How to play Roulette online

The History of Roulette

The numbers on the modern roulette wheel add up to 666 – which is pretty cryptic.

Many people believe that roulette is based on an ancient Chinese board game that involved arranging 37 animal figurines into a magic square with numbers that total 666. The game was discovered by Dominican monks who were deeply involved with all aspects of Chinese life and was later brought to Europe by them, with slight modifications. Unfortunately, no one can find specific information on how the original Chinese game was actually played.

The origins of the game known as ‘roulette’ are shrouded in mystery. The most widely accepted version is that the first incarnation of the game was created by French math wizard and accomplished nerd Blaise Pascal somewhere in the 17th century, while he was hard at work trying to create a perpetual motion machine.

But the zero didn't exist on the Roulette wheel until the mid-19th century. In 1842, Francois and Lois Blanc designed the single-zero roulette wheel specifically for King Charles III of Monaco.

In the 1800s, Roulette made its way across the ocean and onto US shores. To give the house an even bigger edge, a double zero was added to the Roulette wheel. That means that instead of 37 numbers, the American Roulette wheel would have 38 numbers (1 through 36, 0, and 00).

If I had the money and the drinking capacity, I’d probably live at a roulette table and let my life go to hell.

Michael Ventura

The rise of online casinos in recent years made it possible for anyone to enjoy their favourite games in the comfort of their own homes. New casino platforms are coming out every month, and fans are spoilt for choice. Now you can play European, American, and all other types of game despite your geographical location. Also, there are considerable advantages to playing the roulette online, rather at a brick-and-mortar casino.

Read more about roulette on wikipedia

Roulette Basics

Table

The roulette table layout is arranged into 2 sections: inside and outside. The inside area is organized into three columns of numbers, and the zero and double-zero are positioned atop the columns. Like the wheel, half of the numbers on the table are black and half are red. The outside area contains boxes for column bets, even money bets (red versus black, even versus odd, etc.), and wagers on other groupings of numbers.

Wheel

The wheel itself has 38 numbered slots, each with the same colored background as the corresponding number on the table layout. The small, hard ball used to be made of ivory; now it is usually plastic. The dealer spins the wheel in one direction, then spins the ball in the opposite direction around a track on the bowl-shaped recess that holds the wheel. When the speed of the ball decreases, it falls off the track toward the wheel itself, and bounces around until it settles in a numbered slot.

Spin

Each spin of the wheel provides a multitude of options for the player. A player may bet on single numbers, rows of numbers, or on adjacent numbers. A player also may play colors, odd or even numbers, among others. A bet on a single number pays 35 to 1, including the 0 and 00. Bets on red or black, odd or even pay 1 for 1, or even money.

Inside Bets

Most inside roullette bets are simple to remember as long as you associate their names with the position of your chips on the table.
The table is covered with a felt layout with boxes for the numbers 1 through 36 arranged in three columns and 12 rows. At the end of the portion of the layout closest to the dealer, above the numbers 1, 2, and 3, are boxes for 0 and 00. Each of the numbers 1 through 36 is surrounded by either a red or black oval or rectangle. The 0 and 00 have green backgrounds. This rectangular grid, with a box for each number, is used for wagers called "inside bets."

Outside Bets

Outside Bets Are The Red / Black Diamonds, Even / Odd, 1st 12, 2nd 12, 3rd 12 etc.
Outside the numbered boxes are several other boxes for "outside bets," encompassing up to 18 numbers at a time. Most of the areas for outside bets are on the long side of the table across from the dealer. However, at the end of the rectangle away from the dealer are boxes for bets on each 12-number column.

Chips

Regular casino chips are not usually used at a roulette table. Instead, when the player places money on the layout and asks for chips, the dealer will give out special roulette chips. Each player gets a different color of chips so the dealer can keep track of which chips belong to which player. Because the house does not want to get in a dispute over what chips belong to whom, couples or friends playing together may not share chips. Even husbands and wives playing together are required to play separate colors.

Bets & Payouts

• Single number bet pays 35 to 1. Also called “straight up.”
• Double number bet pays 17 to 1. Also called a “split.”
• Three number bet pays 11 to 1. Also called a “street.”
• Four number bet pays 8 to 1. Also called a “corner bet.”
• Five number bet pays 6 to 1. Only one specific bet which includes the following numbers: 0-00-1-2-3.
• Six number bets pays 5 to 1. Example: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Also called a “line.”
• Twelve numbers or dozens (first, second, third dozen) pays 2 to 1.
• Column bet (12 numbers in a row) pays 2 to 1.
• 18 numbers (1-18) pays even money.
• 18 numbers (19-36) pays even money.
• Red or black pays even money.
• Odd or even bets pay even money.

Roulette Gameplay

Seats at the roulette table are for players only. Even if a nonplayer sits down when only one player is at the table, the dealer will ask the nonplayer to move.

Play begins after the dealer has cleared off all losing bets and paid all winners from the previous spin. Players are given time to put down bets by placing chips on the layout before the dealer starts the spin. After the spin has begun, players may keep betting until the ball is about to drop from the track at the top of the wheel down toward the numbered slots. Then the dealer will call, “No more bets.”

Even if the winning method were written on casino walls, people still would stick to their losing «lucky numbers» methods.

Richard Grace (pro poker player)

The ball will bounce around, then finally settle in one slot. Next the dealer will place a marker on the layout on the corresponding number - or on top of any chips that have been bet on that number. The dealer will then clear away all losing bets and pay off all those who have bet on the winning number or on combinations including the winning number. When all that is done, the dealer will lift the marker off the number on the layout, and betting may begin again.

Deciding how many chips to place where on the roulette table depends on what type of bet you want to make. There is two types of bets, inside and outside bets.

The house gets its edge from 0 and 00 - they are neither red nor black, neither odd nor even, neither part of the first 18 nor the last 18. If the ball lands on 0 or 00, all even-money bets - in fact, all outside bets - lose.

In casinos offering a French wheel with the en prison rule, the player does not lose an even money bet when the 0 comes up. Instead, the bet is "in prison" - the player does not lose the wager, but it remains in effect for the next spin. If the bet wins on the next spin, it is released, and the player may pull it back. The bet may not remain in prison on consecutive spins - a second consecutive 0 makes the bet a loser. This is a very favorable rule for the player, and one that is rare in the United States.

Inside Bets

• Straight Up
  You place a wager on an individual number. Your chips are placed in the middle of that number’s space on the table.
• Split
  This is a wager placed on 2 numbers or groups of numbers that share a border. Your chips are placed on the shared border. You can make a split bet on 2 non-zero adjoining numbers, the zero and double zero, and even on two of the dozens (for example, the 1st and 2nd dozen).
• Street (Or Row)
  You can place a bet on 3 numbers that occupy the same row (for example, 16, 17, and 18). Your chips are placed on the leftmost vertical line of the row’s first number.
• Corner (Or Quad)
  This is a wager placed on 4 numbers that share a common corner (for example, 5, 6, 8, and 9). Your chips are placed on the common corner.
• Six Line
  This is similar to a Street Bet. The difference is that you are wagering on 6 numbers in 2 adjacent rows. An example would be 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30. Your chips are placed on the intersecting borders at the beginning of the 2 rows.
• The Trio
  You can wager on whether the ball will rest on a specific group of 3 numbers: 0, 1, or 2, and 00, 2, or 3. Your chips are placed on the spot where their borders intersect.
• Basket Bet
  Worst odds bet in Roulette. This bet lets you wager on a group comprised of 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. Your chips are placed on the intersection of the borders for 0, 00, and 2. Gives the house edge of 7.89%

Outside Bets

• Red or Black
  Of the spots labeled 1 through 36, 18 are red and 18 are black. You can wager on either color; if the ball rests on a number that is the same color as your bet, you’ll win. At first, wagering red or black seems like an even bet. But, remember that the zero and double zero spots are green.
• Odd Versus Even
  Like red versus black, there are 18 odd numbers and 18 even numbers between 1 and 36. You can place a bet on either group. Again, remember that the two green spots lower your odds because zero and double zero are neither odd or even.
• Low Versus High
  You can place a wager on whether the ball will rest on a number between 1 and 18, or a number between 19 and 36. Like the previous two roulette bets, the zero and double zero slots fall outside both groups.
• Betting By Dozens
  This is a bet on whether the ball will rest on a number between 1 and 12, 13 and 24, or 25 and 36. For example, if you bet on the 2nd dozen and the ball rests on 22, you’ll win. If it rests on 25, you’ll lose.
• Betting By Columns
  The numbers on the roullette table are organized into 3 columns. You can bet on which column contains the number on which the ball will rest. For example, the first column contains 1, 4, 7, 10, and so on. If you place a wager on the first column and the ball rests on 7, you’ll win. If it rests on 8, you’ll lose.

Types of Roulette

European roulette

If you are playing European roulette, you play a roulette game in which you can put bets on the numbers 1 to 36. There is only one single zero in the game, making your winning chances slightly higher than in American roulette.

There is a roulette wheel and a playing field on which you place your bets. If the ball drops onto the number or chance that you have chosen, you win the related profit, starting from the same amount (X1) as your bet.

American roulette

In American roulette, there is an extra zero in addition to the zero in the roulette wheel and on the playing field. This reduces your chances of winning somewhat and at the same time, this ensures higher profits for the casino itself. On the internet, American roulette is usually played with just one single zero.

In American roulette everyone plays with their own colour chips, for which you tell the croupier in advance what their playing value is.

French roulette

One of the oldest forms of casino play is French roulette and this is therefore regarded as the queen of casino play.

As in European roulette there is only one zero in French roulette. What is different however, is that in French roulette you have fewer betting options.

The playing field looks different and there is no neighbouring game either.

Other Types of Roulette

In online casinos, you’ll find other creative variants of the three basic games, for example, Multi Wheel Roulette. This game includes up to 6 wheels and players can place separate bets on all of them at the same time giving them more chances to win.

Mini Roulette. For example, 12 Number Roulette is a quick-fire Roulette table games. As its name suggests, this game does not feature a full roulette betting board, with just 12 pockets plus a zero present on the roulette reel. Rapid roulette gameplay is made possible with this game, which is ideal for any player who likes traditional online casino table games but wants to play speedily and without too much fuss.

Double Ball Roulette first appearing in Vegas, double ball roulette takes the action up a couple notches by, you guessed it, tossing another little white ball into the equation. Typically the game was played on a European wheel, meaning that low house edge that is seen in European roulette applied to double ball roulette as well.

Live roulette or Multiplayer roulette games are also available but these games can only be played with real money. Live Roulette is a unique, scrumptious game that draws your players’ right into the action. In this game you sit at the same game table together with multiple people and you can talk to each other during the game. You can also see what profits your opponents are making and you can watch their game strategies to see if they maybe something for you to try successfully as well.

There are many different variants of a game using RNG technology.

How to Start Playing Roulette Online

1. Find a game

   Choose a roulette type that you like among different types of roulette. There is a lot of a game types, each game has its own unique set of features.

2. Watch what's happening

   For all intents and purposes, there can be no strategy to roulette. It's pure and simple luck. Each number has the exact same shot of popping up every time...usually.

3. Play for free

   Roulette is fun and addictive, but at first, it may seem like a tricky game. If you have never played roulette before and you are in the process of learning, or you know the rules, but you have never played it online, it would be best to practice by playing the online roulette game for free. That’s a much better option than just jumping into the real money gamble experience.

4. Realize your odds

   At every roulette table (and at every game in the casino itself), the house always has an edge. All bets at both wheels (French or American) are paid at odds that would be true if only the 36 numbers were on the wheel. Their advantage comes from to 0 - and the 00 in America. There are theories as to how you can improve your odds, but they don't work.

5. Place your bets

   

   You may wait a bit until the table is open for bets. You will know that time has come when you see the message “Place the bet”. After selecting how much you will bet and placing the chips on the table, you’ll see that bets are closed. They will be open again once the round is over.

   The entire process of playing roulette is quite simple, and the fact you are playing it online is even easier than going into the land-based casino. The main goal is to enjoy the gambling experience, and roulette is the type of game that promises just that and more.