Roulette

And those who are brave shall choose Roulette, or perhaps Roulette shall choose them. And those brave shall not look away from the wheel in fear as thy ball bounces, for wherever it may land. Destiny. And whatever the outcome, the true gamblers, of which Roulette is their game, will trudge forward on the green, number felt, which is their battlefield. ~ Anonymous

Good Online Casinos To Play Roulette

The following casinos are on my list as the best casinos to play roulette online today.

• Bovada Casino - Our #1 pick. Offers single zero roulette for best odds.
• Slots.LV - If you like roulette and slots then this is the site for you.
• BetOnline Casino - Live dealer casino. Watch real dealers spin the roulette wheel.
• CloudBet - Play roulette with a variety of crypto currencies at this crypto centric online gambling site. Huge bonuses, provably fair games, live dealers and more.

If you are looking for something specific, such as live roulette, or roulette without zero you can dig a little deeper into our site. One thing to keep in mind is that the casinos almost always do not allow bets on roulette to count for bonus clearing requirements. In the past, players would simply place bets on red / black over and over and over again. The low house edge on this bet let the player meet the bonus rollover requirements with very little overall risk. This was a prime way ‘bonus whores’ as they are lovingly know known busted a bunch of casino bonus dollars back in the day.

How To Play Roulette

 

Roulette is the great equalizer of casino gambling. A newbie can walk up to the table and instantly understand enough to start playing. You can bet red or black, odd or even, or pick a number and watch the ball roll seductively toward your chosen spot. There are a ton of other betting choices as well but roulette can be played by all with equal chances for success.

Every bet possible, except 1 called the basket bet which we will ignore, has the exact same odds. Repeat for emphasis. All the bets in roulette pay out the exact same odds. It does not matter if you bet straight up on a number, bet on red or black, odd or even or on corners. All the bets except the basket bet which has worse odds and you should not make it (more details in our strategy and tips section).

That means you can play a ‘risky’ style making straight up bets on numbers which are less likely to hit but pay more when they do or a conservative style picking red or black, odd or even, or two out of three columns. It does not matter, your odds are the same. This also makes roulette fun to play. Both online and in a live casino.

• Roulette Basics
• Roulette Odds
• Roulette Betting Options
• Roulette Strategy
• Betting Systems for Roulette
• Top 10 Roulette Tips

Types of Roulette – American, European and French (less known)

There are three main types of roulette games: American, European, and French. The differences between the American and European versions are slight. Meanwhile, the French version is notable for a number of exclusive rules. We’ll give you an overview of these differences and rules below.

For the most part, American and European types of roulette games are nearly identical. The inside and outside bets are the same and there are no ancillary rules. The only differences between the two versions are the use of a double-zero (“00”) and the sequence of numbers on the respective wheels. With regards to the double zero, American wheels include it and European wheels do not. The result is a lower house edge for European roullette (2.63% versus 5.26%).

American & European Roulette

European roulette is very similar to its American cousin but it gives the player better odds at winning. At its most basic, the only true difference is that the European version lacks the double-zero (“00”). This feature alone has a dramatic effect and we’ll describe it below. It’s also important to note that there are a few European rules that many casinos follow which are not immediately intuitive to players.

Below, we’ll give you an overview of European roulette and explain how to play the game. We’ll also provide a brief glimpse at two specific rules that can influence your odds.

Like the American version, European roullette uses inside and outside bets. The inside bets include straight ups, splits, streets, corners, double streets, and basket bets (0-00-1-2-3). The outside bets include red/black, odd/even, 1st half/2nd half, dozens, and column bets.

The Roulette wheel has 37 slots, one for each number from 1 through 36 and one slot for the single zero. The house edge can vary between 2.70% to 1.35% depending upon the table rules. If a casino uses a “bare bones” version of European roulette, the edge is 2.70%. However, if the imprisonment rule (also known as “en prison”) is used, the edge declines to 2.63%. If the “La Partage” rule is used, the edge drops to 1.35%.

The imprisonment rule states that a player’s even money bets are “imprisoned” if the ball lands on zero. The player has the right to immediately claim half the bet back or allow the entire amount to remain imprisoned. On the following spin, if the player’s bet wins, the imprisoned amount is returned. Otherwise, the imprisoned amount is forfeited.

The “La Partage” rule simply gives the player half the even money bet back if the ball lands on zero. You can learn more roulette rules here as well as a growing list of roulette terms.

French Roulette – Rare Types of Roulette Game

French roulette is played on a European wheel without the double-zero. As we noted above, its differences lie within its rules. For example, in addition to the inside and outside bets of American and European roulette, the French version allows “Finales.” These are wagers placed upon a group of numbers which end in the same digit (i.e. 4, 14, 24, 34). Other bets are also exclusive to French roulette (and perhaps other types of roulette games occasionally played throughout Hamburg, Holland, and Spain). Here’s a brief overview:

• Voisin du Nombre: a 5-chip wager on an individual number which also covers four additional numbers, two on each immediate side of the original.
• Voisins du Zero: a 9-chip wager on zero which also covers 16 additional numbers, 7 on the right of the zero and 9 on the left.
• Tiers du Cylindre: a 6-chip wager which covers all numbers from 27 through 33 on the wheel (the numbers are not sequential).
• Orphelin Plein: an 8-chip wager covering a select streak of numbers on the wheel.
• Orphelin Cheval: a 5-chip wager which covers 1 with 1 chip as well as four additional pairs of numbers.

French roulette is rare. We have yet to uncover an online casino that offers it while still meeting our criteria for dependability, customer support, generous bonuses, and software functionality. That said, when we do find one, we’ll include it on this page.

No Zero Roulette – Without A Single Zero

Long-time roulette fans know that a casino’s house edge comes from the zero and double-zero (“0” and “00,” respectively). That is the reason a lot of players gravitate toward European roullette; it lacks the double-zero and therefore, the house edge is lower. This is the classic single zero roulette game. Having said that, the house edge still exists and on average, you can expect to lose over an infinite number of spins. But, what if you could play roulette without zero or double-zero? In effect, the house edge would vanish.

On this page, we’ll describe a new variation of roulette that is slowly gaining traction among players. We’ll explain how roulette without zero works and tell you where you can enjoy the game.

How Roulette Without Zero Works (Single Zero Roulette)

In normal American roullette, you’ll have a 1 in 38 chance of winning on individual numbers. In European roulette, you’ll have a 1 in 37 chance (again, the European wheel lacks a double-zero). The payout on individual numbers is 35:1, which results in a house edge of 5.26% and 2.63%, respectively. Also, some casinos use a rule called “La Partage” that returns half of the player’s stake on even money bets when the ball lands on zero. That rule further reduces the house edge to 1.35% for the outside bets.

When you play roulette without zero or double-zero, the house edge drops to 0.0%. In effect, you’ll enjoy “true odds.” If you were to play indefinitely, you could expect to break even. All gamblers know that winning streaks can materialize out of nowhere on games of chance. Playing roulette without the “0” or “00” increases the likelihood of that happening.
As you might expect from the zero house edge, few online casinos offer this variation of the game. And the casinos that do offer it have reported losses in several countries (not a surprise since the game gives the player true odds). BetFair is one of the few high-quality casinos at which you can play roulette without zero. They keep it within their Zero Lounge, so be sure to look for it there rather than within their normal casino. If you have never played roulette without the “0” or “00,” visit BetFair to try your luck.

This is one of the few opportunities you’ll have to play roulette online the game without a house edge.

Strategy, Odds And The House Edge

 

While there are plenty of ways to bet playing roulette, *the odds are the same on each bet.

• European roulette gives an edge of 2.63%.
• American roulette gives a house edge of 5.26%.

The difference? The extra number (double zero) in American roulette. The house edge is increased to 5.26%. European roulette gives the house an edge of only 2.63%. You should always opt to play European style roulette if given the choice (you are at the casinos we list).

*The exception to the same odds rule is a 0-00-1-2-3 combo basket bet (used primarily in American roullette). That bet raises the house edge to 7.89%. It’s a suckers bet if there ever is one letting you cover 5 numbers but paying you a smaller percentage.

There are some roulette strategies and systems, like the double up strategy (martingale) style where you double your losses in order to recoup initial gains.

Where To Play Roulette Online – Legit Casinos

There are plenty of online casinos that offer roulette to their members but there are only a small few we recommend. We strongly encourage you to only play (even for fake money) at one of the legit online casinos. Especially if you are US based, the selection of quality places to do a little gambling online is constantly changing with new “rouge” operators starting up flashy looking casinos using a common software provider. Go with a proven reputable casino and be glad you did. That said, one of our favorite places to play is Bovada Casino. It offers software that provides a seamless, fluid playing experience. The deposits and withdrawals are fast and easy. There are also ongoing bonuses available to new players. Check them out 100% free by clicking the link above or on one of the roulette wheels below.

Playing Online Roulette vs Live Casino Roulette

Nearly every casino around the globe offers roulette. Gamblers gravitate toward the game because of its charm, excitement, and mystique. The spinning roulette wheel and table layout are instantly recognizable; they’re reminiscent of the timeworn casino aura that permeates movies and popular culture. This begs the question: what are the differences between online roulette vs. live?

In many ways, the experience of enjoying the game online is similar to playing live in a land-based casino. In other ways, there are vast differences. On this page, we’ll describe the costs, advantages, and possible drawbacks of playing online roulette versus live and point you in the direction of online casinos like the ones on our home page where you can experience the game for yourself.

Costs Of Online Roulette Vs Live

First, let’s tally the costs of playing roullette in a live casino environment. For simplicity, we’ll assume a trip to Las Vegas. You’ll need to spend up to $300 for airfare and you’ll probably want to stay a few days. Unless you’re being comped the room, expect to pay another $300 for a hotel. Add food, drinks, and miscellaneous costs, and it’s not unreasonable to expect a $1,000 tab for the trip.

Let’s take a look at the costs of playing online roulette vs. live. You’ll be enjoying the experience on your computer, so there’s no airfare or hotel to play for. Your food and drinks are at your discretion. That means a $100 dinner at Delmonico’s Steakhouse in The Venetian can be replaced by your favorite $15 pizza.

In total, playing roullette online will cost about… $15 for the pizza.

Online Roulette Vs. Live – Sometimes a Social Game Live

Interacting with other gamblers is one of the ways in which a live casino experience often trumps playing online. The fact is, playing roulette at a table surrounded by other players is exciting. The experience is infused with the restless energy of other gamblers. Even interacting with the dealer – assuming he or she has a personality – can add a stimulating effect to the game. The social interaction between you and the other roulette players instills a sense of camaraderie at the table. This is one of the aspects of roullette is different if you choose to play roulette online instead of playing at a Las Vegas.

When you’re playing live roulette, table etiquette is not only important, it’s critical. If you fail to follow the established protocols, the dealer and other casino employees might misinterpret your actions as cheating. Other conventions are less dire, but learning the accepted code of behavior will help you enjoy the experience.

On this page, we’ll provide a summary of roulette table etiquette guidelines you should follow. Keep in mind that a lot of people playing live roulette consider these protocols to be just as important as the normal rules of the game.

You can start to practice your roulette table etiquette online at one of our suggested casinos. This helps you feel more prepared for the thrill of the game at a live roulette table.

Roulette Table Etiquette – The Basics To Keep You Out Of Trouble

After you hear the dealer announce “No more bets,” do not try to change or make additional wagers. In fact, you should avoid touching the chips that have been placed on the table layout altogether until the next spin.

It is also considered poor roulette table etiquette to reach for your winnings before the dealer has had a chance to pay everyone out. If you’re merely collecting your winnings from an outside bet box (for example, if you bet on even numbers), you can get away with it once everyone in that box has been paid. But, some dealers consider even that to be bad form.

When the ball has landed in a slot on the roulette wheel, the dealer will place a marker (often called a “dolly”) on the winning number. Don’t touch the marker. Also, avoid touching any of the chips on that number until the marker has been removed.

An important part of live roulette table etiquette is knowing your betting rights. If call bets are accepted at the table, consider them a courtesy that is not always granted. The dealer must repeat call bets in order for them to be valid, and often, he simply won’t have time to do so. Don’t argue with the dealer about whether your bet should be valid or not.

Finally, the mark of a refined roulette player is the willingness to tip the dealer. You can do so as you leave the table or place a bet for him next to your own. Remember, tips go a long way toward boosting their income.

No Need For Roulette Table Etiquette Online

The good news about playing roullette online is that you won’t need to remember roullette table etiquette rules. After all, you’re sitting in front of your computer as opposed to playing at a live table. Having said that, if you learn the above guidelines, you can show your sophistication when you visit a land-based casino.

Advantages Of Online Roulette Vs. Live

Besides social interaction, a live roullette experience also exposes you to other attractions. For example, if you’re playing in Las Vegas, you’ll have your pick of top-rated restaurants, celebrity shows, and clubs to visit. Of course, the entire trip is already costing $1,000 (not counting what you leave on the table), so you’ll want to pack in every ounce of excitement you can.

On the other hand, you’ll enjoy several advantages when playing online roullette versus live. Some of the benefits are obvious. For example, it’s far more convenient and cost-effective. What’s more, you won’t be forced to rush your bets or play catch-up to the table’s pace. You set the pace. Also, there is no roulette table etiquette rules to follow. In essence, you’re running the show.

One of the most important advantages of playing online is that a lot of online casinos offer generous bonuses for new players. In most cases, you won’t be able to apply your roullette wagers toward the playthrough requirements, but you can do so with the online casino’s other popular games.

Drawbacks Of Online Roulette Vs. Live

Let’s talk about the potential drawbacks of an online roulette vs. live roulette experience. We’ve already covered the inconvenience and cost disadvantages of playing in a land-based casino. In effect, it’s far less convenient and it costs much more. We’ve also covered the lack of social interaction associated with playing online. There’s just no way to completely match the frenetic energy involved with playing inches away from other gamblers.

It’s worth taking a closer look at the convenience of playing online roulette versus live. That convenience goes further than having the flexibility to get up and grab a sandwich whenever you’d like. It means having instant access to one of the most popular casino games in the world. Rather than waiting patiently for an annual trip to Las Vegas, you can log into your online casino account on a moment’s notice. That means you can enjoy playing roullette whenever the mood strikes.

Free Roulette

Enjoy playing online Roulette at Bovada casino.

Were you to visit a land-based casino, you wouldn’t be able to play free roulette. The dealer would expect you to wager real money on the table if you wanted to participate. This is one of the many advantages of playing roulette online vs live. If you’d prefer to enjoy roullette without putting your money at risk, you can. Online casinos will give you complete access to their software and let you play free roulette whenever you’d like.

How Can You Play Free Roulette

There are two ways to play free roulette. You can do so either within your browser through a Flash Roulette environment or download a casino’s free software. Of course, the ideal path is to find a casino that offers both options. You should be able to play roulette for free through their software as well as log into your account from any computer to play the game online.

A quick note: there are thousands of websites that offer Flash free roulette. It’s worth noting that these sites usually lack the resources to provide a high-quality playing experience. Also, most of them do not allow you to place real money bets. Even if you’re not yet ready to wager real money, you should have the option to do so.

Mac Roulette

Sales of Mac computers continue to show strength as more people than ever are making the transition from Windows based machines. Given that, it is surprising that there are so few options for people to play roulette on a Mac. Most of the top-rated online casinos have been slow to develop an environment that offers a high-quality Mac roulette experience. Fortunately, that’s changing. Try online roulette on your Mac at Bovada today.

Most online casinos have developed software that provides a richly-rendered roulette playing experience for their members. The problem is that the software is usually designed for Windows machines. The Mac operating system cannot execute or read it properly. The good news is that online casinos realize Macs are explosively popular. They understand that their continued success requires providing members with a macintosh roulette option. Of course, this type of software development is expensive, so the launch of a Mac-friendly roulette platform has been slow throughout the industry. Today, mac compatible casinos are the norm.

Flash / Instant Play / No Download

Even though roulette has a larger house edge than other casino games, it remains one of the most popular and enduring games in the world. Even people who have never visited a casino instantly recognize the spinning roullette wheel, lazily bouncing ball, and chip-filled table layout. The game’s enormous popularity is the reason every reputable online casino offers it within their software. Oddly, few casinos provide Flash roulette to their members.

All high-quality online casinos develop robust software that provides roulette. But, a lot of gamblers would prefer no download roulette software. This is one of the three main advantages of playing at an online casino that provides a Flash roulette environment. You can play the game directly within your browser.

The second advantage is that you can easily play on multiple computers. You don’t need to download software to your home computer, your office PC, and your laptop. Instead, can log into your casino account on any machine and start playing in the browser. You can do so from any computer that has an online connection.

Finally, the third advantage is that you can play Flash roulette anywhere. Because you can use any machine that has online access, you can easily play from coffee shops, airports, parks, libraries, or any place that provides a connection. A lot of cities are even building public access points. That means you can literally log into your casino account from anywhere.

• Roulette Tips, Systems and Strategies

Ready to try your luck at the roulette table?

• Bovada Casino - Our #1 pick. Offers single zero roulette for best odds.
• Slots.LV - If you like roulette and slots then this is the site for you.
• BetOnline Casino - Live dealer casino. Watch real dealers spin the roulette wheel.
• CloudBet - Play roulette with a variety of crypto currencies at this crypto centric online gambling site. Huge bonuses, provably fair games, live dealers and more.