first three are also called even-money bets, because they pay even money in case of a win. Some variants of roulette (such as French Roulette) include special bets such as Voisins du Zéro, Orphelins, and Tiers du Cylindre, which cover specific sections of the wheel (layout).

How to Place a Bet in Roulette

There’s nothing easier than to place a wager on a roulette game. Once you have selected the game and joined the table, make sure to wait until the round begins. As soon as the dealer/system announces that the bets are open, you are free to place one. Here’s how to place a roulette bet.

1. Select a Bet Type – First decide if you want to place an inside, outside or a combination of the two bets.
2. Place Chips on the Layout – Use the screen UI to drag chips on the corresponding numbers or bet areas. You can place multiple bets per spin.
3. Wait for the Wheel to be Spun – Once all bets are placed and the bets are closed, the dealer will spin the wheel and release the ball. If there is no dealer, this will be done automatically.
4. Round Results & Payouts – If the ball happens to land on the number you selected (or a category you wagered on) you win according to the payout table.

If you are playing at a French table, some steps might be a bit different because of the two special French rules.

The Best Way to Practice Roulette

You cannot practice live roulette, which is why it’s recommended to play online roulette for free and then switch to live dealer tables for real money.

Why practice roulette for free?

Because it allows you to:

1. Build skills
2. Learn effective ways to increase winning odds
3. Explore different variants
4. Prepare for live dealer gaming
5. Practice betting strategies

Sadly, you can only play free roulette in RNG form, as live casino games are not available in demo mode anywhere.

Thankfully, Evolution has a line of RNG games titled First-Person games, which are RNG versions of their live tables. You can check that out at every site working with Evolution.

Live Dealer Roulette

If you want the experience of taking part in roulette played at land-based locations from the cozy comforts of home, live dealer is the way to go.

Online casinos use the latest webcam and video streaming technologies to stream the live roulette action directly on players’ computers. Players can not only view the live dealers in action, but also interact with them using the chat functionality.

And if they want, they can also communicate with other players via chat throughout the game.

It’s a highly entertaining game, but one which is difficult to win at consistently – thanks to the single or double “0” that gives an edge to the house. That’s why it’s important to practice roulette and play the best version of the game.

Before attempting to understand live dealer roulette, you should understand the difference between playing online roulette and land-based roulette.

Before you head into the live lobby, consider these:

• Real-time action versus online playtime
• Authenticity that comes from real casino floors
• RNG versus human dealers
• Playing from the comfort of one’s home
• Exclusive, high-end tables
• Chatting with others while playing

By playing live games, you get to experience the real action, often broadcast from an actual casino floor or a studio designed specifically for that game. This adds authenticity to the experience, making players feel like they are actually there.

Moreover, with live tables, there’s a chance to find more variants, often with better payouts, side bets, and rules. Many of which are built to meet the needs of deep-pocketed players.

Lastly, playing in live mode gives you the benefit of interacting with others, which is not something you get with classic, RNG games.

Benefits of Playing Live Roulette

Live roulette offers you an unmatched roulette playing experience. Here are just some of the benefits of playing roulette in real time.

Play at Your Own Speed

Online casinos offer a variety of live roulette tables. These tables are very different, meaning they may feature different round paces. In other words, you will find the amount of time between each spin of the Roulette wheel will vary. You can adjust to that by selecting a table with a perfect pace easily.

This might not mean much to veterans and seasoned players, but beginners appreciate this as the pace can often be a deciding factor for them to switch to live mode.

Greater Sense of Fair Play

RNG games are all fantastic and unpredictable, but not all punters trust the computer-generated gameplay. Moreover, there are those who believe only brick-and-mortar tables are true and fair.

In live roulette, players can clearly see the action at the table as it plays out right on their screen. As a result, fewer punters question the fairness of live roulette games – unlike on software-driven games.

Player/Dealer Interaction

Roulette is a luck-based game, so there’s little to no interference by the player with the round outcome. There is, however, lots of interaction as players like to engage with the dealers and/or other players.

In live roulette, that interaction is made possible with live chat. It’s not ideal, of course, but it’s far better than nothing, which is what you get with RNG-based roulette. Of course, for all those who prefer to play solo, they can easily turn off the live chat option with a few simple clicks. Best of both worlds, a win-win for all.

Multiple Chip Options and Table Stakes

Live roulette is often a high-stakes game with higher limits and payouts than basic RNG-based roulette. However, not all tables are like that. There are some very varied table stake limits in place at all casino sites offering live roulette.

That means you can easily locate a table that suits players with different betting tastes and preferences. Exclusive, high-stake tables are often reserved for VIP players, but players can access most of the games straight from the lobby.

Comps and Loyalty Points

Bonuses might not matter to all punters, but there are players who play to win bonus funds or perks. With roulette, comps and loyalty points play an important role, as it’s easy to earn comps and loyalty points when playing table games in live mode.

Obviously, the number of points you earn and the redemption rates vary from casino to casino. Still, the fact is that you are able to enjoy a variety of bonuses, including exclusive, live dealer offers, VIP offers, and loyalty bonuses.

Live Dealer Roulette Pros

To sum up, here is a short list of benefits of playing live dealer games.

• Real-time action
• Tables are available 24/7
• Game pace adjusted to players
• Considered fairer than RNG roulette
• More authentic than generic RNG games
• Available at many reputable sites
• Native-speaking dealers
• Player-friendly table limits
• Exclusive tables
• Comps, loyalty bonuses, live bonuses, etc
• Fast-paced versions such as Speed Roulette and Auto Roulette
• Fit for experienced players and novices
• Social interaction
• More variants than in RNG mode
• Many tables are for high rollers

Before playing, please make sure you are aware of your proficiency level and have taken all necessary precautions to protect assets.

Are There Any Cons to Playing Live Roulette?

Of course, there are disadvantages too. Here’s a list of reasons why roulette might not be a good choice.

• Table limits might be too high
• Freeplay is not possible
• Tables come with Multipliers that are not player-friendly
• Gameplay is too fast-paced

Most of these limitations can be solved by choosing a better, more suitable game.

However, the fact of the matter is that it’s not great for novices as they cannot play free roulette, and they need to practice roulette and sharpen their skills before investing real money.