There are betting systems you can apply to a game to plan your wagers. Those betting systems are commonly referred to as strategies. However, there’s no strategy for winning at Roulette. It’s a game of chance, as we’ve already stated. Thus, no one can predict the outcome of a spin, despite the speculations circulating among players and casino gaming enthusiasts.
Every spin of the Roulette wheel is independent of one another. That being said, we should circle back to the betting possibilities. One bet can cover anything from a single number to a group of numbers. The more numbers you cover, the likelier you are to win. However, the higher your chances, the lower the payout.
Everything that goes for Roulette generally goes for its online versions. Although there are some differences, the nature of the game remains the same. Let’s dive into the subject and adjust everything we know about Roulette to the internet gaming platform without further ado.
What Is Online Roulette?
There are three versions of online Roulette — virtual and live. Virtual games of Roulette are controlled by a random number generator. The outcome of every spin is random, as it is at land-based Roulette. But instead of the croupier spinning the wheel, it’s an RNG that randomly determines where the ball will land.
Live dealer Roulette is quite similar to its land-based predecessor. The truth is, it resembles it much more than it does virtual Roulette. The same goes for all the live table games. Real-life dealers and croupiers usually host them in studios that imitate the interior of brick-and-mortar venues. However, Authentic Gaming develops live games hosted in real land-based casinos.
Live games, including Roulette, are perfect for social gamers because they can interact with the croupier, dealer, and other players. Live gaming online has become a modern way of socializing — you play conveniently from home, yet you can communicate with people sharing your interest.
Roulette Types
There are three main types of Roulette — land-based, virtual, and live. However, each one of these types has three subtypes. Namely, there are three variants of Roulette — American, European, and French. You can choose whether you play the game online or offline.
American and European Roulette differ in terms of the wheel. The American wheel has both a single and a double zero slot. That variant has the highest house edge out of the three (5.26%).
European and French wheels have only one zero slot. However, the European variant has a house edge of 2.70%, while the house edge of French Roulette is 1.35%. The secret is in two player-friendly rules the French variant features. The “La Partage” rule suggests that a player gets half of their even-money bet (red/black, odd/even, or high/low) back if the ball lands on zero. According to the other rule, “En Prison,” a player can put their bet “in prison” and recover it if they win the following spin.
American Roulette
The American wheel has 38 slots, while the European wheel has 37 of them. Both include numbers one through 36 and a zero slot, but the American wheel also has a double zero slot. American Roulette has the highest house edge out of the three variants — 5.26%.
European Roulette has a house edge of 2.70%. The French variant has the same wheel as the European variant, yet it has a lower house edge (1.35%). The secret is in the “La Partage” and “En Prison” rules. According to them, a player redeems half of their even-money bet when the ball lands on zero, and they can “imprison” their bet and recover it if they win the following spin.
Online American Roulette is every game of American Roulette that’s available on the internet. It can be live or virtual. In its live form, it resembles the traditional game — it’s hosted by a croupier housed in a studio or a land-based casino. Players can interact with them and each other in real-time. Virtual American Roulette is an RNG-based game. Instead of a croupier, a random number generator spins the wheel.
How to Play American Roulette Online?
Although Roulette requires no particular skills, you shouldn’t simply sign up and start playing. Not every online casino is legitimate — many are notorious for voiding winnings and delaying withdrawals. That’s why you should be careful, especially regarding real money play. You can explore the casinos on our list — they’ve already been reviewed and proven legitimate.
Moreover, you should know which bets you can place and how you can place them. In American Roulette, two types of bets are available — inside and outside bets.
American Roulette - Inside Bets
Inside bets cover either one number or a small group of numbers. Winning them results in higher payouts, but they have lower odds than outside bets. The following table describes all the inside bets.
| Straight | Covers one number. |
| Split | Covers two bordering numbers. To make this bet, place a chip on the line dividing them. |
| Street | Covers three sequential numbers on one line. Placing a chip in its outer corner counts as a street bet. |
| Six-Line | Covers six numbers. By placing a chip in the outer corner shared by six bordering numbers, you’ve made a six-line bet. |
| Corner | Covers four numbers that form a square. Placing a chip on the intersection of two lines counts as a corner bet. |
| Trio | Includes a zero (or a double zero) and two other numbers. |
| Basket | Covers numbers zero through three. Placing a chip in the corner shared by the zero box and the one box counts as a basket bet. |
American Roulette - Outside Bets
Outside bets cover large groups of numbers. They have lower payouts than inside bets, but they also have higher odds. Depending on the portion of the wheel they cover, they pay 1:1 or 2:1.
Outside bets that pay 1:1 are even-money bets. They include red vs. black, high (19 through 36) vs. low (one through 18), and odd vs. even. Those that pay 2:1 include dozens and columns. They cover 12 out of the 36 numbers (excluding the zero and the double zero).
Online American Roulette Winning Tips
There are numerous Roulette betting systems. You can choose among them according to your bankroll. If you have deeper pockets, you may opt for a progressive one.
However, betting systems aren’t strategies, although they’re known as such. You can’t strategize a game of Roulette — all you can do is apply a system to plan your bets.
Even though you don’t need any skills to play Roulette, that doesn’t mean you don’t need knowledge. Before you load a game, you should study the odds and payout rates. There’s a logical general rule — the more numbers your bet covers, the higher your chances of winning, and the lower the payout.
The best you can do to ensure your online game of American Roulette has a chance of being profitable is to choose a legitimate casino. Such a casino rates well among other players and on reputable watchdog portals. It also has high levels of security, fairness, and player-friendly payment terms.
Real-Money American Roulette vs. Free American Roulette
To play American Roulette for real money, you must find a (legitimate) casino with this variant and sign up. Then, you have to make a deposit (pay attention to the minimum and maximum deposit limits). Depending on the casino, you may claim a bonus (if the terms suit you).
You can load the game and start betting when you activate your account. Both your bankroll and winnings will be displayed on the screen so that you can keep track of them.
You can also play American Roulette for free if the casino features that option. Although most casinos do, they usually don’t offer all of their games in demo mode. Playing for free has several benefits. Not only do you get a chance to have fun risk-free, but you also get to explore the game selection, compare and contrast the games, and see how they work.
Lastly, most modern casinos are mobile-friendly. Their games are optimized for mobile play, so you can play them on the go. However, you may be unable to access their complete libraries on your mobile device. If you’re into mobile gaming and American Roulette, you should check if the casino that interests you has the game you want to play on the mobile platform.
Online American Roulette vs. Offline American Roulette
Online American Roulette can be live and virtual. Regardless of the form, it’s more convenient than the traditional game. Namely, you can play it from home and on the go instead of planning a trip to a land-based casino. Additionally, online gaming generally involves bonuses and a variety of payment options.
Live American Roulette, although online, has more similarities with the traditional game than its virtual counterpart. Namely, live games have been perfected to such an extent that they simulate the atmosphere of land-based venues. They involve real-life dealers and are social — you can communicate with everyone involved.
European Roulette
European Roulette has a wheel with 37 slots (numbers one through 36 and a zero). As a result, it has a lower house edge (2.70%) than American Roulette (5.26%).
If you introduce the “La Partage” and “En Prison” bets to European Roulette, you get a game with an even lower house edge — French Roulette (1.35%). According to the “La Partage” rule, a player recovers half their even-money bet when the ball lands on zero. As for the “En Prison” rule, a player can put their bet “in prison” (hence the name) and recover it if they win the following spin.
Online European Roulette is a game of European Roulette that’s available online. It’s more versatile than the offline version because it can be live and virtual. A live game is quite similar to an offline game. It involves a real-life croupier with whom you can communicate. You can also interact with other players to have a real casino experience.
A virtual game is automatic. Instead of a croupier, it’s an RNG that spins the wheel.
How to Play European Roulette Online?
To play European Roulette online, you need to find a legitimate casino. When you select a good casino, you’ll be halfway from a (potentially) successful game of European Roulette.
You may not need any skills to play Roulette, but you need some knowledge. You must know which bets you can place and their odds and payout rates. In addition to inside and outside bets, announced bets can also be available in European Roulette.
European Roulette - Inside Bets
An inside bet can cover a single number or a small group of numbers. As a result, these bets have lower odds than outside bets. However, the lower the odds, the higher the payouts, and vice versa. You can see which inside bets there are in the following table.
| Straight | Covers one number. |
| Split | Covers two bordering numbers. To make this bet, place a chip on the line dividing them. |
| Street | Covers three sequential numbers on one line. Placing a chip in its outer corner counts as a street bet. |
| Six-Line | Covers six numbers. By placing a chip in the outer corner shared by six bordering numbers, you’ve made a six-line bet. |
| Corner | Covers four numbers that form a square. Placing a chip on the intersection of two lines counts as a corner bet. |
| Trio | Includes a zero (or a double zero) and two other numbers. |
| Basket | Covers numbers zero through three. Placing a chip in the corner shared by the zero box and the one box counts as a basket bet. |
European Roulette - Outside Bets
An outside bet can cover a half or a third of the wheel (not counting in the zero). Those that cover (almost) half the numbers are even-money bets. They pay 1:1 and include red vs. black, odd vs. even, and high (19 through 36) vs. low (one through 18).
The remaining outside bets are columns and dozens. They pay 2:1.
European Roulette - Announced Bets
If you want to place one of the following bets, you must announce it to the croupier.
Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero) covers zero, nine numbers to the left of the zero slot (22 through 26), and seven numbers to its right (32 through 25).
Jeu Zéro (the Zero Game) bet covers zero and six more numbers. Thus, it covers numbers 12 through 15 on the wheel.
Le Tiers du Cylindre (a Third of the Wheel) covers one-third of the wheel (hence the name). It covers numbers 27 through 33 on the wheel.
Orphelins (Orphans) covers two sections of numbers uncovered by the previous bets. Those numbers are 17 through six and one through nine on the wheel.
Online European Roulette Winning Tips
Despite popular beliefs, Roulette strategies don’t exist. “Strategies” are, in fact, betting tips. They can’t guarantee a win — they merely serve as betting plans. If you want to use a betting system, choose it according to your bankroll.
Roulette is a game of luck, similar to slots. However, unlike slots, Roulette requires some knowledge. You need to know which bets there are and how you can place them. Moreover, you should study the odds and payout rates of different bets before you engage in real-money play.
The most valuable winning tip you can get regards your choice of casino. Many casinos offer both live and virtual European Roulette. However, some of them are shady, to say the least. When you find the casino that interests you, do thorough research. You can check its rating on watchdog portals and among other players. Additionally, you should inquire about its safety and fairness standards and payment terms. Alternatively, you can explore the casinos on our list — they’ve proven legitimate.
Real-Money European Roulette vs. Free European Roulette
You can play European Roulette for real money at every casino that holds the game. That is unless your residence country is on the casino’s list of restricted territories.
To play for real money, you have to sign up. Registration forms are simple and won’t take much of your time. However, read the casino’s terms and conditions before you click the sign-up button. You’ll need to know its payment terms, such as the minimum and maximum deposit.
After you register and activate your account, you can make a deposit. You can also claim a deposit bonus if you want to. When there’s money in your balance, you can access the game you wish to play and start betting.
As for free European Roulette, you can play it with or without an account, depending on the casino. Of course, that is if the casino features the free play option and offers the particular game that interests you in demo mode. Finding a live game of European Roulette for free may be a challenge, but you shouldn’t have any trouble playing a demo of a virtual game.
Real-money and free European Roulette may be available on the mobile platform if the casino is mobile-friendly. The casinos we’ve selected for you have many mobile-optimized games.
Online European Roulette vs. Offline European Roulette
Online European Roulette has two forms — live and virtual. Playing either of them is more convenient than going to a brick-and-mortar venue to play Roulette. Moreover, online casinos feature bonuses, tournaments, and other promotions. They also offer numerous payment options, unlike land-based casinos.
Live European Roulette is more similar to the traditional game than the virtual one. It involves real croupiers and simulates the atmosphere of land-based casinos. In fact, a live game of European Roulette is the perfect social event for introverts — you don’t have to leave your home, yet you can interact with other players and the croupier.
Virtual games of European Roulette are automatic. There are no croupiers — instead, it’s a random number generator that spins the wheel. They lack the social aspect, but that doesn’t mean they’re boring. In fact, their graphics and overall quality may surprise you.
French Roulette
French Roulette features the European wheel and two player-friendly rules — “La Partage” and “En Prison.” According to the “La Partage” rule, players are entitled to half their even-money bet if the ball lands on zero. The “En Prison” rule suggests they can put their bet in prison and get it back if they win the following spin. These two rules give French Roulette the lowest house edge out of the three variants.
Moreover, in French Roulette, there are announced (called) bets in addition to inside and outside bets. They are, as follows: Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero), Jeu Zéro (the Zero Game), Le Tiers du Cylindre (a Third of the Wheel), and Orphelins (Orphans).
How to Play French Roulette Online?
Roulette is a game of chance, so you don’t need any particular skill. However, you need to know what bets you can place and what odds and payouts they have.
In French Roulette, you can place inside, outside, and announced bets.
Inside bets have lower odds and higher payouts than outside bets. The table below lists all the inside bets and their descriptions.
| Straight | Covers one number. |
| Split | Covers two bordering numbers. To make this bet, place a chip on the line dividing them. |
| Street | Covers three sequential numbers on one line. Placing a chip in its outer corner counts as a street bet. |
| Six-Line | Covers six numbers. By placing a chip in the outer corner shared by six bordering numbers, you’ve made a six-line bet. |
| Corner | Covers four numbers that form a square. Placing a chip on the intersection of two lines counts as a corner bet. |
| Trio | Includes a zero (or a double zero) and two other numbers. |
| Basket | Covers numbers zero through three. Placing a chip in the corner shared by the zero box and the one box counts as a basket bet. |
Outside bets cover larger portions of numbers, which is why they have higher odds. That’s also the reason they have lower payouts.
Even-money bets are red/black, odd/even, and high/low. By making an even-money bet, you cover all numbers in one color, all odd (even) numbers, or low (one through 18) or high (19 through 36) numbers.
French Roulette - Announced Bets
Announced bets are common in French Roulette. However, they can also be available in online European Roulette.
Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero) covers zero, nine numbers to the left of the zero slot (22 through 26), and seven numbers to its right (32 through 25).
Jeu Zéro (the Zero Game) bet covers zero and six more numbers. Thus, it covers numbers 12 through 15 on the wheel.
Le Tiers du Cylindre (a Third of the Wheel) covers one-third of the wheel (hence the name). It covers numbers 27 through 33 on the wheel.
Orphelins (Orphans) covers two sections of numbers uncovered by the previous bets. Those numbers are 17 through six and one through nine on the wheel.
French Roulette Winning Tips
Choosing French Roulette over the other two variants already tips the house edge in your favor. Unfortunately, there’s not much else you can do to increase your chances of winning. The outcome of every spin is random, and you can’t predict them.
What you can do is much less obscure yet much more practical. You can study the odds and payouts of every bet. The more numbers you cover in a single bet, your chances of winning are higher. However, the higher the chances, the lower the payout.
French Roulette Online for Free
You can freely explore the aforementioned casinos to compare and contrast their games. Some don’t even require you to register to play for free. However, not all the games are available in demo mode. If you’re into live gaming, you may have to make an account and deposit to play.
While the selection of free games can be questionable, you can play real-money French Roulette almost everywhere. Live games are in expansion, and every provider’s offer includes several Roulette games.
Online French Roulette vs. Offline French Roulette
There are two versions of French Roulette online — the live one and the RNG-based one. Live French Roulette is much more similar to the land-based form of the game than to its virtual form. Namely, live games are hosted by real-life croupiers housed in studios that simulate the atmosphere of brick-and-mortar casinos.
A random number generator controls the virtual form of French Roulette. So instead of a croupier, an RNG determines where the ball will land. Of course, the outcome of every spin is completely random in both live and virtual games.
Live dealer French Roulette involves interaction, much like its land-based counterpart. You can interact with the croupier and other players during the game. Live dealer games offer a more wholesome experience for a social gamer than virtual games.
Lastly, online gaming offers convenience that land-based gaming can’t. Instead of going to a casino, you can browse our selection and have one come. If you’re nostalgic about traditional gaming, there are live games that can imitate the experience.
Online Roulette for Real Money vs. Free Online Roulette
Whichever variant of the game interests you, you can find it online. Additionally, whether you’re into live gaming or not, Roulette games on the internet will meet your requirements.
Finding a trustworthy casino is important if you want to play for real money. You can consult other players and watchdog portals about a casino’s reputation. Moreover, you should check its security and fairness practices and payment terms before you make an account.
As for free online Roulette, it’s a great option if you want to play for fun. Many casinos offer some of their games in demo mode. However, you may need to sign up to access the game if you're into live gaming.
Closing Thoughts
Roulette is available at most online casinos as one of the most popular casino games. However, you shouldn’t sign up unless you know the casino is legitimate. However, fun (and potentially profitable) the game can be, a rogue casino can ruin the experience. We suggest you explore our selection and find the form and variant of the game that interests you.