Everything You Need To Know About Playing Roulette
The Ultimate Guide to Playing Online Roulette
Walk the floors of any casino – land-based or virtual – and we bet y'all will soon run into a roulette table surrounded by players looking for a slice of the action.
One of the most popular casino games in the world, roulette is a casino classic that's been thrilling players ever since it was first invented.
In fact, folks over in our USA casinos love the game so much that we've supersized our roulette offering, with an epic variety of tables to choose from.
We've got plenty of roulette entertainment for you to enjoy right here at our online casino, too. Dive in and y'all will find an incredible collection of online roulette games delivering all the Vegas fun to your fingertips.
But don't sweat it if you've never spun the iconic wheel before. We've got everything you need to know about playing roulette right here. We're talking the rules of the game, the best tables on the block, and, of course, some top tips for landing a roulette win.
Go on, keep scrolling to find out more.
When was roulette first played?
Let's kick things off with the basics: where the famous game all began. The origins of roulette can be traced back all the way back to the 18th Century, when a French maths whizz tried to design a high-tech perpetual motion machine.
The perpetual motion machine was pretty awesome for the times, but even more awesome was that some big gaming fans decided that it would make a cool new game to play. Say hello to your roulette wheel.
After a heap of changes to the design, folks finally settled on the roulette layout we know and love in 1790. Fast forward more than 300 years and roulette is one of the biggest games to play in casinos.
Online roulette rules
Think all casino game rules are complicated? Think again, bud! It's simple to play roulette online. The aim is to predict where the ball will stop when the wheel stops spinning.
Each part of the wheel is divided into numbered pockets, which are represented on the betting table. Place your chips on the number you think will win, then kick back and watch the action unfold. If the ball ends in a pocket with a wager on, it's a win!
Sure, the rules of playing simple but there are plenty of ways to turn up the excitement, with plenty of different betting options to pick from. Feeling bold? Check out the niche bets. Prefer to play it safe? The classic betting options are for you. We'll get into those further down, so stick around to check out the best pick for your playing style.
How does online roulette work?
There are two ways to play online roulette wheels. The first is in our awesome live casino, where our 5-star live dealers take you through every step of the game.
Live dealers call when betting time is up, and then spin the white ball to land in a numbered pocket. Banked a winner? Any winnings are added straight into your account before the next round.
Online casino roulette tables work slightly differently. With no live dealers running the event, random number generators are used. This neat software processes billions of numbers to determine the outcome of each spin, so every result is fair and unbiased.
If you're keen to know more, we've got it covered. Check out our post about random number generators for all the deets on how they work, and why they're such a big player in online casino games.
Popular types of roulette to take for a spin
Don't go thinking roulette is just spinning a wheel and waiting for the ball to land! Nuh-uh. With so many roulette fans around the world, you bet this game has gone through a shake up or two.
Here's a quick look at some of the roulette variants you can enjoy.
European roulette
The most popular version of roulette to play? European roulette. And is it any surprise, considering the game began in Europe?! Pull up a seat at a roulette table on this side of the pond and odds are you'll be playing European roulette.
If you aren't sure which version you're playing, then here's a tip for you, bud. Check out the numbers on the wheel. European wheels have numbers 0-36 and 37 different pockets for the ball to land in.
American roulette
Over in the USA, we believe all good things should be supersized, so we kicked our roulette wheels up a gear. Featuring an extra number, American roulette wheels boast the famous double zero, creating 38 pockets for the white ball to land in.
Adding an extra number isn't as simple as just throwing another pocket onto the wheel – it also switches up the layout. The numbers on American roulette wheels are in different positions to European versions, so make sure you get familiar with the layout before spinning.
100/1 Roulette
Looking to supersize things even more? Dive into 100/1 Roulette, which has almost triple the action with a mega 105 pockets!
Players of 100/1 Roulette can take advantage of extra betting options, such as 20 number avenues and three number splits, plus winning straight up wagers pay out at 100/1!
Free online roulette
Wanna know another popular type of roulette to play? Free roulette, bud! With free online roulette, y'all can take the roulette wheel for a test spin before placing real money wagers.
Play free roulette in demo mode at our online casino in the UK to get to grips with the layout of the numbers, and more importantly try out some of the exciting bets available.
Roulette bets and odds
Here's what's at stake on our standard European roulette games. For those who like to play for bigger odds, the single number bets will be right up your street.
Wager | Odds | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High | 1/1 | These bets cover 18 different numbers - zero isn’t included. |
| Dozen | 2/1 | 12 numbers are covered. Look for the boxes labelled ‘1st 12’, ‘2nd 12’ and ‘3rd 12’ on the betting area. Zero is not included. |
| Column | 2/1 | Chips are placed on numbers in a vertical column. Check out the ‘2 to 1’ boxes at the bottom of the table. |
| Line | 5/1 | A line bet is made up of two streets, (rows next to each other) and gives you six numbers. Take the numbers 1-6 – that’s a line bet. |
| Corner | 8/1 | Add a chip to the middle section of four numbers to split the stake across them. |
| Street | 11/1 | Bet on a line of three consecutive numbers. |
| Split | 17/1 | Add a chip to the middle of the line separating two numbers to cover them both. |
| Straight Up | 35/1 | Got a favourite number? Add a chip to the middle of it on the roulette table and if it lands, you’re paid out at 35/1! |
Keep in mind that some games like 100/1 Roulette may feature different betting option, so it’s worth checking out the individual game lobbies before you dive in.
La Partage
Wondering what happens to even money wagers if zero hits? La Partage has got you covered.
Only found on European roulette tables, La Partage means 50% of all stakes on red/black, odd/even and low/high bets will be returned. So, a £10 wager on red returns £5 if the ball lands on zero.
This means you can leave the chips on the table (assuming it’s at least the table minimum) and play again for the chance to win back the original stake. Think of it as two bets for the price of one, folks.
Online roulette strategies
Need a few tips before spinning the wheel for the first time? You got it.
One of the most common roulette strategies is the Reverse Martingale tactic, which is based on doubling bet sizes after a win, then returning to a base stake following a loss. The idea is that if you hit a hot streak, there’ll be more chips to play with.
Fans of the hit movie will be well aware of James Bond’s links to casino games. Well, there’s a roulette strategy named after him too! Cover three areas of the wheel with 70%, 25% and 5% of your regular bet size, increasing the odds of backing a winning pocket.
We’ve also included some of our hot online roulette tips, which are incredibly important for anyone stepping up to the wheel. Freshen up on the rules, pick the right table and bet within your means - take a look at our responsible gambling tools for more information.
Top roulette games
Now y’all know all there is about playing roulette games, you can check out our post listing some of our favourite roulette tables to play!
We’ve got exclusive seats at the Bally Casino Live Roulette tables, plus spins that can pay out up to 500x your wager in Lightning Roulette, and much more.
Become a member at Bally Casino and get 30 free spins on our online slot game Secrets of the Phoenix Megaways when you deposit and play with £10*!