Roulette 101: The ultimate online roulette guide

Online roulette never fails to provide a fun time for players, even with its simple gameplay. It made it one of the classic and most beloved casino games. With a wide range of betting options, it can reward fantastic payouts to both high-rollers and beginners.

Master roulette by learning how to bet on the table, how the wheel works, and strategies you can use to win. At Bitcasino, we’ve created the ultimate roulette guide for beginners and high-rollers to help you conquer the roulette table.

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A trip down memory lane: How did roulette start?

Various theories surround the history of roulette. One of the most famous claims is that Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician, inventor and scientist, made the prototype of the roulette wheel during the 17th century while trying to create the perpetual motion machine.

However, it wasn't until 1796 when European roulette emerged and became the beloved game it is today. It gained global fame, which led to the creation of American and French variations.

Fast forward to the 1990s, and the first version of online roulette was made available. To this day, online roulette is one of the most widely played gambling games.

Basics of roulette: What is online roulette?

Online roulette has the same gameplay as its land-based counterpart: you place bets on where you think the ball will land when the wheel stops spinning. You can lock in your bets by placing coloured chips on different sections of the roulette layout. 

You can play online casino roulette anywhere and anytime if you have an internet connection. It provides added convenience while maintaining the excitement you’d experience at a brick-and-mortar casino.

Roulette terminology

Here are the most important roulette terminologies any player should know:

How does the roulette wheel work?

In a round, the croupier spins the wheel in one direction and tosses the ball in the opposite direction. The ball settles on one of the pockets, and winners are paid respectively.

Here are the different parts of the roulette wheel to know how it works:

Diamonds

The diamonds are found on the outermost layer of the roulette wheel. They’re scattered strategically to deflect the ball, alter its trajectory and ensure the outcome is random.

Ball Track

From the name itself, this circular part of the wheel is where the ball rolls before it hits any of the deflectors/diamonds on the outermost layer. 

Frets

The frets separate the pockets from one another and can also alter the ball’s trajectory.

Rotor

The rotor is the innermost layer and the roulette wheel’s heaviest part. It rotates along with the pockets and significantly affects how fast the wheel spins.

Base

The base is the outermost layer of the wheel that helps maintain its stability as it is spinning.

Pockets

The pockets are black and red slots labelled with different numbers. It's where the ball settles when the wheel stops spinning. 

There are also different types of pockets, varying in design and depth. The most common ones include the following:

Low fret

Designed by game engineer George Melas, the low fret is roulette's most shallow type of pocket. From the name itself, these pockets feature low action frets on each side, which can affect the ball's direction and make the outcome more unpredictable.

Huxley Starburst

Huxley Starburst pockets feature a unique triangular shape, which can deflect the ball randomly in both directions. This triangular design helps in reducing the predictability of where the ball will bounce.

Scalloped pockets

Scalloped pockets are similar to low frets but feature a scoop-like shape. This design reduces the ball's bounce during the spin, which causes it to hop and jump less often.

Placing your bets: How does the roulette table work?

The roulette table, also known as the layout, is an important part of the game since it’s where the chips are placed to lock in bets.

The table's main part contains all the roulette wheel numbers (0 - 36 for European roulette and 0, 00 - 36 for American roulette). This section is where you can place your chips to lock in inside bets.

On the right side of each row, there's a dedicated space where you bet that any of those 12 digits is where the ball will land.

The bottom-most part of the layout contains different sections where you place outside/proposition bets like higher/lower, column, red/black and even/odd bets.

How online roulette works

There are two ways to experience roulette at Bitcasino: through the online version, where you can play alone or with an AI, and through live dealer games.

Online roulette

You won't get to play with other players in the online version, and there's no physical wheel. Instead, you play alone, and the wheel itself is computer generated.

These titles feature a Random Number Generator (RNG) software to ensure an unpredictable outcome. It continuously generates a random string of numbers, and when the wheel stops, the last number of the generator is the pocket the ball 'lands' on.

Live casino roulette

Another best way to play roulette online is through its live dealer version. You can play with other players worldwide while a live croupier facilitates the game.

The titles under this category use a roulette wheel that the croupier spins in real-time. This type is streamed using HD cameras in remote studios and is broadcasted live.

Types of roulette

There are various variations of roulette: European, American and French roulette. Read more about them below:  

European roulette

The European version is considered the first and original roulette. It has 37 pockets, including the single 0, which puts the house edge at 2.7%, one of the lowest percentages across all roulette variants.

American roulette

Once the European settlers arrived in the US and introduced roulette during the 19th century, casino proprietors in the country weren't too pleased about the low house edge. It prompted them to create their version of roulette, but this time with an additional pocket called double zero (00), which increased the house edge to 5.26%.

Aside from that, it has the same bets as its European counterpart, except for call bets.

French roulette

French Roulette is primarily similar to the European version, as evidenced by its use of the same single zero wheel and 2.7% house edge. However, their similarities end with the table layout.

Here, the outside bets are found on two long sides of the table. Additionally, some of the bets are translated into their French counterparts, such as:

• Pair/impair - odd/even
• Passe/manque  - high/low
• Première douzaine - 1st 12
• Moyenne douzaine - 2nd 12
• Dernière douzaine - 3rd 12.

French roulette introduced the 'En Prison' and 'La Partage' rules, which served as insurance for your bets if the ball lands on the zero pocket.

To summarise:

How to play online roulette

In roulette, your goal is to predict where the ball will land when the wheel stops spinning. You win if the bets you placed to correspond to the result of the wheel's spin. 

Here's how you can start roulette betting in a few steps:

1. Choose your bets

Before the round begins, start placing your bets on the allotted sections on the roulette table. Keep in mind that online roulette odds and payouts may vary per bet.

2. Wait for the round to begin

After betting, the croupier spins the roulette wheel and tosses in the ball,  signifying the round has begun. You are still allowed to place your bets during this stage.

3. Croupier announces no more bets

After a few seconds, the croupier announces 'no more bets' and closes the betting period until the next round.

4. Wait for the announcement of the winners

When the ball settles on a specific pocket, the croupier announces the winners and losers of the round.

5. Move on to the next round

The game proceeds to the next round, where you can either retain your bets or make new ones. Make sure to decide wisely with your bankroll to avoid losing too much money.

Here’s a quick summarisation on how to play roulette for beginners:

• Step 1: Choose your bets.
• Step 2: Wait for the round to begin
• Step 3: Croupier closes betting period.
• Step 4: Wait for the announcement of winners.
• Step 5: Move on to the next round.

How to bet on roulette

During a roulette round, you can place different bets to maximise your chances of winning.

To place these bets, put your chips on the designated betting options on the table. For the online version, you can select your desired bet amount and drag your chips to the designated spaces with your device.

Knowing all the betting options in roulette exposes you to various payouts and odds. Here are the bets you can make in roulette:

Inside bets

As its name suggests, inside bets are wagers placed ‘inside’ the table, composed of the main 37 or 38 numbers of roulette. Here, you can place your chips on a specific number or a group of numbers.

While inside bets have lower odds, their payouts are higher than outside bets. 

Here are the different inside bets you can make in roulette:

Straight up bet

The straight-up bet is one of the most basic wagers you can make in roulette. It covers one number simultaneously, but you can also use it to cover multiple digits in a single round. To make a straight-up bet, place the chip directly on top of the number/s on the roulette table.

Split bet

The split bet lets you place your wagers on two adjacent numbers simultaneously. To do this, you must place your chip on the line that separates the two numbers you want to bet on.

Street/trio bet

The street bet, also known as the trio, is a roulette betting option that allows you to place your wager on three consecutive numbers on the same line. To lock in this bet, place your chip on the outer border of the three numbers you want to win.

Corner/square bet

This bet covers four numbers at a time. You can cash out payouts with a corner/square bet if one of the four digits wins. The catch here is that the four numbers you'll bet on should form a square on the table, hence its name.

Five number bet

The five-number bet lets you place your wager on five separate digits, specifically 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. You can only find this in American roulette. Place five different chips directly on the digits mentioned to make this wager.

Line/sixline/six number bet

The line bet allows you to place your wagers on six different digits on the same round. To lock this bet in, put your chip on the outer border of the six digits you wish to bet on. 

Snake bet

If you want to spice up your roulette gameplay, you can opt for the snake bet. This unorthodox betting option spans the entire inside section of the roulette table and is only placed on numbers in red spaces. 

To make this bet, you must form an 'M' shaped line by placing your chips on the following digits: 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32 and 34.

On a side note, if you're planning to play roulette online, chances are, this betting option can be set up with a press of a button, so you don't have to put individual chips in place painstakingly.

Outside bets

Contrary to inside bets, the outside bets cover the remaining options outside where the numbers are placed.

If your bankroll lasts longer, you should opt for outside bets. This betting option doesn't offer the highest payouts, but you're more likely to win since it covers more ground than a single pocket or group of numbers.

To put things in perspective, let's compare betting on the outside red bet to a straight-up inside bet. You're more likely to win with the outside red bet since it covers all red pockets instead of a straight-up bet that covers a specific number.

Aside from this, there are other types of outside bets you can make. Check them out below: 

Column bet

On the outside section of the roulette table, there are three rows labelled as 1st Row, 2nd Row and 3rd Row. 

With the column bet, you’re betting the ball will land on one of the numbers present in your chosen row. Make this bet by placing the chip at the end of a row. Remember, the bet loses when the ball lands on 0 or 00 since these numbers are not present in any of the three rows.

Dozens bet

With this option, you’re betting the ball will land on one of the numbers included on your wagered dozen. Like the column bet, the dozens bet has three options labelled 1st 12, 2nd 12 and 3rd 12. The bet loses when the ball lands on 0 or 00 since they're not part of the three dozen.

To lock in this bet, place your chip on one or two of the dozens on the layout. 

Odd/even bet

Another outside bet you can place is the odd and even bets. With this option, you’re betting that the ball will land on either an odd or even digit. There are 18 odd and even numbers in the roulette layout.

0 and 00 are not considered odd or even numbers. Due to this, when the ball lands on them, the bet loses, and the house wins.

High/low bet

Excluding 0 and 00, the ball can land on a total of 36 numbers. In this bet, numbers 1 to 18 are categorised as ‘low’ while 19 to 36 are considered ‘high’. 

The high/low bet doesn’t matter which specific number hits. You have to predict which of the two categories the ball will land on high and low.

Red/black bet

The red/black bet is one of the simplest options in roulette. Here, you’re betting on whether the ball will land on a red or black pocket. 

Announced bets

When playing French Roulette, you’ll encounter announced bets; wagers called as you’re placing them. These are neither placed on the inside nor outside the betting section. Instead, they’re placed on an oval-shaped area on the table called a ‘racetrack’.

Additionally, some European roulette tables offer these betting options, so you should also know them to add more bets to your advantage.

Here are the announced bets you can do:

Voisins du Zéro

This announced bet covers 0 and the seven numbers on each side. Since these bets are found in French roulette, expect to see various French words under this category. Starting with Voisins du Zéro or ‘neighbours of zero’ in English.

If you observe the roulette wheel, the seven numbers on each side of the 0 include the following digits: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28,12, 35, 3, 26, ..332, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25. If the ball lands on one of these numbers, the bet wins.

Le Tiers Du Cylindre

Directly translated as ‘One Third of the Wheel’, Le Tiers Du Cylindre covers the 12 numbers found on the opposite side of Voisins du Zéro. This bet requires you to do six splits on 5/8, 10/11, 13/16, 23/24, 27/30 and 33/36. 

Splits are bets placed on two adjacent numbers. It’s locked in by placing a chip on the line that separates the two numbers on the roulette table.

Orphelins

In Orphelins, you’re betting on the numbers excluded from the Voisins and Tiers bets, namely 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31 and 34. 

There are two versions of this announced bet: Orphelins en Cheval and Orphelins en Plein. The former requires you to place one straight-up bet on 1 and four splits on 6/9, 14/17, 17/20 and 31/34.

The latter involves the same group of numbers, but you are placing straight-up bets on each one this time.

Jeu Zero

Also known as the Zero Game, Jeu Zero involves betting on the three neighbouring slots on both sides of the 0. To make this bet, you must place four chips: one straight-up on 26 and three splits on 6/9, 14/17, 17/20 and 31/34.

Neighbours

The Neighbours bet covers five numbers in total. It involves a specific number of your liking and two neighbouring digits from each side. Let’s say you want your specific number to be 4, and you can call this bet by saying ‘4 and the neighbours’. In this case, the covered numbers will be 15, 19, 4, 21 and 2.

Surrender, La Partage and En Prison Rules

Aside from the bets, three advanced roulette rules can also help you reduce the house edge: Surrender, La Partage and En Prison. They’re optional, providing you with an option to minimise your losses.

These rules are automatically applied in specific roulette tables. Once you find one that offers them, your even money bets are automatically eligible for these rules.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what each rule means:

Surrender

The Surrender rule is only offered in American roulette. It allows you to get half of your bet back when the ball lands on either 00 or 0, which reduces the house edge from 5.26% to 2.63%.

La Partage

Offered in French Roulette, La Partage lets you get half of your bet back when the ball lands on 0 during an even money bet, which lowers the house edge to 1.35%. 

En Prison

En Prison is a unique rule that prevents you from losing when the ball lands on 0 after making an even-money bet. Instead, it ‘imprisons’ your wager until the next spin occurs.

If your bet wins during the next spin, you receive your original wager, but if the ball lands on 0 again, you lose your bet altogether. This rule reduces the house edge to 1.35%.

Online roulette tips and tricks

While roulette is easy to play, the best way to win is to be knowledgeable about the game. To get a better chance at winning, here are some online roulette tips for you to try:

1. Place bets that work together

With the wide selection of bets in roulette, it can be confusing to remember which pockets each bet covers. That’s why you should place wagers that work together. 

Here’s a quick example to help you understand better:

Let’s say you want to place two bets: a $1 straight-up bet on 20 and a $1 low bet. At first, you may think this is a wise move since you’re covering two different grounds simultaneously. 

However, this doesn’t maximise your chances of winning since 20 isn’t included in the low bet. In this case, if the ball does land on 20, you win $35 since straight-up bets pay out 35 to 1, but the downside is you lose your $1 low bet.

To fix this, change your second wager to a high bet so that when the ball lands on 20, you receive two separate payouts in one round.

2. Study the game’s rules, betting options, payouts and odds

The most crucial roulette trick you should do is study the game. It includes learning about roulette bets and payouts, rules and odds. Doing this allows you to become comfortable placing your bets and playing easily.

3. Manage your bankroll

Before joining a table, it's crucial to have a bankroll management plan beforehand to avoid losing more than you can afford. Always practice responsible gaming and protect your bankroll with a stop-loss and winning goal. 

You can also utilise progressive betting systems for a more organised betting pattern you can keep track of. Although these strategies won't serve prizes on a silver platter, they can help your bankroll last until you find success in a game of roulette. They also help you make the best bets to increase your chances of winning.

Roulette strategies and betting systems

To help you become a wiser bettor, here's a quick overview of the most common roulette strategies:

1. Martingale strategy

The Martingale strategy is a popular online roulette strategy that falls under the negative progression category. Here, you must double your wager every time you lose and revert to your original amount once you win.

The idea behind Martingale is that you're bound to win at some point during the game, and when you do, the payout will win back any previous losses. 

2. Labouchere strategy

The Labouchere is one of the roulette's most complex yet popular strategies. It's also known as the Cancellation System. It's also a negative betting system like Martingale.

To start the Labouchere, write down or think of a sequence of numbers that, when added up, would be the amount you want to win. 

The idea behind this strategy is to generate profit by winning fewer bets. However, the downside of this strategy is that when you experience a losing streak, you have to add one digit after the other in your sequence. 

If you try this strategy, ensure you have enough money in your bankroll to prolong your gaming session.

3. D’Alembert strategy

The D'Alembert strategy is similar to the Martingale, where you increase your bet every time you lose and decrease it when you win. But this time, you increase your bet by one unit instead of doubling it. When you win, you decrease it by one unit as well.

Common myths about roulette

Throughout the years, roulette has been the subject of different myths. Find out what these myths are below:

Roulette is purely random

From a casual player's perspective, roulette results might seem random. However, experts suggest roulette is better described as 'semi-random' due to the wear and tear that causes biased wheels and numbers.

Roulette is the devil’s game

One of the most popular myths about roulette is it's the devil's game mainly due to the numbers of the wheel adding up to 666. This specific number is referred to as 'the number of the beast' in the bible.

However, there hasn't been a concrete reason for the wheel's numbers adding to 666, which is why it's considered a myth.

It’s impossible to win in roulette

It's not true since the game is mainly based on luck and random results. You can also increase your chances of winning by remembering the above basic roulette rules and strategies. 

Best online roulette games at Bitcasino

Here at Bitcasino, you’ll find different versions of roulette, each one offering unique gameplay and amazing payouts. These are:

Lightning Roulette by Evolution

The Lightning Roulette is a unique take on the regular gameplay of roulette. In this version by Evolution, one to five numbers are struck by lightning and are given multiplier payouts between 50x and 500x every round.

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Speed Roulette by Pragmatic Play

If you want to increase the pace of a roulette game, then you should try Pragmatic Play’s Speed Roulette. Here, you are treated to a faster and more exciting roulette experience with each round only lasting around 25 seconds.

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Instant Roulette by Evolution

Instant Roulette follows the French version but with quicker gameplay, mostly due to its 12 roulette wheels. This number of wheels allows for faster rounds and unlimited betting time.

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Online roulette bonuses

At Bitcasino, you can enjoy various bonuses and promotions while playing roulette. We offer these to dedicated players to help them obtain bigger prizes.

Two of the most popular bonuses you'll find here include:

Cashbacks

Bitcasino offers cashback promos to gain a portion of your funds when you play. These are valid for a limited time and require you to opt-in beforehand. 

After opting in, play your favourite games, and your cashback is calculated based on your net losses during the promo's duration.

Free Credits

You can also join one of the many tournaments Bitcasino regularly holds to get a chance to win free credits. 

Like the cashback promotion, Free Credits follow a strict time frame where you must deposit and play your preferred casino games to win your share of free credits. You can then add these credits to your bankroll for roulette! 

Frequently Asked Questions about roulette

Can players cheat at roulette?

Some players have found ways to get an edge over the house by cheating. Two of the most famous methods are past posting and pinching, involving sleight of hand.

In past postings, the player placed chips on the winning number after settling the ball. Meanwhile, in pinching, the player removes losing bets from the roulette table.

It should be emphasised that cheating is illegal and can lead to extreme repercussions.

What are the benefits of online roulette?

One of the main benefits of playing roulette online is its convenience. Playing live dealer roulette at Bitcasino allows you to experience the same fun and excitement that brick-and-mortar casinos offer anywhere and anytime.

Additionally, you can play with cryptocurrencies and experience fast and easier deposits and withdrawals at Bitcasino.

Are online roulette games rigged?

It all boils down to the online casino you're playing at. That's why it's essential to choose a reputable casino with a gaming licence like Bitcasino before depositing your funds.

Can you lower the house edge of an online roulette game?

No, you can't. Although placing several bets can increase your chances of winning, the house edge remains the same. By placing several bets, you only lower the volatility.

Can I try online roulette for free?

Yes, you can. However, this is only possible for the online table version, not the live dealer variation. To do this, toggle the 'fun mode' tab at the screen's lower right corner.

How to win at online roulette?

There's no guaranteed answer on how you win at roulette since it's based on luck. Fortunately, you can use strategies to make the best bets while protecting your bankroll.

Play online roulette today at Bitcasino

Bitcasino’s online roulette guide has everything you need to begin playing and winning in roulette. Take your newfound knowledge to the table and see where your luck can take you. Deposit today and start conquering every crypto roulette game.

Words by: Jericho Paradeza