Are you one of those players who likes the double-zero opportunities in a roulette game? If you are, you have come to the right place to find out all about this American roulette! This type of our favorite game is considered the most difficult to win and the reason behind is the number of pockets. We will try to keep things as simple as possible while explaining everything you need to know about American roulette!

You can play free American roulette online here on our site or head to a casino site to play for real money. If you choose to play American roulette at an online casino, you simply need to create an account and head to the table games lobby to select the game. Free play is a great way to learn the mechanics of online roulette and get a feel for betting tactics and what approach works best for you. It’s also the ideal approach to scope out a new site and get a sense for its offering before you put down some cash.

Double zero is a feature that contributes to online American roulette having the lowest odds comparing to its European analogs. It’s located in between two red numbers while the single-zero got its position between two black numbers. This what makes an impression of the red pockets dominating on the table.

Next the online version of the game available at real money casinos in NJ, PA and elsewhere is covered. This page ends with a look at roulette strategy and some of the myths surrounding it. If you want to play American roulette for free online, check out the game above. If you run out of credits, simply refresh your browser. From Low Stakes Roulette, and 3D Roulette, to American Roulette, French Roulette and European Roulette, players can enjoy pulse-pounding entertainment with arguably the greatest game ever. Roulette is the poster child of casinos the world over; a chic and stylish table game with enough star-studded appeal to keep you spinning and winning until.

Basic Rules in American Roulette

Every American roulette online player has to be familiar with the rules and how to play American roulette. If you have ever played any of the roulette games, then you know that the concept of the game revolves around the spinning wheel where the ball spins. Even though American roulette online is quite a challenging and risking game, it regularly attracts more and more players to try their luck. If you would like to become one of them or simply take a look at how the game goes, get familiar with the brief guide for American roulette we prepared for you.

  1. Select chip value. First of all, you need to define the amount of chips you bet. The more “complex” bit is, the more chips you need but for the single number bets, you can use a single chip per one number. Once you decide the amount of the money you are going to invest, you need to pick your wager and place the chips.
  2. Place your bets. You are allowed to place bets as long as the dealer has not announced that there are no more bets that are accepted, which means that he will, as soon as the wheel stops, announce the wining number.
  3. Waiting for the winning number. To play American version, the next step is to wait for the dealer who throws the ball into the wheel and wait until the wheel stops.
  4. Dealer calculates each bid. The ball stops either on a black, red or green (double zero or zero) slot. Once it stops, the dealer will reveal the number and he will retain all the nets that are lost. Now, he will calculate the player’s earnings and give them their profit.

Whether you play the double zero roulette or a single zero version, the rules remain the in all games. The only thing that is different is the odds layout and payouts, which are leaning slightly towards the house in this version. Generally speaking, this does not have to be true always. But when we consider the statistics and mathematical analyses, the player does not have that advantage as it has in other versions.

American Roulette Wheel and Table Layout

Every American roulette free game contains the 38 pockets, where you have numbers from 1 to 36, plus zero and double zero slot, which is the main difference between the online American roulette and other versions. Also, due to double zero slot, note that numbers on the wheel are placed slightly different, which also resulted in a bit different table layout. Everything else on the American roulette wheel is the same as it is on other wheels in other versions. The double zero is what gives the free American roulette an advantage. The zero and double zero are green colored, while the rest of numbers, like in other versions, are either red or black. Besides these three colors, the layout offers pretty much the same betting options on every roulette wheel layout.

The American roulette for real money allows you to place: red/black, odd/even, 1st,2nd and 3d 12 numbers, as well as columns and halves bets. The red/black allows you to bet on either of these two colors (the green is not covered obviously) while odd/even relate to the type on number (even or odd). Then you have the “multiple” choice bet. This is 1st,2nd and 3d 12 and it covers the first, second or third 12 numbers in the row. Lastly, roulette online for cash offers the columns that cover the section of numbers on the left, center or right column, while the halves cover two parts 0-18 and 19-36 numbers.

Types of Bets – Double Zero Roulette

All roulette online, free games or any American roulette game offers you a handful of wagering options that you can use through your gambling career. Before each round on the American roulette table, the players can choose: inside bets and outside bets, where each category consists of several wagering options. Inside bet implies you trusting your cash to a single number. This is how you increase your payout but lower an actual chance to win. At the same time, outside bets make sure your chances are higher since you can place your bet on the group of numbers. The first one consists of straight up, split, street, corner, five and line bet.

  • Straight up is a bet on the single number, including numbers zero and double zero.
  • Split is placing a bet on two numbers, by placing chips on the line between the two numbers.
  • Street features placing chips on three numbers in a row that is placed on the line at the end of the row.
  • Corner bet marks betting on the four numbers that are next to each other, by placing chips on the corner/line where they touch each other.
  • Five bet is placing a bet on the 5 numbers (usually 0,00,1,2,3) by putting chips on the end of two rows, on the line that separates them.
  • Line bet covers six numbers and the chips are placed at the end of the row, on the border that divides them.

The outside bets in roulette for real money cover the outer section of numbers and consist of column, dozen, color, odd/even, low/high bet.

  • Column bet is placing a bet on the entire column of numbers relates to the 2:1 numbers at the end of column.
  • Dozen bet is covering 12 numbers, where you can cover numbers on the first box (1-12), the second (13-24) and the third (25-36).
  • Betting on color is simple, as you need to predict which color will ball land on (red or black).
  • Odd/Even is the same as previous, with the difference that we look whether the ball landed on an even or odd number.
  • Low/High is placing bets on lower set or higher set of numbers, as you have a field on table 19-36 and 1-18, covering the presented numbers.

In the roulette free online games, especially in the double wheel roulette, you have to know which wager means what so you could play professionally and achieve success! Therefore, spend some time on the learning, as well as on the practicing of these so you could know how to win and apply the wagers in the game.

Special Types of Bets for American Roulette

Whether you deal with the American roulette simulator or the roulette table layout with the real cash, you will come to the special bets that are present in this version.

  • Basket Bet. The five-number or a basket bet, is not one of those bets that are used all the time, but can be found in American roulette games and it covers zero, double zero, 1,2 and 3. It allows you to get a good amount of money. To play the American version properly with this wager, place the chips on the edge where zero pockets and 1,2,3 join together. This is the right way to place this wager.
  • Neighbour Bet. The double zero version offers the neighbor wager as well, which is popular in this game. It allows you to cover any five numbers on the table that are right next to each other. The combination can be any of the numbers. Just keep in mind that these have to be close to each other to be able to place 22 Neighbor Bet. It is also called in that way and it is only present in this version of the roulette.

Double Zero Payouts

As we mentioned earlier, there are two types of bets: inside and outside, where the outside ones have a higher chance for winning unlike inside that have lower chances. This information becomes most important while playing roulette on real money. But the catch is that these inside bets have much bigger payouts but are harder to catch. Single number bet payout 35 to 1 ratio, with 2.60% odds. The two number wager has 17 to 1 ratio, with 5.3% odds. Three number, four number, five and six number bets have payout 11; 8; 6,5 to 1 ration with 7,9%; 10,5%; 13,2% and 15.8% odds, while Column, Dozen, Even/Odd, Red/Black and Low/High bets have 2; 2; 1; 1; 1 to 1 ratio with 31,6%; 31,6%; 47,4%; 47,4%; 47,4% odds.

We will try to list how much chances you have to win a bet in percentage for each type of bet you choose. This does not have to be true, but it can serve as a good reference point for your roulette strategy.

  • Straight – 2.70% chances, with payout of 35:1
  • Split – 5.26$ chances, with payout of 17:1
  • Street – 7.89% chances, with payout of 11:1
  • Corner – 10.53% chances, with payout of 8:1
  • Backet – 13.16% chances, with payout of 6:1
  • Double Street – 15.79% chances, with payout of 5:1

Although the information above cover statistic probabilities, don’t forget to revise regularly your strategies and system of playing. In any case, do have in mind that house plays against you. Also, remember that strategies fail on the long run, but also know when to stop with gambling! Good luck!

House Edge

Whether you play online for real money or you play for free, the house edge is something that defines what the advantage the gambling house has over the players. Whenever you look at the payout in roulette, you have to always have in mind that the house edge should be as low as possible to increase your chances for winning. The online roulette American game has 5.26% house edge! Just for the comparison, the European roulette has nearly half of that amount, but this version offers more entertainment as it has the double zero pocket! While the payouts remain the same in all online for money roulette versions, you still have fewer chances for win in American than in European game! While the American version has 94.74% of the RTP (return to player), it still means that for every investment of $1,000, the house will take $52.60. It does not mean that the player will not be able to achieve some substantial profit from it, but the statistics show that the casino has a slight advantage over the player. Therefore, the roulette free spins are a great way to test the casino. Of course, this should be your guideline but you never know your chances. The best thing you can do to beat the house edge is to develop and practice your strategies!

Surrender Rule

One thing that you will learn when you decide to play money American roulette is the surrender rule that allows you to retrieve half of your lost bet. American roulette play is characterized by this wager and you should always use the advantage of it whenever you can! It can be applied when you play online for free as well. This helps you to “theoretically” win American roulette when you choose the odd/even bet and the ball lands on zero or double zero slot. In this case, you get half of your bet returned while the second half goes to the house. This, in theory, decreases the house edge to 2.63$ from 5.26% which means you have better chances to win in this game! Instead of losing, you can “surrender” and retrieve 50% of your bet, which is a good way to cover your loses and learn to play. Whenever you are not sure, you can hit the surrender button! This way, you can save some money instead of losing everything from the wager you have placed!

Mobile American Roulette

If you ask does double zero work on the mobile devices, you should know it works fantastically well as everything is optimized and adjust to the precise touch-screen controls! You can choose to play this game for free, or for real money if you want, regardless of the operating system you are using on your mobile device. Whether you use iOS, Android or BlackBerry, you can play! All players who are looking for the double zero pay money chances can count on the direct play mode through the browser or by downloading the dedicated app to your mobile device! The dedicated app comes from the certified software providers who enable you to pay in roulette or enjoy the free online American play with good bonuses and access to all games. The number of games in roulette online real version can be decreased a bit, as the different technologies may be incompatible. Still, more than 95% of the games will be available including live roulette versions, so you do not have to worry about the number of games! Whatever style of play you choose, you will enjoy mobile gambling! Walk, sit in a park or drink a coffee with your friends and spin the Devil’s wheel whenever you want! You have 24/7 access throughout the whole year!

Features of American roulette mobile version

Whether you play online real money rounds or free, the commands and the interface remains the same, as the layout is completely the same! You can apply every American roulette strategy you want in these direct play or downloadable-client games as these are fully transparent and fair! As we said, all major OSs have been supported! Android, iOS or Windows systems allow you to deposit real money and scout payout for double money or play for free for double zero luck! Besides, your privacy is on the high-level as no third party could ever breach-in and steal your data! All the transactions, including payments and personal information, are secured and encrypted by SSL encryption, making sure that no one is able to steal these! The latest technology perks allow you even to include the two-way authentication with the goal of preventing any fraudulent activities! This way, you and your data are 100% safe! Try registering at any online casino on our site, as this place offers you fantastic versions of this game, but also protects your personal and confidential data.

American Roulette Tips

After reading the paragraphs above, you could have noticed that American roulette online actually makes you lose money. However, if everything was that pathetic for real, online american roulette wouldn’t compete with its European sister in terms of popularity. That’s why you’ll need extra alertness and excellent skills to succeed in American roulette online. The American roulette rules must be familiar to you if you plan to develop your strategy and especially if you plan to win some money. In addition, you can follow some tips to increase your chances for winning in the real money American roulette game!

  • Try Surrender option. One of the first things that you can do is to look for surrender option. The surrender option allows you to get half of your bet in case you play odd/even wager and the ball lands on zero or double zero! While this does not cover 100% of your bet, you still get 50% of your bet, which is a good way to increase your odds.
  • Place different bets. Don’t stick to your lucky number, your anniversary date, or the birth date of your cousin’s puppy. Explore all the bet opportunities placing inside, outside, and even money bets.
  • Try playing double zero roulette simulator before playing for real money. For every type of casino, there is at least one high-quality simulation version. Its goal is to ensure that you are aware of all the game nuances before placing a real bet. In money American roulette games, a good aid will be the free games that are available in the majority of the distinguished casinos and these are highly useful to players who are still practicing and developing strategies for this game.
  • Set a limit to your bankroll. The players can play inside as well as the outside bets as much as they want and this is one of the best ways to practice in this game! There is also one thing that is crucial and that you must not forget. When you play, especially at the high stakes, you can easily lose your money due to the large bets.Therefore, always set a limit to your bankroll so you could eliminate the possibility to bet more than you can afford to lose.
  • Reason over passion. Another tip that is great and that can help you to manage your bankroll and money American roulette efficiently, is to stick to avoid being overwhelmed upon your first big win! This can easily turn into a disaster as the player starts thinking that he is invincible and that he can win every single round! Be careful when you want to retrieve the lost bets. This can quickly turn into a disaster if you are not paying attention too much because you get emotional!
  • Minimize your losses. Even though you might feel on the top of the world, don’t let your emotions go beyond the wit of man. Start from placing the minimum bets and know what is your maximum spending limit.
  • Use common betting strategies. Don’t reinvent the wheel! It’s way better to know your risks and deal with them than create the new ones. Avoid being emotional as this can cost you a lot but rather treat this game as an entertaining way that can bring you money!

Double Zero Roulette

When speaking about the popularity, we have to say that the American roulette odds became popular all over the world once the game arrived in New Orleans, the gambling capital of the US. The French revolutionaries brought it to this city during the French revolution in the 18th century and since then, it started gaining popularity and it spread all over the world! The most interesting thing was that the double zero in this game. The double zero highly increases the house edge, while it decreases the player’s odds! Still, people wanted to play it as it is highly entertaining game and that is how the whole concept of the game became popular and spread out through the whole world!

What is interesting is that this game becomes more and more popular in Asia and the USA while it is avoided by the European players. The reason is probably that double zero slot that attracts risky players to test their skills and beat the house.

American Roulette FAQ

The frequently asked questions section is structured so it can offer you the answers to some of the most common questions that players ask about this game. Do not hesitate to send us a question if you could not find it in this section!

FAQ

Is American Roulette Completely Random? ›

Yes, it is completely a random game where you cannot do anything to turn things in your favor, at least when we speak about the legal actions. The house wins in the long term always!

What is the best American Roulette Strategy? ›

One of the best strategies is the Reverse Martingale System. Through this strategy, you will increase your bet once you win and decrease it when you lose.

Can I play American roulette on my iPhone? ›

Absolutely! There is the direct play mode through your mobile browser but you can also download the dedicated app on your iOS device!

What the minimum bet? ›

The minimum bet is $2, but you can place the wager on two different numbers so the overall amount is $2. But keep in mind that the outside bets require $5 of the minimum bet.

What the maximum bet? ›

The maximum bet can be anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. This, however, depends on the casino and its rules and policies.

What is the worst possible bet in American roulette? ›

The Five/basket bet that covers 5 numbers (0, 00, 1, 2, 3). The bet is not in favor of a player as it gives 7.89% of the house edge.

More and more people can legally enjoy roulette games online.

Whether you enjoy free roulette for entertainment or gamble for high stakes, there are options for you. With competition between the casinos in regulated states, you will find big bonuses and loyalty rewards for players of all bankroll levels. Games are available on your desktop or mobile device.

This page has everything you need to enjoy online roulette games safely. You will find an overview of real money roulette games, bonuses and roulette apps below. At the end of the page, a FAQ will answer all your questions.

Best online casinos for real money roulette

Play free roulette online

Playing online roulette for real money

Head to your local casino and you will need to bet the minimum stakes to enjoy roulette. Stakes go up on weekends, with $5 to $10 on outside bets typically the smallest bets available. Head online, and you can play real money roulette for much smaller stakes. This gives you all the enjoyment (and chance to go on a winning streak) without the risk.

Improvements in network speeds have allowed for a new generation of online roulette games. Live dealer roulette lets you bet on a real game happening in real time, streamed from a studio. You can interact with the dealers and other players, giving this real money roulette option a social component.

The best online casinos offer welcome bonuses and ongoing rewards to roulette players. A 100% deposit matching bonus will get your bankroll off to a great start. Some casinos offer free play for new customers. While this is usually for slots, you can always head to the roulette games with the money you win with the free play.

For players who enjoy roulette regularly, it will pay to compare the loyalty reward programs of online casinos. Those loyalty points, reload bonuses and one-off promotions will make a huge difference to your bankroll over time.

How online casino bonuses work for roulette

When you first see online casino bonuses, they look similar. Many casinos offer a 100% match on your first deposit — sometimes over multiple deposits in a specified timeframe. The amount matched varies. The biggest welcome bonuses can reach $1,000 or more.

It is important to look at the terms and conditions of bonus deals. There are major differences covering the playthrough requirements, the type of games you can play to redeem your bonus and how long you have to meet your total.

Here is a checklist for roulette players:

  • Is roulette allowed? Some casinos exclude roulette from the games permitted for bonus clearing altogether. Others will allow only a portion of wagers to count toward clearing.
  • What is the playthrough requirement? All casino bonuses specify the number of times you need to bet the bonus money before cashing out. This can vary widely.
  • How is roulette weighted? Slots contribute 100% toward clearing your bonuses. Roulette can be anything from 25% to 2% — depending on the casino. This can make a huge difference.
  • Are specific bets excluded? Many casinos will state that covering too many outcomes is “bonus abuse” and will void your welcome bonus. An example is covering both red and black (with a small bet on the zeros). Look out for brands that don’t allow outside bets.
  • How long will the bonus last? When you combine playthrough requirements with weightings, the requirements you must meet can be extensive. This makes the time allowed to complete your bets a key factor. Avoid roulette bonuses that expire too quickly.

Here are some examples of good offers at regulated casinos:

Golden Nugget Casino: This New Jersey / Michigan online casino gives you $10 free if you sign up with bonus code PLAYBONUS. There is also a matched deposit bonus of up to $1,500, plus 200 free slot spins. You can clear the no deposit bonus by wagering it 20x. Roulette is included, with your bets weighted at 25%. The deposit bonus needs to be wagered 10x.

BetMGM Casino: This casino is available in multiple regulated states. It offers an easy $25 no deposit bonus, plus $1,000 matched to your first deposit. Use bonus code PLAYNJFREE to claim these bonuses. You can clear both by playing roulette. The no deposit bonus has a simple 1x wagering requirement with no weightings for table games. The matched welcome offer has a 15x wagering requirement.

Free roulette vs. real money roulette

You can enjoy roulette for free online. This can be to learn the rules or practice different betting strategies — or simply for entertainment. When you switch over to real money roulette, the spin of the wheel gets a whole lot more exciting. Even at the smallest stakes, having some real money on the line adds interest to your spins.

Advantages of free roulette games:

  • Play a casino classic without risking any money.
  • Try out different combinations of bets.
  • Try out different roulette betting strategies.
  • Find out which roulette variation works best for you.

Advantages of real money roulette games:

  • The chance to win big adds excitement to your spins.
  • Clear casino bonuses while you play.
  • Enjoy live dealer roulette variations online.
  • Take part in promotions and receive loyalty rewards.

Choosing the right online roulette game

Not all roulette games have the same odds. In fact, the house edge of one game can be nearly twice as high as one that looks almost the same.

The difference is in the number of green segments on the wheel. These are the zero and double-zero slots. With a single zero, the game has a house edge of 2.7%; add one more and this shoots up to 5.26%. You will find these marked as European (single zero) and US (double zero) at many casinos. When it comes to the odds, it is always better to choose the European wheel.

You will also find French roulette at some online casinos. This variation uses a European single zero wheel and features an extra benefit. Any time the ball lands in the zero slot, you get a 50% return of stakes placed on 50/50 outcomes. The effect on the house edge depends on what percentage of your bets are on outside chances compared to single numbers and combinations. If you bet only on the 50/50 chances, then the house edge is a tiny 1.35%.

Casino apps with roulette

Online casinos let you access their games via apps or websites. The web-based versions will respond automatically to your screen size, allowing for mobile play. If an app is available, you can be sure that the roulette games on it have been optimized for smaller screens.

Before you install a mobile casino app, you need to make sure you are getting the best available bonus. You can do this by following our links to the regulated casinos — and following the app installation instructions from there.

If you are using an iPhone or an iPad, the casino will direct you to the Apple App Store to complete your download. For Android roulette players, you will need to install the app from the casino website. Google does not yet allow real money roulette apps in its store — even though such apps are fully legal in regulated states. Downloading from the casino is safe and easy. You will need to accept the download from an “unknown source” to complete the process.

Apps allow you to claim your bonus, deposit real money and enjoy a range of games in addition to roulette. You will find that slots, blackjack and video poker are popular options.

If you are not in a state with regulated online casinos, then sweepstakes casino apps are a legal alternative. These turn casino games into mini-sweepstakes contests. They remain legal by offering free games and giving you “free” sweepstakes entries (chips for the real casino options) when you make purchases of the play-money chips.

Legal online casinos with roulette

It is now legal to enjoy online casinos in multiple states. There are regulated brands already operating in a number of states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In these regulated states, online casino and sports betting giants have partnered with local brick and mortar casinos. They have produced mobile casino apps and websites that use geolocation to work only within state lines.

In turn, the casino brands curate a list of games from software houses like IGT and NetEnt. These include multiple roulette options. Bigger brands set up studios in live casinos. This allows them to provide live dealer casino games.

Roulette

Below is an overview of the roulette options at online casinos in three of the regulated states.

NJ roulette sites

  • Golden Nugget Casino: You will find the roulette options under the table games tab in the lobby. Live dealer tables and software-based options are available. You’ll find European and French roulette games and advanced (racetrack betting) roulette. Novelty titles include bonus spin roulette, 100-to-1 roulette and three-wheel roulette.
  • Caesars Casino: This casino has a separate roulette tab in the lobby, revealing nine options. One takes you to the live dealer lobby. The others are 100-to-1 roulette, three-wheel roulette, French roulette, Double Bonus Spin roulette and a selection of US and European wheels.
  • Virgin Casino: You’ll find a small selection of table games at Virgin Casino. You can win community jackpots on any game. Options include American, European and French roulette. This casino does not have a live dealer option.

PA roulette sites

  • BetMGM Casino:MGM partnered with Hollywood Casino in Pennsylvania. The online casino features multiple roulette variations, including black and yellow roulette and European roulette pro as well as the regular US- and European-style wheels. Advanced roulette includes the racetrack betting options, and French roulette has the best odds.
  • DraftKings Casino: You will find lessons on how to bet on roulette games at this casino. DraftKings has novelty games that include basketball roulette and spooky roulette, which has a Halloween theme. You will also find live dealer roulette options at this casino.
  • Unibet Casino: You will find a live dealer room at Unibet Casino, featuring games dealt in real time while you bet through your desktop or mobile device. It has exclusive Diamond Series software-based games, EU roulette, French roulette and advanced roulette options to choose from.

WV roulette sites

  • BetMGM Casino: If you check the roulette tab at BetMGM in West Virginia, only four games appear. There is one more — the Irish themed Luck o’ the Roulette — under the table games tab. Your regular options are black and yellow roulette, plus American and European wheels. There is no live dealer option at this casino in WV.
  • DraftKings Casino: With free casino credits up to $35, there are more reasons than just the roulette games to check out DraftKings in WV. You can enjoy a selection that includes European and US wheels, plus the sport-themed basketball roulette, spooky roulette and other novel variations.

MI roulette sites

  • BetMGM Casino: The table games tab on BetMGM Michigan is nicely separated into rows of different game types, so it’s easy to see that there are four different roulette games that are available. Naturally, BetMGM offers both American and European-style roulette wheel variants. There are also the Black & Yellow and Luck o’ the Roulette options.
  • FanDuel Casino: FanDuel Casino is a tab from the site’s sportsbook, and, in turn, roulette has its own tab in the casino. Although it seems likely that FanDuel will add to the selection in the near future, there are two American roulette options and a European roulette option from which to choose.
  • Golden Nugget Casino: Golden Nugget Casino has one of the finest online casino sites in the land. For roulette players, there are all of the standard options that you’d expect. There is also a 100/1 game which pays out 100-1 on single number hits. Finally, Golden Nugget is almost certain to have a live dealer roulette game before too long.

How do sweepstakes casinos work?

Sweepstakes contests are legal in nearly every state, often taking the form of marketing promotions like draws and contests. Casinos have been using these laws to offer slots and table games since 2016.

To stay legal, sweepstakes casino bands like Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Funzpoints can’t sell you chips to gamble with. Instead, they give you them for free — when you buy a different currency that you use for play-money gaming.

You then use the “free” redeemable currency to play games — which are treated as fast sweepstakes contests. If you win while playing with the redeemable currency, you can swap your winnings for real cash prizes and legally withdraw the money to your bank account.

There are big jackpots to be won — though the selection of table games is more limited.

What to look for in an online roulette casino

When you choose an online casino, there are many factors besides the bonus deals to compare. They include the types of games, which ones are available on your phone, whether the casino has live dealer options and the legal status of each brand.

This list expands on some of those key factors to consider:

  • Roulette variations available: Most casinos will have a US wheel and a European wheel. The variations expand rapidly from there. You can find French roulette, multi-wheel games, mini-wheels design for smartphones, roulette games with progressive jackpots, multiplayer games and live dealer options. The quality of graphics will also vary between games, with some having 3D effects and realistic betting surfaces.
  • Bonuses and promotions: Casinos in regulated states often use free play bonuses to attract new players. You should also compare welcome (deposit) bonuses, promotions and loyalty programs. The best casinos work hard to keep loyal players well rewarded. If your current casino does not offer regular promotions, it is time to switch.
  • Mobile games/apps: For the best experience on your smartphone, you should download a casino app. There are big differences in the number of roulette games available on these apps compared to the options on the desktop/browser casino sites. You also can try out responsive browser casinos on your phone; many will work perfectly after automatically adjusting to your screen size.
  • Live dealer roulette: Casino table games that are dealt in real time are massively popular. They have a social element (via text) and are visibly fair. Some of the biggest brands in regulated states have set up live dealer studios. Smaller casino brands may not have this option.
  • Legal and regulated: While many people choose to gamble at offshore casinos, you get zero protection in the (all too frequent) event that your money or bonus disappears. This gives regulated/legal casinos a huge edge. You will know your money is safe and that you have a way to complain if you feel you have been treated unfairly.
  • Customer support: It is worth checking the reputation of any online roulette site for support before you play. Casinos offer telephone support, instant chat options and email. Friendly and helpful staff to assist with deposits, questions and withdrawals can make the difference between a good casino and a great one.

Live dealer roulette online

You can now re-create the feeling of playing roulette in a brick and mortar casino online. Live dealer casino games are hugely popular. They work by streaming a view of a real roulette table in real time to casino websites and apps. You can verify that the action is live by interacting with the croupier and other players via text chat. Dealers will reply verbally, as they are busy spinning the ball or dealing cards.

A key factor for live dealer roulette is that the games are timed. You bet by dragging and dropping chips onto an overlay of the roulette betting surface. When “no more bets” is called, the ball is spun and winning bets are automatically settled. You can “rebet” or switch numbers each time. If you miss the deadline, the ball spins without your wagers.

Free Roulette

In addition to games with a dealer, live dealer casinos often feature auto-roulette. This is a real physical wheel that spins automatically at set intervals.

Roulette odds: the truth in numbers

Roulette has an inherent house advantage of 5.26%. This means that if one bets $100 anywhere on the felt, the player’s expected return is $94.74.

Hold percentage is naturally higher than house advantage. This is because players do not have the bankroll or time to beat the casino in the long run.

Roulette Casino Game Free Play

Furthermore, roulette affords opportunities to win many multiples of one’s wager, like three, eight, or up to 35 times players’ initial wager. But players can also lose those profits quickly. While other table games have specific wagers manufactured within them that are (in terms of expected value) worse for the player, roulette is generally known by the gambling community to be one of the less friendly games to gambling bankrolls.

A very key point is that every possible wager is equally disadvantageous to the player. A $10 bet on 00 or RED or EVEN would carry the same negative expected value of -$0.526 (fifty-two point six cents).

The house edge on roulette

Before jumping into the concepts of the gambler’s fallacy, independent events, and mutual exclusivity, it helps to establish a clear thesis that the only way to (legally) affect the casino’s advantage is to play only old-fashioned European Roulette. (It has only one green zero on the felt.)

A fair motto might be the fewer zeros, the better. The standard roulette wheel today, sometimes differentiated as American Roulette, features a zero and double zero. If there are 38 numbers on the felt, but a wager on exactly the correct number pays 35-1, the casino has a 5.26% house advantage on the game.

It’s a little simple math — don’t be alarmed:

  • Odds of 35-1 means there are 36 total parts.
  • 36/38 = .9474
  • 1 – .9474 = .0526
  • = 5.26%.

You can see how on a single roulette wheel, the house advantage is 2.7%. On the unfortunate Sands Roulette, it’s 7.7 %. Conclusion: don’t play triple zero roulette.

It’s important for gamblers to understand that each roulette spin is an independent event. That means previous spins do not impact the odds or probability going forward. There are 38 possible outcomes on a typical double zero roulette game. Eighteen are red, 18 black, and two are green.

There is an 18/38, or about a 47.4%, chance the ball will land on a red or black number. What is the probability that the ball will land on a red number if the past 10 spins landed on red? What if the last 12 spins were black? It’s always 47.4 %, independent from any past or future spins.

Wheel bias

This author, his host, and sponsors clearly and absolutely decry any form of cheating. That said, it would be unfair to ignore in a historical context how players have gained an edge by recording wheel bias.

Ultimately, roulette wheels are man-made. While today’s wheels are manufactured with computer precision, in a past era, the most astute gambler may have been able to record and exploit some of the smallest biases in wheel imperfections.

Online roulette FAQ

What is the best online roulette site?

A large element of the “best” site comes down to personal preference. There are some significant factors aside from the software, games and deposit options that separate online casinos. Bonuses (including ongoing promotions) can be a big factor, alongside the app and service. A popular pick in multiple regulated states is DraftKings Casino. This brand has multiple roulette options like live dealer games, basketball roulette and pro wheels with enhanced graphics.

Which online roulette game has the best odds?

If you can find a site with French roulette, this should be your go-to game. This variant uses a European wheel with a single green zero. If you hit that zero, then you get half of your stake back for any 50% (black/red or odd/even). Some variants of French roulette keep your bet in place for another spin instead. The odds of online roulette are as follows:

  • American wheel (double zero): 5.26%
  • European wheel (single zero): 2.7%
  • French roulette: 1.35% (for 50/50 bets only) otherwise 2.7%

Some live casinos are now introducing games with a “triple zero.” This offers terrible odds and should be avoided whenever possible.

Can you make money playing roulette online?

Many systems claim to be able to beat roulette games. They use progressive betting, often alongside complex patterns. While these can reduce variance in the short-term, they cannot beat the house edge over time. Casinos would not offer a game that was beatable.

You can enjoy bonus money and promotions while playing roulette, which can put the odds of winning in your favor for a while. Over time, the house edge is baked into this game. Play for entertainment and enjoy the wins whenever they come.

Is online roulette rigged?

A great reason to stick to the regulated/legal casinos is that you can be sure that the outcome of wheel spins is fair. This is controlled by random number generator software — which is regularly audited as part of the licensing requirement in all states with legal gambling.

Games like roulette are tested over millions of spins to ensure that the outcome is random.