How to Play Online Roulette Games – Casino Guide

Known as the “Devil’s Game” because the numbers add up to 666, Roulette has long been one of every casino’s most popular games because of its simplicity and live-action.

With numbers going from zero (or sometimes double zero) through 36, split between red and black, the object of the game is to correctly guess where the spinning ball will land on the wheel.

While you can bet on colors (red or black), odd/even, and number ranges, the highest payouts come from guessing the exact number; and even bigger ones when playing zero or 00. Unlike other casino games, there is no skill involved in roulette, both in-person and online, and players are playing a game of complete chance. 

Believed to be played for the first time in Paris in the late 18th century, roulette has evolved over the years, culminating with online casinos now offering online roulette games. While the rules are nearly identical, let’s take a closer look at how to play online roulette games. 

How to Play Online Roulette

No matter what variation of online roulette you are playing, the first step is making your bets by clicking on the board which option you want. From there, or sometimes just prior, you’ll have to determine the bet size you wish to wager.

In between spins, the online casino will likely give you a set limited amount of time to make your selection before the next spin. Once your bets are placed, however, the wheel will begin to spin and the future of your chips lay in the balance.

Oftentimes, the wheel will spin with the click of a button, or in some online casinos, there will be a live dealer on the other end which you will witness physically spin a wheel. 

As you learn how to play roulette online, many online casinos will offer free online roulette games to help you understand the basics of the game. Once you are ready, you can then move over to real money games. 

How to Play European Roulette

One downside of playing American roulette is the introduction of double zero (in addition to zero), which increases the house’s winning edge by 5.3%, much higher than the European and French versions. It does so, in part, by losing you money when betting odd or even, and the ball landing on double zero (or zero). 

On the other hand, learning how to play European roulette can benefit players in that it only has a single zero, making the edge lower for the house and thus higher for the players. Statistically speaking, this lowers the house’s edge to 2.7%, much more manageable for your typical player. 

How to Play French Roulette

While it may be a bit more intimidating due to some language barriers, French roulette actually produces the lowest house edge at just 1.35%. Not only does this version of roulette not feature a double zero, but it also has a feature called sharing which means when players bet odd or even, they will receive their money back should the ball land on zero. 

If starting to play online roulette regularly, learning how to play French roulette could be a good idea for the typical player. 

How to Play Roulette and Win

As mentioned, the game of roulette is among the most random in the entire physical and online casino, but that doesn’t mean strategies haven’t emerged claiming how to play roulette and win.

One of the most popular strategies is what is referred to as the Martingale Strategy, which at its core, says you will eventually always win eventually when just betting black or red. 

The Martingale strategy for winning is every time you lose a bet on black or red, bet the same color again, for double the money. The idea here is that given roughly 50% each time, you will eventually win a bit and thus make your money (and then some back).

The key here, of course, is making sure you have enough money to start and are able to maintain this strategy over enough consecutive hands. 

Contrarily, the Reverse Martingale roulette strategy says that every time you win a bet, double your next one, and every time you lose, go lower. This strategy, in theory, allows the better to take advantage when he or she is on a hot streak and lay off when the ball goes cold. 

As with all roulette strategies when learning how to play roulette and win, do keep in mind that every spin of the wheel is independent of the last, with both in-person and online roulette a spin of the wheel of luck.

While strategies can be fun to test and deploy, within your limits, the best form of learning how to play roulette and win is to understand the basics of the game, and only bet what you can afford to lose.