Players play against the house (or casino) rather than against the other players. A croupier places the ball in the wheel – or in the case of an internet-based game a random number generator will produce the outcome. The roulette tips to win we will be sharing here work with either so you can count these as online roulette tips and tricks too. How to Play Roulette. Despite appearances, the rules of Roulette are actually quite simple. Standard Roulette consists of a spinning wheel, a betting table, a ceramic ball spun by a croupier, and a series of wager options available to each player. Before each round, simply place your wager in chips on the Roulette table, and watch the croupier.
Remember to stay realistic about the long odds on this popular game of chance. Approach roulette with the sober realization that, with a house advantage of 5.26 percent on the American wheel, roulette is among the worst bets in a casino. Despite the odds, you can still use some simple strategies to stretch your roulette bankroll and enjoy the thrill of the spin. This article contains a few tips that can help you improve your chances of winning.
Roulette is a drain on your wallet simply because the game doesn’t pay what the bets are worth. With 38 numbers (1 to 36, plus 0 and 00), the true odds of hitting a single number on a straight-up bet are 37 to 1, but the house pays only 35 to 1 if you win! Ditto the payouts on the combination bets. This discrepancy is where the house gets its huge edge in roulette.
Starting with the basics
Strategy is critical if you want to increase your odds of winning. The first time you play roulette, the players sprinkling the layout with chips may look as if they’re heaping pepperoni slices on a pizza. You can make many different bets as long as you stay within the table’s maximum limits. Consequently, few players make just one bet at a time.
Of course, the more bets you make, the more complicated and challenging it is to follow all the action. Here are two possible plans of attack to simplify matters:
- Stick to the table minimum and play only the outside bets. For example, bet on either red or black for each spin. This type of outside bet pays 1 to 1 and covers 18 of the 38 possible combinations.
- Place two bets of equal amounts on two outside bets: one bet on an even-money play and the other on a column or dozen that pays 2 to 1. For example, place one bet on black and one bet on Column Three, which has eight red numbers. That way, you have 26 numbers to hit, 4 of which you cover twice. You can also make a bet on red and pair it with a bet on Column Two, which has eight black numbers. Again, you cover 26 numbers, and 4 of them have two ways to win. Pairing a bet on either red or black with Column One (or on one of the three dozens) covers 24 numbers, and 6 numbers have two ways of winning. Spreading bets like this won’t make you rich, but it does keep things interesting at the table.
Playing a European wheel
Smart gaming live. If you happen to find a single-zero European wheel, you greatly improve your odds: The house edge is half that of roulette with the American wheel — only 2.63 percent. You may see a European wheel at one of the posh Vegas casinos, such as Bellagio, Mirage, or Caesars Palace. If you can’t find one on the floor, it’s probably tucked away in the high-limit area along with the baccarat tables, so you may need to ask. You can also find the single-zero wheel at some other upscale casinos around the country.
Because casinos set aside the European wheel for high rollers, you’re likely to find a higher table minimum, say $25. But because the house edge is half that of a double-zero wheel, the European wheel is the better roulette game to play for bigger bettors.
Your chances of winning get even better if the casino offers an advantageous rule called en prison. Sometimes available on the European wheel, the en prison rule lowers the house edge even further to a reasonable 1.35 percent. The rule applies to even-money bets. For example, say you have a $10 bet riding on black. If the ball lands on zero, your even-money bet doesn’t win or lose but remains locked up for one more spin. If the ball lands on black on the next spin, the house returns your original bet of $10, but you don’t win anything. If the ball lands on red, you lose. And if the ball repeats the zero number again, your bet stays imprisoned for another round.
Roulette is the epitome of what you expect from a casino game. With simple rules, exciting gameplay and the potential for big payouts, it is no wonder it is so popular with players. If you have never played roulette before and fancy trying it out for yourself, then you should brush up on the rules to make sure you are fully prepared for the best experience. You will find everything you need to know to get stuck into the game on this page.
A Simple Overview of How to Play Roulette Online
The game of roulette consists of a wheel with various numbered and coloured sections, along with a table, on which you can place your bets. The wheel features numbers 1 – 36, alternately coloured red and black. There is also a zero slot, which is coloured green. In American Roulette, you will find two green zero pockets on the wheel. In order to play, you select your chip value, and click on the board to place your bets. When playing an RNG variant, you will then click spin, and see the ball spin round the wheel until it comes to land on the winning number. If you play live roulette, the croupier will launch the ball and announce that no more bets are allowed. Once the winning number is determined, any winnings are paid out and the next game round will begin.
Differences Between American, French and European Roulette
At online casinos, you will get a choice of French, European or American roulette. French and European roulette are very similar in terms of the wheel layout and the types of bets you can place. Wintingo online casino. The key difference between the two versions is that the types of bets have different names. As for American roulette, the key difference is that the wheel includes a zero and a double zero pocket. This increases the house edge, making it less favourable to players. American roulette has an RTP of around 94.7%, compared to 97.3% French and European roulette. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid American Roulette and stick to the more favourable variants.
Types of Bets and Their Payouts
There are numerous betting options available when you play roulette online. You can bet on single numbers or on various groups of numbers. The types of bets you can place have different odds and different payouts. The bets you can make can generally be categorised as inside, outside and announced bets.
Inside Bets
Any bets placed on the numbers on the roulette table are known as inside bets. These generally have lower odds and as such, higher payouts than outside bets. A bet on a single number is known as a straight up bet, and it awards the highest payout of 35:1. Other inside bets include a split, street, six line and corner. You can see how to place these on the roulette table below.
How To Play Roulette Strategy
Chip | Bet Name | Bet Description | Payout |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Straight | A bet on a single number. To make the bet, place a chip on the required number. | 35 to 1 |
2 | Split | A bet which is placed on 2 numbers that are adjacent on the table. Place the chip on the line that separates the numbers. | 17 to 1 |
3 | Street | A bet on 3 consecutive numbers. Place the chip on the outer corner of the row. | 11 to 1 |
4 | Corner | A bet that covers 4 neighbouring numbers. Place the chip in the central corner of the 4 numbers. | 8 to 1 |
5 | Six Line | A bet on 2 neighbouring street bets. Place the chip on the common outer corner of the 2 rows. | 5 to 1 |
As you can see, it is simple and logical how to place these bets. Furthermore, when you play roulette online, you will generally find the betting limits and the payouts for any particular type of bet by hovering the mouse over the relevant position on the roulette table.
Outside Bets
Whilst inside bets are placed on the numbers on the roulette table, outside bets are placed on the areas outside of the numbers. As these bets cover multiple numbers, you have a better chance of winning. Yet the better odds also mean that the payouts are lower than what you get from inside bets. Bets referred to as simple chances have a payout of 1 to 1 and include the following:
- Red or black – bet on the colour of the winning number
- Odd or even – bet on whether the winning number will be odd or even
- High or low – bet on whether the winning number will be between 1 – 18 or 19 -36
Other types of outside bets include columns and dozens. There are 3 dozens sectors on the table, which cover numbers 1 -12, 13 – 24 and 25 – 36. Likewise, there are 3 columns, each covering 12 numbers in a line. Wins on a column or dozen bet are paid at 2 to 1. Test online casino.
Announced Bets
Announced bets, also known as called bets are special types of bets that are found in both French and European roulette. By opening the racetrack, you get quick and easy access to these types of bets when playing online. One type of announced bet is the Voisins du Zéro (neighbours of zero). This is a 9-chip bet, that includes split and corner bets covering the zero and the 7 numbers on either side of it, from 22 to 25 on the wheel.
Tiers du Cylindre (third of the wheel) is a 6-chip bet, consisting of 6 splits which covers roughly a third of the wheel, from 27 – 33. Orphelins (orphans) is another popular called bet, which consists of 5 chips, covering a single number and 4 splits. Also available is the Jeu Zéro (zero game). This 4-chip bet covers a straight bet on 26 and 3 splits, covering the numbers next to the zero.
Hints and Tips
Play Roulette Wheel
You should now have a better understanding of how to play roulette online. Yet to get you off to the best possible start, I’d like to share a few more tips with you to help you hit the ground running.
Play Roulette Online for Free
An advantage of playing at an online casino is that you can often try out games for free before playing with real money. This is particularly useful for new players as it gives you a chance to get a feel for the game and to get a better understanding of the rules and types of bets you can make with no risk involved. Playing for free will enable you to play confidently with real money.
La Partage and En Prison Rules Improve Your Chances of Success
These rules are not found in all roulette variants, but when they are included, they work in your favour. The rules apply to even money bets such as red/black and odd/even, and they come into play when the winning number is zero. When En Prison is in play, any money bet on simple chances stays locked in for another spin if the ball lands on zero. If you lose, your stake is lost, yet if you win, your stake is unlocked and stays on the table for the next round. Alternatively, with La Partage, if the ball lands on zero, half of your stake will be instantly returned to you. These rules reduce the house edge, so if you plan to bet on simple chances, look out for games that feature this.
Check Out the Table Limits
When you play roulette for real money on the internet for the first time, you should be aware of the betting limits. Whilst you can usually see the minimum and maximum table limits at a glance, there may be further limits attached to specific types of bets. Often, the lowest bets are reserved for straight up and split bets, whilst the maximum limits are available for simple chances only. As such, you should make sure you look into the details before you start to wager any of your own money to be certain it matches your budget and your intended style of play.