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Roulette is one of the most easily recognisable casino games and this is partly due to its position in movie culture. Featuring simple rules and intuitive gameplay, learning how to play roulette doesn’t take longer than a few minutes.
In addition to providing the basic roulette rules, we’ve explained key phraseology and highlighted common mistakes that players make. Once you’re done reading, you should feel much more confident playing the game like a seasoned player.
What is Roulette?
Roulette is a casino game that dates back to 18th century France. Its name derives from the French word meaning little wheel. The game is played by betting on where a small ball will land on a spinning wheel.
The roulette wheel is divided into pockets with numbers 0 to 36 which alternate in colour between red and black. However, the 0 and 00, as is the case for American Roulette, have a green colour.
To learn how to play roulette and win, you simply need to understand that you must place a bet on the winning number. The game is as simple as that, however, different types of bets and strategies make roulette much more interesting.
Basic Roulette Rules
The basic rules of roulette don’t change even when you play variants, different versions, or live formats found at the best roulette casinos in the UK. A typical game consists of the following stages:
Players Place Their Bets
Players place their bets on the table using casino chips. There are several different bet types available and you can use a roulette strategy to help you determine when and how to bet.
Handy Tip: There is no limit on the number of bets you can place in a single round. However, casino roulette rules typically allow minimum and maximum bets based on the combined value of all your wagers in a round.
The Croupier Spins the Wheel
Once betting time is over, the croupier, dealer, or computer spins the roulette wheel. To maximise the randomness of the result, the ball is released in the opposite direction of the wheel, creating a visually appealing spectacle.
The Result is Determined
As the ball slows down it will settle in one of the wheel’s 37 or 38 pockets. Each pocket has a number, and that number is the round’s winner.
Handy Tip: Some versions of the game, such as Double Ball Roulette feature two balls instead of one. In such variations, there are two winning numbers per spin and this introduces fresh betting options and potential payouts.
Winning Bets are Paid Out
Any bets that include the winning number are paid out automatically and instantly according to the game’s paytable. A new round of roulette then follows.
Handy Tip: Roulette gameplay can be quite fast-paced, but when you play at the safest online casinos, you can rest assured that any payouts due will be automatically paid out. These games are controlled by computers so they avoid the potential for human error of land-based establishments.
House Edge in Roulette
The house edge is used to describe the mathematical advantage held by the house, better known as the casino operator. This advantage is found in all casino games, including slots, online blackjack, and video poker.
In roulette, the house edge comes from the zero and, if present, the double zero. These numbers slightly reduce the odds in roulette of winning on certain bets, ensuring the casino makes a profit over time.
However, like all accurate mathematical odds, they are based on the results across hundreds of thousands or millions of rounds. Across just a handful of rounds, they are not proven, and this means that a player can turn a profit.
The following table outlines the house edge of different types of roulette and other popular online casino games. Remember, the lower the edge, the higher the likelihood that a player will win.
| Casino Game | American Roulette | European Roulette | French Roulette | Blackjack | Video Poker | Slots |
| Average House Edge | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% | 0.60% – 2% | 0.50% – 5% | 1% – 15% |
Roulette Game Rules: Odds, Bets, and Payouts
You’ll find various betting options in roulette, and each has fixed odds and payouts. Understanding these will not only help you learn how to play roulette online but can also guide you towards placing the right types of bets according to your risk appetite.
| Bet Type | Description | Payout | Odds (European Roulette) | Odds (American Roulette) |
| Straight Up | Betting on single numbers | 35:1 | 2.7% (1 in 37) | 2.63% (1 in 38) |
| Split Bet | Betting on two numbers that are next to each other on the same row | 17:1 | 5.4% (2 in 37) | 5.26% (2 in 38) |
| Street Bet | Betting on a row of three numbers | 11:1 | 8.1% (3 in 37) | 7.89% (3 in 38) |
| Corner Bet | Betting on a group of four numbers that form a square | 8:1 | 10.8% (4 in 37) | 10.53% (4 in 38) |
| Line Bet | Betting on two streets, combining six numbers across two rows | 5:1 | 16.2% (6 in 37) | 15.79% (6 in 38) |
| Dozens | Betting on one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) | 2:1 | 32.4% (12 in 37) | 31.58% (12 in 38) |
| Columns | Betting on one of the three vertical columns of numbers | 2:1 | 32.4% (12 in 37) | 31.58% (12 in 38) |
| Red/Black | Betting on the colour of the winning number | 1:1 | 48.6% (18 in 37) | 47.37% (18 in 38) |
| Even/Odd | Betting on all even or odd numbers | 1:1 | 48.6% (18 in 37) | 47.37% (18 in 38) |
| Low/High | Betting on all high (19-36) or low (1-18) numbers | 1:1 | 48.6% (18 in 37) | 47.37% (18 in 38) |
How To Play Roulette
Follow these simple steps to play your first game of roulette online. In this example, we’re playing European Roulette Pro by Play’n Go at Instant Casino.
Step 1: Place Your Bets
Place your chips on the roulette table according to the type of bet you want to make. You can mix different types of bets in the same round.
Step 2: Watch the Spin
When you’re done betting, click “Spin” to spin the wheel and release the ball.
Step 3: Check the Result
When the ball lands, the dealer places a marker on the winning number on the table. Winning bets are paid out while losing bets are collected.
How to Play Roulette: Strategy for Beginners
With its fixed odds and availability of even-money bets, roulette is suitable for several strategies based on mathematical principles. While no strategy provides sure wins, it can enhance the gaming experience and help you decide what number or numbers to bet.
Common roulette strategies include the Martingale System, where you double your bet after a loss, and the Reverse Martingale, where you double it after a win. Other strategies base the value of your wager on a sequence of numbers, such as the Fibonacci Sequence.
There are plenty of roulette strategies for beginners and seasoned players, but they should all be treated with caution. Some of these can quickly use up a player’s bankroll during a losing streak.
Handy Tip: Whilst playing roulette, players may fall for the gambler’s fallacy. This is a belief that a result is due based on independent events that happened in the past. For example, if the ball landed on black for the previous five turns, players might believe that the next spin will also result in a win for a black. Other players might believe that a win on red is due, but in reality, the odds of the ball landing on black, red, or green never change.
Roulette Terms
While you don’t need to know the following terms to learn how to play roulette casino, it’s a good idea to be familiar with them.
- Ball Track: The outermost part of the roulette wheel where the ball spins before dropping into a pocket.
- Chipping: The process of placing or stacking chips on the betting area of the table.
- Croupier: The casino employee who manages the roulette game, spins the wheel, and pays out winnings.
- En Prison: A rule used in some French Roulette tables where even-money bets are placed in prison when the ball lands on zero and if the bet wins on the next spin, the first wager is returned to the play.
- La Partage: A rule used in some French Roulette tables that lets players recover half their bets on even-money wagers if the winning number is zero.
- Marker: A device used by the croupier to mark the winning number of the roulette table.
- Pocket: One of the numbered slots on the European, French, and American roulette wheel where the ball can land.
- Random Number Generator RNG: A system tested by independent test labs and used in online roulette to ensure that the outcomes are fair and random.
- Wheel Head: The central part of the roulette wheel that rotates and contains the numbered pockets.
Tips to Play Roulette
While no betting strategy can guarantee a win in roulette, following our simple tips will help you enjoy a more pleasant gaming experience.
- Choose the right roulette variant – Unless you have a particular reason for playing American Roulette, always opt for either European or French versions. Their lower house edge means that, statistically, you are more likely to win.
- Learn the basics – Join the best online roulette sites to practice playing the game for free. Explore different versions of the game and test popular strategies, such as the Martingale System, to see if they match your betting style.
- Manage your bankroll – Like with every casino game, you should determine your bankroll before placing your first real money wager. Gamble responsibly by never exceeding your budget or wagering money that you cannot afford to lose.
- Take advantage of casino bonuses – The best live online roulette UK sites offer plenty of promotions, but not all are equally well-suited for roulette. Read through the T&Cs and only claim bonuses that you can realistically adhere to.
- Know when to quit – After playing for extended periods or having lost significant sums, it’s probably a good idea to pause or stop playing. Practising safer gambling can reduce the risks of addiction and the temptation to chase losses.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
An important part of learning how to play online roulette is being aware of common mistakes players make. The following are the most common ones and our top tips to avoid them.
- Betting too much too soon – Since you’re still learning how to play roulette, it’s always best to start small to understand the game better. Placing too many bets or high-value bets can quickly deplete your bankroll, especially if you place high-risk wagers.
- Ignoring or misunderstanding the house edge – Remember that the casino will always have a mathematical advantage due to the house edge. This doesn’t mean that you cannot turn a profit playing roulette, but if you play for too long, the house will probably win.
- Chasing losses or expecting a winning streak – Don’t try to win back losses by placing more bets as you’re more likely to lose more money and become increasingly frustrated. Moreover, while winning and losing streaks may happen, it’s impossible to predict them, so you can never expect a turn in luck.
- Not properly understanding the bet types and odds – Make sure that you understand the odds of winning different roulette bets. Some variants may feature different roulette game rules and may have payouts that don’t match the standard paytable.
- Playing with a plan or strategy – Even a basic strategy can help you manage your bankroll more effectively. One of the simplest and low-risk strategies is to place even-money bets, such as on red or black, as these have the highest likelihood of winning.
Final Thoughts on How to Play Roulette
Roulette is a thrilling game that offers a unique combination of strategy and luck. Learning how to play roulette is simple, and using strategies may make the game more interesting, but you should always remember to play responsibly and that the game is primarily based on chance. In addition, you should only play roulette on reputable casinos that prioritise your safety.
FAQs
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Resources
- https://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/mph-modules/bs/bs704_confidence_intervals/BS704_Confidence_Intervals10.html
- https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fibonacci-sequence.html
- https://itechlabs.com/compliance-testing/rng-testing/
- https://www.gamcare.org.uk/understanding-your-gambling/safer-gambling/
