Roulette is one of the most recognizable games in a casino lobby. Despite the popularity, roulette can be one of the most confusing games, if you're unsure of the basics. Therefore, this guide will be your top resource for excelling at roulette.
With the fast-moving shift of games moving to the online space, players can now enjoy the different types of roulette from the comfort of their home. So, let's take an in-depth look at the best online roulette games covering all aspects of the game and how it is played online.
American Roulette
The American Roulette wheel is also referred to as the double-zero wheel because it has the second slot with two zeros. The American roulette wheel layout also includes pockets for the numbers 1-36. Most players consider this the less favorable version of the game to play. Ideally, the double zero raises the house edge from just below three percent to slightly over five percent.
| Number of Pockets | 38 |
| Players | 1-7 |
| Special Features and Rules | The wheel has a double zero (00) pocket |
| RTP | 94.7% |
| Available at legal US Casinos | Yes |
All else aside, the double-zero pocket remains the same for the American roulette table and the European version. Casinos have long abandoned the French layout with the wheel in the middle and switched to the American layout with the wheel on one end. The best way to enjoy American Roulette is in a registered US casino, where your money is safe and secure. Lack of safety is one of the main reasons we do not recommend playing at shady overseas casinos. Besides that, you can never be too sure about the fairness aspect.
American Roulette Payouts
In a game of roulette, players can place inside and outside bets. American roulette payouts have inside bets with higher payouts but sporadic wins. On the other hand, outside bets are general predictions of where the ball is likely to fall. Some examples of outside bets include the high/low wager where players place chips on the ball, landing on any squares between 1-18 for low and 19-36 for high. Other outside bets include even/odd, snake, column, and dozen. The table below shows some inside bets and their payouts.
| Bet | Payouts |
|---|---|
| Straight (Single Number) | 35:1 |
| Split (Two Numbers) | 17:1 |
| Trio, Street (Three Numbers) | 11:1 |
| Corner (Four Numbers) | 8:1 |
| Basket (Five Numbers) | 6:1 |
| Six Line (Six Numbers) | 5:1 |
The payouts for American Roulette are similar to the European version of the game. Payouts depend on the probability of the wager winning. Even so, this is not the case with American Roulette. It has 38 pockets for the ball to fall in, but the payout remains out of 35. This is not much of a problem when you are playing for fun but can have significant implications for real money wagering.
American Roulette Rules
Roulette is a straightforward game you can grasp and start playing in a matter of minutes. The American version has a wheel with two green pockets for the single and double zero. All players lose their wager when either zero comes up, except for players that placed wagers on the specific zero. Everything else remains the same with gameplay. The croupier announces for players to place their bets before spinning the roulette wheel. The dealer then spins the wheel in one direction. After some spins, the ball is also spun in the opposite direction.
European Roulette
Online European roulette is the most popular version, and for a good reason. The game has a higher return-to-player because the European roulette wheel has a single zero. While most casinos offer both game variations, European roulette is the most played kind. The European roulette table includes all the bets with a single zero section at the top, while the wheel has 37 pockets with the single zero and the numbers 1-36. Apart from the single green pocket, online European roulette keeps a lot of the same rules used in American roulette.
| Number of Pockets | 37 |
| Players | 1-7 |
| Special Features and Rules | Single green pocket |
| RTP | 98.7% |
| Available at legal US Casinos | Yes |
European Roulette Payouts
Payouts for many roulette games remain the same for all games through different variations. Inside bets still give you better payouts than the more general outside bets. For inside bets, players wager on a specific number or a zone on the table. Outside bets let players bet on broader bets like even/odd and red/black. The table below shows the payouts for different bets on online European Roulette.
| Bet | Payouts |
|---|---|
| Straight (Single Number) | 35:1 |
| Split (Two Numbers) | 17:1 |
| Trio, Street (Three Numbers) | 11:1 |
| Corner (Four Numbers) | 8:1 |
| Basket (Five Numbers) | 6:1 |
| Six Line (Six Numbers) | 5:1 |
European Roulette Rules
European Roulette is thought of as the ideal roulette game by fans. That's because, in this variation, players get to enjoy the proper odds for the wagers they place. A typical game starts with players placing their bets. The dealer then announces that betting is closed and proceeds to spin the wheel. Right after, the ball gets spun in the opposite direction on the track right above the upper edge of the wheel. The round comes to an end when the ball stops and settles on one of the pockets.
French Roulette
French roulette is considered the oldest version of the game. As a matter of fact, other forms of the game are said to have developed from French roulette. Old manuscripts about it describe a wheel like that of American roulette, with two zero slots for the single and double zeros. An older version played in the 1700s had the single, and double zero pockets painted red and black. This was abandoned in the 1800s to avoid confusion.
| Number of Pockets | 37 |
| Players | 1-7 |
| Special Features and Rules | La Partage and En Prison rules applied in some casinos |
| RTP | 98.65% |
| Available at legal US Casinos | Yes |
French Roulette Rules
While most players think that the two are the same, two rules distinguish European from French roulette. Some casinos have the En Prison and La Partage rules as part of the game. Each of these halves the casino edge for all wagers that pay even money, mostly outside bets. The ‘En Prison' rule states that players have a couple of options when the ball lands on the green pocket. The first option is to reclaim half of your stake, and losing the other half. As a second option, leave your stake with the dealer for the next round, where you gamble to get your stake back or lose everything. You get your stake back if the ball matches your bet and lose everything if the ball settles on a zero or does not match your previous bet.
The ‘La Partage' rule is similar to the ‘En Prison' rule that some online roulette sites apply to their roulette tables. However, the player cannot win back their entire stake on a second spin but gets half their stake back when a zero turns up. Both options are available when playing online French roulette.
Live Roulette
With the live casino variant, you do away with the simulations that players often feel are rigged. The live croupier is professionally trained on the standard rules and regulations. One of the advantages of playing live roulette is that you can interact with the rest of the players at the table, as well as the dealer. A chat button at the bottom of your screen connects you to others you are playing with.
With the ever-changing world of live online gaming, players constantly experience new additions to the interface. Software providers such as Evolution Gaming and Ezugi are among the notable names for live dealer roulette. Evolution, for instance, focuses on live games and supplies a full scope of table games and TV-style game shows like Deal or No Deal.
Immersive Roulette
Live online roulette is a great way to enjoy the game, and immersive roulette from Evolution Gaming is a testament to this. Many online players want the live experience from the comfort of their homes. Immersive roulette is one of the live game's closest replicas. Immersive roulette follows the typical rules for online European roulette, including the single green pocket.
In addition to a live dealer, the game applies special settings and features, giving it an extra edge. Some of the most notable features are immersive audio and HD quality video. You also have the ‘chat with the dealer' button that connects you directly to your dealer. Besides the enhanced graphics, immersive roulette keeps track of the last 500 games to know what kind of game you are getting into. This feature also makes it easier to place your wagers.
Live Speed Roulette
Live speed roulette is yet another smart form of live dealer roulette from Evolution Gaming. Additionally, the software provider Playtech offers the game.
A round of speed roulette takes a matter of seconds, and players have to be fast with their decision. There's no dead time between rounds as the video-based winning-number-recognition technology reveals the winning number fast.
This live casino roulette game is the newest craze for online players who want to combine live gaming’s interactive nature with online's fast-paced nature. Live speed roulette is innovative, thrilling, and perfect, even for the newbie. Although the game is one of the fast-rising favorites for online players, it is not offered at most legal US casinos. This shouldn't be a problem as Evolution Gaming plans to introduce the game in the states.
Live Double Ball Roulette
Live double ball roulette first came into the online gambling world in 2016, changing the online gaming industry in amazing ways. Double ball roulette is a player's game in every sense of the word. With two balls spinning in the wheel, you have better chances at inside bets, and the chances for outside bets are halved. This is true because you win inside bets when any of the balls land on the right number or region. Outside bets need you to get it right with both balls, which is not the easiest task. Overall, this might be the new best live roulette game online for US casinos once it makes it to regulated platforms.
Much of the playstyle remains the same as any other version. Lower chances mean higher payouts, and that is what you can expect when you place a wager for both balls to land on the same pocket, which carries a mouth-watering payout of 1300:1. Even though live double ball roulette is taking off on online casinos in Europe, the game is yet to receive an official roll-out from most US-regulated casinos, even though this is predicted to happen soon.
Free Online Roulette
Are you interested in trying out the game but unsure of your skills? That's what free roulette games are there for. Polish up your skills and enjoy the game without having to risk your bankroll. Besides, free play gives you the chance to test the software at your casino of choice before placing your wagers.
Playing free roulette games is also a good way to test unfamiliar variants of the game. Remember that free play only lets you gamble for fun. You would have to deposit to your bankroll if you wanted to wager real cash.
Best Roulette Games to Play Online
Now that you know all about the roulette games online and how it is played online, it's time we pick the best game to play. This has to be a form of live dealer roulette for the simple reason that it does away with simulators. One of the best live variants to play would be immersive roulette. There is plenty to love about this variant of the game in addition to live-action.
Immersive roulette is a live roulette game offered by Evolution Gaming. The game has a single green pocket and adheres to the same rules and payouts as European roulette. US players can thank Evolution Gaming for introducing the game to most legal US casinos.
