Roulette Rules Guide for New and Recreational Players

Basic Roulette Rules

One good thing for new and experienced players alike is that the basic online roulette rules for most games are mostly alike. In fact, in 2024, it's difficult to find any titles in this genre that are not based on the same basic wheel and table layout. While some of the payouts and positions of the numbers may be a bit different, the fundamentals are still there. That makes it easy to jump between different styles whenever you want and best of all, you can usually try them out risk free by playing free online roulette games in demo mode.

Choose Your Game (Single or Double Zero)

The most basic decision you need to make when it comes to which rules you want to play with is the choice between playing with a single zero or a double zero. The European and American styles are the most common for each, respectively, and while they look very similar and have mostly the same bets available, the odds of winning are not the same on each. That green double zero on the layout for the American version means it pays out worse on average. Along these lines, we recommend that you play a single zero game.

Place Your Bet on the Table

After you have chosen which table to play with, you'll need to place your wagers on the board. We have a guide to the different types of bets that you can place and how to place them down below. However, what you need to know here is that you put those bets down on the table before the wheel ever starts spinning.

Roulette Wheel is Spun

Once all wagers are placed, the ball is spun with the wheel. You'll notice in both online casino and land-based casino games that the ball and wheel spin in opposite directions. This helps to increase the randomness and make it less likely that the ball and wheel spin at the same speed, which can lead to it landing on a predictable number each time.

Bets Are Paid Based Outcome (And Payout Odds)

When the ball falls into place on one of the positions on the wheel, that number it landed on decides the results of the spin. If you had any wagers that included that number, then you win. Each set of online casino roulette rules will have the same basic wagers that may or not win on each spin, but side bets, progressive jackpots and any other additional extras are evaluated at this point as well. Note that beginners don't have to worry about missing out on payouts because they don't have to spot whether they won or not.

Roulette Wheel Rules

The wheels for the single zero and double zero versions of the game are slightly different. For most people most of the time, the payout rate is the main thing to pay attention to in terms of how the online roulette rules are different for each style. Additionally, you can look at some other differences in the following.

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  American Roulette Wheel Numbers (double zero)

  You can identify this wheel by the presence of the green double zero, which is not found on any other version of the game. Most players avoid this style because of the worse chances of coming out ahead as a winner.

  • The two green zeroes are opposite of each other on the wheel.
  • A total of 38 positions are available to wager on.
• 

  European Roulette Wheel (single zero)

  This version with a single green zero is considered the gold standard in the genre. Even non-standard variations use this basic layout because it's widely regarded as the best option in terms of overall chances to win.

  • All other red and black numbers alternate colors other than the single green zero.
  • This wheel has 37 betting positions for players to choose from.

Roulette Table Layout

The basic layout of the table stays mostly the same within all styles of online casino roulette rules. You'll have a top down view in most games that has a grid of numbers up top with additional wagering options down below. These are known as the inside and outside portions of the table layout. New players are recommended to stick to the outside, but that's not strictly required. However, it does contain the easiest types of bets to learn with.

How to Bet on Roulette (the rules of betting)

When it comes to actually placing your bets and playing at these tables, it doesn't matter if you're playing on the Internet or in Las Vegas because the procedure is exactly the same. We'll break down the specifics in what follows and offer some tips on how you can set up your own strategies. With that said, keep in mind that not all of these wagers have the same payouts, levels of risk or levels of reward.

• 

  Inside Bets in Roulette

  When you place your chips directly on the chart of numbers, those are considered "inside" bets. The different types of wagers that you can make on this grid are explained below, and we recommend that you review the different options and decide which might be the best for you before you try to cash in on them. That's because these are the most complicated betting options available in the genre.

  • Straight Up : Paying out at 35:1, this is a wager on a single number, and it typically has the highest individual payout available on the table.
  • Split : Place your chips on the line that separates two adjacent numbers to bet on them both with a 17:1 payout for the ball landing on either.
  • Street : The vertical lines of three consecutive numbers are called streets, and you can bet on one of these sets of three by putting your chips in the middle of the top line above them for a potential 11:1 prize.
  • Trio : Single zero sets of online rules allow for a trio wager, which is a 0-1-2 or 0-2-3 cluster, and they also pay at 11:1.
  • Corner : When four numbers join at a single corner, you can place chips on that corner to bet on all four of them for a win of 8:1 if you hit one of them.
  • Basket : The basket is a bet on the 0-1-2-3 combination with your chips on the top 0-1 or bottom 0-3 corners, and they pay 8:1 just like a corner bet.
  • Six Line : Two adjacent streets can be wagered on simultaneously in what is known as a six line bet. Place your chips on the top corner between these two streets for a chance to win a 5:1 payout on this wager.
• 

  Outside Bets in Roulette

  Even players who don't necessarily know the rules inside and out will have a basic idea of outside bets in this game. That's because they're particularly intuitive, and some of them even have a history of being portrayed in movies, television, video games and other forms of media. Down below, we'll break down each of them to give you a more specific understanding of what they have to offer.

  • Black or Red : A wager on either of these colors wins when your number is of that color, and it pays 1:1 or even money.
  • Even or Odd : The even (2, 4, 6, etc.) and odd (1, 3, 5, etc.) numbers win here for a 1:1 payout. Note that green zeroes do not win for either of these bets.
  • 1-18 or 19-36 : Again, virtually all variations have these wagers that pay 1:1 for wins in these ranges.
  • Dozens : These are wins on the first 12 (1-12), second 12 (13-24) and third 12 (25-36), and they pay out slightly higher at 2:1.
  • Columns : The "2 to 1" positions on the right-hand side of the grid allow you to bet on different columns (top, middle, bottom), and as the label indicates, they pay out at 2:1 for wins.

Betting Types and Payout Chart

We realize that keeping up with the payouts of each and every way to wager under each set of online roulette rules is a lot to remember. To make it easier on you, we have a simple reference chart in what follows. This breaks down each type of bet and how it pays out so that you can focus more on your gaming experience and less on having to remember a lot of numbers for payouts on bets that you may not even be interested in making.

Comparing the Different Variants (roulette rules can vary)

The major variants have a lot in common when it comes to the exact online roulette rules used in each. However, they also have some legit differences that players should absolutely be familiar with to help make sure that you're choosing the game and type of experience that you want. Here we'll break down the basics for you in a way that's easy to understand to make it easier to make an informed decision and also help when it comes to looking at roulette strategies.

American Roulette Rules

In the American style, you have worse payout rates because there are 38 total spots with two different zero positions. That means you have a lower chance of hitting particular numbers when compared to single zero games despite the fact that the payouts for doing so are the same. As a result, and while the boards and wheels look very similar, we recommend that players avoid this set of rules since many people consider it a bit of a rip-off.

Rules for European Roulette

When you play European roulette, you get better odds simply because the double zero is removed from the wheel and the board. Aside from that, the rest of the rules for this game are completely the same. That's why it's the preferred variation of the two: You get the same game with a much lower house advantage.

French Roulette Casino Game Rules

The French style is where we really start to see major deviations in how the rules work. For example, the "en prison" and "la partage" rules. The idea is that if you make an even money wager and lose by landing on a zero, you have some recourse for a better outcome. French tables will use one rule or the other, but the idea with la partage is that you only lose half of your bet in that case. With en prison, you get another chance to spin with that wager on the table and get it back if you win.

Top 10 Online Roulette Games to Play in 2024

In what follows, we have picked out ten specific variations that players might enjoy. This list covers a number of ways to play with different rule sets and presentations. With so much variety, it's easy to see how you can find an experience that fits exactly what you're after as an individual.

Live Dealer Roulette Rules and Etiquette

The online casino roulette rules for live dealer games are mostly the same with some differences for atypical variations. However, because you can chat with other players at live roulette tables, you should be polite and focus on celebrating wins instead of making fun of losses. It's also important that no deposit bonus offers typically are not available for the live tables, so keep that in mind when you're planning out your sessions.

Etiquette to be Observed (Players and Dealers)

As is the case for many different types of social situations, there is a certain etiquette to be followed in the live streams and chat boxes for the live dealer tables. The dealers always have a professional demeanor and focus on running the games smoothly and with the correct procedures. For the players, it's proper etiquette to be polite to the dealers and other players regardless of whether you are winning or losing. A failure to adhere to these rules can have your chat options blocked at the roulette table.

How to Play Online Casino Roulette for Real Money

We want to make it as easy as possible to get in on the action for players who want to have a lot of fun with these games. In the following, we lay out an easy, step by step list of instructions that you can follow to get started. Once you have this basic process understood, you'll know everything you need to know to have a great time at the roulette tables online.

1. Choose Your Online Casino : Take a look at our listing of our best casino reviews to help you find a top-rated place to play.
2. Register for an Account : Head to the registration page, and fill out all of your information accurately that it asks you for.
3. Claim a Bonus : A good bonus or promo that adds a lot of value to your bankroll maximizes your chances of winning, and our casino bonus guide can help you pick out the right one for you.
4. Choose Roulette Game : Different styles appeal to different players, so you should choose the one that appeals to you as an individual. This includes whether you want to play on a mobile app or in a no download client in a web browser.
5. Place Your Wagers : The specific wagers available will differ based on which set of online casino roulette rules you play with, but you'll be able to pick from the ones available to you.
6. Spin the Wheel : After your bets are placed, it's time to spin the wheel to let the round begin.
7. See If You Win : Once the ball lands on the wheel, the betting round is over. At this stage, you get to see if you landed any payouts by having bets placed that included the winning number.
8. Play Again : You can typically repeat the same wagers with a single click, or you can decide to switch things up with a different set of bets on the next round.

How to Play Roulette and Win - Tips and Strategies

Players have a number of strategic options available that can change their chances of winning. However, others are more stylistic and allow players to wager in different ways that don't ultimately affect the long-term odds. What's important is that you're playing in the way you want to so that you have a good time while balancing that with not making the house edge higher than necessary.

Roulette Betting Strategy

One aspect of strategy is how you choose your bets. The rules of online casino roulette offer several even money type wagers (eg: red, black, even, odd) that lend themselves to a variety of betting systems. These systems don't increase your winning chances, but many players use them for fun and to add some variety to the whole experience. Down below, we'll explore a few of these and show you how they work.

• Martingale : Each time you lose, you double the size of your wager until you win, at which point you restart back at your original bet size.
• James Bond : You use 20 units spread in a configuration that has 14 on 19-36, 5 on the 13-18 six-line and 1 on the single zero. This provides several potential payout "tiers" for more variety.
• Paroli : Online rules allow you to change your bet as often as you'd like between rounds. Paroli takes advantage of this by keeping your wager the same when you lose but doubling it after wins for up to three wins in a row to try to get more from winning streaks than you lose in losing streaks.
• D'Alembert : Starting with a given betting unit, you increase your bet after wins and decrease it after losses with the idea of limiting the effects of losing streaks and enhancing the effects of streaks of wins.
• Fibonacci : With the Fibonacci approach, you follow the betting pattern of the Fibonacci sequence after wins, which goes 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc. When hitting a loss, however, you reset back to the beginning.

Top 10's Winning Tips

Learning roulette rules online is one element of getting better at this game. However, we have a variety of other tips that you can use to try to see better results and have an experience that's more in line with what you'd prefer. Here we'll give you a number of tips that you can pick and choose from to integrate into your play style.

1. Use good bankroll management by avoiding playing outside of your budget.
2. Start with the outside bets if you're a new player, and then learn the inside bets as you get more experience.
3. Keep in mind that Evolution Gaming casinos tend to be the best for different sets of live dealer online casino roulette rules.
4. Layering your bets by combining different types (eg: red combined with even) can give you more variety on the types of payouts that you can land.
5. Take advantage of the offers found at online casinos especially if they allow table games to boost your bankroll from the start. One such casino is Golden Tiger Casino where you can enjoy 100% wagering contribution on certain live roulette games.

Learn Roulette Rules with Free Online Casino Games

No registration is required to enjoy our wide selection of free roulette games, which offer a great opportunity to learn the rules online and practice your strategies. Many real money players use these titles to practice or warm up before their sessions as well.

FAQs

• What are the rules of roulette at online casinos?

  These rules are similar to playing in a land-based casino and are listed in detail up above.

• How many numbers on a roulette wheel?

  This is typically 37, but there are 38 in American roulette.

• Can free games be used to learn roulette rules?

  Yes, it's a good idea to use demo tables to learn online casino roulette rules.

• What are the roulette green odds?

  The odds of a roulette 00 payout are 1 out of 38, or about 2.7%.

• Which bet is the best for increasing the odds of winning?

  Even money wagers have the best odds of winning with the lowest payouts to compensate.

• Are there any specific roulette betting rules to be aware of?

  You aren't able to place new wagers after the wheel begins to spin.

• Can I use a no deposit casino bonus to play this game?

  Some no deposit offers will allow you to play roulette, but many won't.

• Do strategies really help your chances of winning?

  Game selection and smart promotion selection can help boost your chances of coming out ahead.

• What's the best real money game to play in 2024?

  We recommend French roulette with even money wagers for the lowest house edge.

• Are there any progressive jackpots in roulette and do they have different rules?

  The Age of Gods tables are a good example of progressive jackpot roulette.

Written by

Amanda Evans - Chief Editor

Amanda has been involved with all aspects of the content creation at Top10Casinos.com including research, planning, writing and editing. The dynamic environment has kept her engaged and continually learning which along with +15 years iGaming experience helped propel her into the Chief Editor role.

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