Roulette Rules – Simple Guide on How to Play Roulette

In the past, those wanting to learn how to play roulette had to visit their nearest land-based casino. These days, players can learn the ropes, practice new strategies, and try new game variations using leading offshore casinos online. Here, we show you how to enjoy a game of roulette and point you in the direction of some of the best offshore roulette casinos. We also take you through the various styles of roulette available.

Roulette is a simple game to understand from a win and lose perspective. Any complexities arise with the types of bet you can place on a roulette wheel, with the chances of your selection winning varying dramatically depending on how you play. The most popular forms of those bets are outlined below, to show how you can bet, what your chances are, and what you would stand to win.

Bet on Red/Black, High/Low, or Odd/Even – 18 in 37 chance

It is commonly suggested that a bet on any option out of two, whether that is red or black, high or low (1-18 or 19-36), or odd or even, gives you a 50/50 chance of winning. While this is all but the case, the presence of the one green number on the board means your chances are marginally slimmer than that on each of these types of bet. Nevertheless, the house will pay out at odds of evens, meaning that a $10 bet that lands in any of these scenarios will earn you a further $10.

Bet on Columns or Dozens – 12 in 37 chance

Columns and dozens make up the near one in three chance bets you can place on roulette. Once again, accounting for the green number means your chances of winning are slightly reduced to 12 in 3, with the payout at fractional odds of 2/1. Dozens are bets placed on each respective group of 12: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. Columns are those which appear on the betting layout; you would therefore be betting on either 1, 4, 7, 10 etc, 2, 5, 8 etc, or 3, 6, 9 etc. A $10 bet which wins will earn you $20.

Bet on One Number – 1 in 37 chance

As you read above, a roulette wheel is made up of 36 different numbers in black or red, plus one green number 0 (on American wheels there are sometimes two greens, a 0 and a 00). Using a traditional wheel as an example, if you place a bet on the ball landing on a specific number, known as a straight up bet, you will therefore have a 1 in 37 chance of winning. This gives you very low odds of 35/1 with the green excluded, so you are likely to lose much more often than win, but does mean that if you placed a $10 bet, you would stand to win $350.

Split Bet – 2 in 37 chance

A split bet sees you place a bet on two different numbers across a border, for instance 1 and 2. These numbers must be next to each other for this bet to be placed, otherwise you would have to make two separate bets of half your bet value for the equivalent. This bet pays out at fractional odds of 17/1, therefore a $10 bet can win you $170.

Street Bet – 3 in 37 chance

A street bet is effectively a bet on a row of three rather than a column of 12. Once again, this would have to be three numbers in a row, i.e. 4, 5 and 6. The odds for this bet are 11/1, with 11 rows not having been bet on, and one which has been. A $10 bet therefore stands to win $110.

Corner Bet – 4 in 37 chance

The last of the most common types of bets is a corner bet, where you place your chips over the borders of four numbers in a square. Given how the roulette betting table looks, you could place a corner bet on 1, 2, 4, and 5. These bets pay out at 8/1, meaning you can win $80 from a $10 bet.

Despite being a relatively straightforward game, roulette has several variations that offer more, or in some cases, less of a challenge. Below, we look at five of the most popular variations of this table game:

European Roulette

This is the most common roulette variation. Here, the roulette wheel has 37 pockets, numbered from zero to 36, with all numbers alternating between red and black, except for the zero, which is green. The main objective of this game is for bettors to accurately predict which number or color the ball will land on when the wheel stops.

American Roulette

This roulette variation is similar to European roulette, except that it has an additional number on the roulette table and wheel. American roulette sees the inclusion of a double zero, also shaded green, increasing the number of pockets to 38 and the house edge considerably. However, the overall aim remains the same. Even with the best American roulette games, the odds are skewed slightly further against you due to the second green number on the wheel.

French Roulette

This version has the same wheel as European roulette, but the roulette table has a slightly different layout. However, the betting options and payouts remain the same. French roulette differs in that it has a unique rule, “La Partage,” which states that any gamer who has wagered an even money bet will receive half their stake back if the ball lands in the zero pocket. Therefore, on the opposite side to the Amercan format, the best French roulette casinos offer you a better chance of some returns.

Auto Roulette

Players looking for a more fast-paced game of roulette will find auto roulette an excellent option. While not operated by a live dealer, it is considered a live game as the wheel is self-operated and capable of high-speed spins, offering up to 80 games an hour. Since this style of roulette uses an actual roulette wheel, it offers an authentic experience.

Mini Roulette

This version is one of the best options for new players as it accepts smaller stakes and has a wheel with only 13 pockets, numbered zero to 12. Additionally, all the even numbers are black, the odd ones are red, and the zero is green. Despite its lower bets, the game offers a high RTP of 96.15%, and because there are fewer numbers, it is easier to win, making it great for new bettors.

The roulette odds and payouts offered by online roulette sites are relatively simple. Generally, the house edge determines the payout odds. These odds will then vary according to the type of bet a player wagers. The table below reviews the most popular bets and roulette odds offered.

While bettors can apply a roulette strategy, these are not always guaranteed to earn a high payout for players, as roulette is predominantly a game of chance and the roulette wheel offers equal opportunities for winning and losing. But, there are a few tips bettors can try to boost their chances, like the five we consider below:

1. Study the Roulette Rules and Practice

Before placing real money bets, we recommend brushing up on the game’s rules and giving it a few practice runs. Bettors can visit any of the online casinos on our list to enjoy roulette in demo mode, which makes it simple to practice without risking any funds.

2. Understand the Roulette Table and the Various Inside Bets

Take the time to familiarize yourself with the roulette table and the inside bets offered. In most cases, inside bets come as straight and split wagers. A straight bet sees a bettor place a stake on one or more individual numbers, while a split bet sees a bettor place a bet on more than one adjacent numbers on the roulette table.

3. Use the Right Roulette Strategy

Bettors can choose from over eight different roulette strategies to help boost their chances and manage their bankrolls. But remember that not all systems work for all players, and it is best to research them all to find the one that most compliments your betting style and budget.

4. Visit a Reputable Roulette Online Casino

The best offshore gambling sites offer bettors access to high-quality gaming options, including excellent roulette odds, fair play, varied roulette wheel and game types, and consistent payouts. As a result, make sure you visit a site with a good reputation online, as this will likely be one which offers better odds, chances and payouts.

5. Manage Your Bankroll and Roulette Payouts

Before the wagering begins, we suggest reviewing your bankroll and setting a strategy in place to manage these funds. Not only will this help you play for longer without going over budget, but it is also a great way to prevent yourself from spending your hard-earned roulette payouts.

Live and online roulette enables players to enjoy this table game from the comfort of home. While both formats focus on roulette and offer several variations, they have a few differences.

Online roulette uses a computer-generated setup that allows a bettor to place their bets, press spin, and wait for the outcome. This option is ideal for those wanting to learn how to play roulette and practice various strategies. Additionally, some options allow bettors to set the speed of the game.

In contrast, live roulette sees the online casino set up a studio to look like a casino floor, with a proper roulette table and wheel and a live dealer. The dealer then takes bets from players over live chat before spinning the wheel. Essentially, it allows bettors to participate in a real roulette game from afar, offering an authentic casino experience. Additionally, players can wager against other bettors and enjoy several variations in this way.

How to Place an Online Roulette Bet

Traditionally, online roulette works as follows when placing a bet:

• Click on the chip which corresponds to the size of bet you want to place.
• Click on the part of the table which holds the bet you want to place. Make sure to be specific with this, as there are a number of areas of a roulette table for betting.
• If you wish to place more than one bet, click on another chip and repeat.