Roulette Guide: how to play and best sites in 2025!

Roulette is one of the most popular table tables. This includes live and online casinos. Both types of casinos offer a variety of roulette options.

All online casinos deal roulette. It comes in numerous versions. The most common is video. Many casino sites deal American and European Roulette games in the video section.

American Roulette has two zeros. European Roulette only has one zero. In some cases, French Roulette is also available, which plays like the European version with some additional bets and rules.

Live dealer is another variant of the game. It usually only comes in the American Roulette version. The European one is rare at live dealer games. The best online casinos for roulette offer the live dealer European version.

Advantages of Playing Roulette Online Over Live Games

There are several reasons why players choose online roulette over the one dealt at live casinos. The minimum bet at online casinos is much lower than at live ones. It is never higher than $1 at casino sites. Some deal it for only a dime. The common minimum bet for live games is $5, $10, $15, or $25 depending on the market.

Online casinos often deal European Roulette. This is a single-zero game. All deal American Roulette, which has two zeros. The minimum bet is usually the same and never above $1. The house edge of European Roulette is almost half that of the American version.

Live casinos rarely deal single zero roulette. If it is available, the minimum bet is usually at least $50, if not $100.

Many casinos in Maryland, Nevada, and Ohio have triple zero roulette. This game has a 7.69% house edge. That is 2.43% higher than double zero and 4.99% higher than single zero. That is brutal on the bankroll. This game does not exist at online casino sites. All roulette online has one or two zeros.

Another benefit of playing roulette online is the convenience. You can play from the comfort of your own home. There is no need to drive or fly to the closest casino. You do not need to worry about how crowded or smoky the casino is. Your game is always there. Deposits are electronic and instant.

Online roulette is much faster than the live version of the game. You can play it at your own pace. If you want a slower game, you can turn animations on and make the spins suspenseful.

Bets may be placed manually before every spin. If you prefer a quick game, turn animations off and use the rebet button. This will allow you to play dozens of spins a minute. Live roulette tables only deal about 40 hands an hour.

Five of the Best Online Casinos for Roulette

All online casinos deal roulette. The best ones have multiple types of games, bonuses, and live dealer options. Professional Rakeback recommends these five best online casinos for roulette. Live dealer games do not count toward the wagering requirement at online casinos.

1

BETONLINE

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.7 / 5

RELIABLE OPTION FOR ONLINE ROULETTE

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG, BETSOFT

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

VARIES

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

BetOnline offers 31 different ways to play online roulette. This includes European single zero, which cuts the house advantage in half from its American counterpart. European Roulette is available in video and video formats. Roulette is a permitted bonus game at BetOnline and contributes 20% towards most bonus playthrough requirements. However, the 100% crypto welcome bonus specifically excludes roulette, so you will not be able to clear the welcome bonus by playing roulette at all.

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2

IGNITION CASINO

BONUS:

150% up to $1,500

★★★★★

4.6 / 5

LONGSTANDING CASINO OPERATOR FEATURING ROULETTE

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

VARIES

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

There are 15 different ways to play online roulette at Ignition Casino. This includes single zero roulette. The minimum bet for live dealer and single zero games is just $1. Three bonuses are available for new players. The wagering requirement for roulette requires $833 to release every $1 of bonus funds.

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3

BOVADA CASINO

BONUS:

125% up to $1,250

★★★★★

4.5 / 5

LONGSTANDING OPERATOR FEATURING ROULETTE

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

100% up to $1,000

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Bovada offers a dozen ways to play online roulette. American and European versions are available, Bovada is one of the few casino sites that has $1 live dealer roulette. This includes the European version with only one zero. You won’t find that at your favorite live casino. The roulette bonus requires $900 to clear every $1 of bonus funds.

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4

WILD CASINO

BONUS:

300% up to $3,000

★★★★★

4.5 / 5

REPUTABLE ROULETTE PROVIDER WITH FAST WITHDRAWALS

SOFTWARE:

BETSOFT, NUCLEUS, BGAMING

GAMES

300+

RELOADS

VARIES

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Wild Casino has over 30 video and live dealer roulette titles. That includes games with side bets and European single zero ones. However, its roulette bonus is not as competitive as the other sites mentioned. You'll be required to wager $1,200 with the crypto welcome bonus to release $1 in bonus funds.

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5

CAFE CASINO

BONUS:

350% up to $5,000

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

TRUSTED OPTION WITH FRENCH ROULETTE

SOFTWARE:

RIVAL, RTG, BGAMING

GAMES

290+

RELOADS

VARIES, CRYPTO EXCLUSIVE

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Cafe Casino is one of the few online casinos with French Roulette. This is like the game dealt in high-limit salons in Las Vegas. La partage is available. This means that even money bets receive half back when the pill lands in the zero pocket. Racetrack bets like neighbours are also offered by Cafe Casino, which has a 350% up to $5,000 bonus. You'll need to wager approximately $1,028 to release $1 of bonus funds using the crypto exclusive bonus. If you decide to use the non-crypto bonus, it will require $1,120 to release $1 in bonus funds.

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What is Roulette?

Roulette is a table game of chance. There is no skill involved in the game. Some casinos may want players to think otherwise by providing boards that show previous spins and hot and cold numbers. However, the pill and wheel have no memory. Past results do not affect future ones.

A roulette table has the numbers 1 to 36 on it. There are one, two, or three zeros. Online casinos only have one or two zeros. The third one is found in some Baltimore, Cleveland, and Las Vegas gambling halls.

There is a felt where all bets go. There is one for every number on the wheel. There are also outside bets.

History of Roulette

Blaise Pascal was the likely inventor of the game that later became roulette. In 1720, the Italian game Biribi was combined with a mechanical wheel Pascal may have brought to life. The first known roulette game was in France in 1796. That wheel had two pockets for the house, now known as zero and double zero.

In the 1800s, double zero roulette started in the United States in New Orleans and on casino boats up the Mississippi River from it. It arrived in Nevada with the legalization of casinos there in 1931. In 1996, Intertops is believed to be the first online casino to deal the game.

How Do You Play Roulette?

Roulette is a simple game. There is no skill involved. The outcome is based purely on luck. The only strategy involves how much variance you want. The higher the payout a bet has, the more variance it creates.

The first step in playing roulette is getting chips. At a live game, drop your cash on the table. The dealer will give you a set of color chips. These may be worth $1, $2, $5, $10, or $25, depending on the table’s minimum bet.

Colors are used to differentiate the bets between players. This avoids confusion. Roulette chips have no use at any other table and may not be cashed in at the cashier cage. Coloring up is required when leaving the table.

At an online casino, chips must be bought in the cashier part of the software. An account must be created for this. This requires your name, email address, and other personal information. Once your account is open, click the deposit button on the cashier. Choose your preferred method. The options are usually crypto, credit cards, and debit cards.

Once your account is funded, it is time to play online roulette. Pick your preferred roulette game from the menu. Options include video and live dealer ones. Players will see games like European Roulette (single zero), French Roulette (single zero with la partage), and American Roulette (double zero). If the single zero versions are available, players should choose those over American Roulette due to the lower house advantage.

Online Video Roulette

Once you open the virtual roulette table, choose the denomination of chips you want to use. Next, click the part of the felt where you want to place wagers the number of times required to meet your preferred bet. Multiple bets may be placed on one spin. The minimum bet is usually $1.

When you are ready, click the spin button. The ball, also known as the pill, spins until it drops into a pocket. If you want to play faster, turn the animation off. This will show the results instantly.

When the spin ends, winning bets are paid automatically by the software. Losing ones are collected.

Players may leave the table by clicking the exit button or closing the window. To play a new hand with the same wagers, click the rebet button. Players may also place new chips manually on the table. Winning ones from the previous spin are usually left on the felt, but this varies from one casino site to another.

Online video roulette is a heads-up game. There are no other players at the virtual table.

Live Dealer Roulette

Most online casinos also have live dealer options. These play differently than the video ones. It is perfect for players looking to duplicate a casino experience. Live dealer roulette games play like stadium ones found in major casinos.

The buy-in and placing of bets are the same. However, there is a real dealer and roulette wheel with a pill. The video version of online roulette only has one player at the table. Live dealer ones have many.

This means players cannot control the speed of the game. A clock ticks down to let players know how much time is left to place bets. When it hits zero, bets are closed.

The software pays winners and removes losing bets from the felt. New bets may be placed for a new spin by clicking the felt again or clicking the rebet button.

Roulette Payouts

Below is a list of all the available roulette bets:

• Straight Up: This is a single-number bet that pays 35/1. Place this bet in the box with the number you want.
• Split: This two-number bet pays 17/1. Place the chips on the line between the two numbers you want to hit.
• Street: This three-number bet pays 11/1. This bet is placed on the line between the dozens and the number at the bottom of the street that the player wants to hit.
• Corner: This four-number bet pays 8/1. Place the chips on the line where four numbers touch for this bet.
• Basket: This five-number bet is only available on double zero roulette, known as American Roulette at casino sites. It pays 6/1. Place this bet where the dozens, 0, and 1 come together. This bet has a house advantage of 7.89%, which is much worse than the 5.26% all other double zero roulette games have.
• Six Line: This six-number bet pays 5/1. Place it where the dozens meet the line between two numbers on the player’s side of the felt.
• Columns: This 12-number bet is marked with “2 to 1” on the felt and covers all numbers in the column. There are three column bets.
• Dozens: This 12-number bet pays 2/1. There are three dozens on the felt. The first covers 1-12. The second had 13-24. The 3rd dozen is 25-36.
• Red/Black: This even money bet wins if the color picked is called.
• Odd/Even: This even money bet wins if the correct odd or even number is picked.
• High/Low: Like the colors and odd/even, this bet also pays even money. It wins when 1-18 or 19-36 are picked correctly.

All even money and 2/1 bets lose if the ball lands in a green pocket. These are the wheel’s zeros.

Racetrack Bets

There are six types of racetrack bets on most European and French Roulette tables. This is how each is placed. These bets are called and within the dealer’s reach.

• Voisins du Zero: French for neighbours of zero, Voisins du Zero covers 17 numbers. One is zero. The other 16 are eight on either side of zero. Nine chips are required for this bet. It covers the street of 0, 2, and 3, corners of 25, 26, 28, and 29, and splits of 4/7, 12/15, 18/21, 19/22, and 32/25.
• Jeu zero: French for zero game, Jeu Zero covers seven numbers from 12 to 15 on the wheel. It is a mini version of Voisins du Zero. It is 26 straight with splits of 0/3, 12/15, and 32/35.
• Tiers du Cylindre: This bet translates into one-third of the wheel. This bet is opposite from zero on the wheel, spanning from 27 to 33. It involves six splits of 5/8, 10/11, 13/16, 23/24, 27/30, and 33/36.
• Orphelins: French for orphans, this roulette racetrack bet covers the eight numbers not a part of Voisins du Zero, Jeu Zero, and Tiers du Cylindre. It is 1 straight and splits for 6/9, 14/17, 17/20, and 31/34.
• Neighbours: If a player feels that the pill will land in a certain area of the wheel, neighbours bets allow five numbers to be covered. It is a straight bet on five numbers in a row on the wheel of the player's choosing.
• Final: Final bets refer to the last digit of a number. It is either three or four straight bets of the player’s choosing. For example, if the player calls a five final bet, chips divisible by four must be placed to cover 5, 15, 25, and 35. If the player chooses 7 in a final bet, it is only three chips, which cover 7, 17, and 27.

House Advantage of Common Roulette Bets

There are four types of common roulette games. Three are found online. All four are dealt at live casinos in the U.S. The names are a bit different between casino sites and retail ones.

• Single Zero Roulette/European Roulette/French Roulette: 2.7%
• Double Zero Roulette/American Roulette: 5.26%, except the basket bet, which is 7.89%
• Triple Zero Roulette: 7.69%

The fourth type of roulette game is a variation of single zero roulette. It has the la partage rule. This means that even money bets receive half back when the pill lands in the zero pocket. At Las Vegas casinos, this is called European Roulette. At online casinos, it is French Roulette. European Roulette games at online casinos do not have this rule.

Even-money outside bets (red/black, even/odd, high/low) at tables with the la partage rule have the lowest house advantage of all with just a 1.35% edge for the casino.

Practice & Free Games

One of the best features of online casinos is the ability to play free roulette. Many casinos online do not require players to create an account first. Click the table game part of the software, find the roulette game you want to try and double-click it. This opens the table.

A bankroll of 1,000 free chips is given to most play money accounts. This may be reset by closing the window and reopening it. This amount occasionally varies depending on the casino, but 1,000 chips is the most common amount by far.

Practice play American Roulette at Bovada

Free online roulette is perfect for players wanting to learn the game or try betting strategies. For players looking for an online casino, it allows them to try out the software before making a deposit. Those who want to track outcomes may create an account. This saves the balance between free casino sessions.

Roulette Bankroll Strategy

The roulette bankroll strategy depends on the types of bets you want to make. Outside bets work with a minimum bankroll of 50 units total and 10 for a session. The inside bets have more variance and require a large bankroll to survive the swings related to variance.

Corner and Six Line bets work with a 300-unit total bankroll and 60 for a session. The bets with higher variance require four or five times that amount. It is possible for straight bets to lose 100 times in a row before hitting, even if the math says it should happen every 37, 38, or 39 times, depending on the number of zeros.

Online Roulette Promotions

Roulette created a bonus abuse problem in the early days of online casinos. Players would find lucrative offers and place chips on both sides of the even-money bets or cover most or all the numbers on the table. This made casino site operators cautious about offering bonuses and other promotions to roulette players.

Some online casinos do not permit roulette when playing with a bonus. If it is available, the wagering requirement is 10 or 20 times slots. This makes roulette a poor choice for online casino bonuses. There are games with lower house advantages with the same or lower wagering requirement.

Mobile Apps

Online roulette may be played on any computer. Some players prefer to play it on the go. Major online casinos offer mobile apps. These are available on iOS and Android platforms.

Most games are available. This includes slots, video poker, and table games like online roulette. The minimum bets and odds are the same as the computer platforms. Some games may be unavailable, including specialty and live dealer ones.

Roulette Variants

There are many roulette variants. These range from the ways the game is dealt to the number of balls or zeros used.

Video Roulette

Video roulette is the most common form of the game online. Live casinos also deal the game. It involves a digital betting screen, chips, a wheel, and a pill. Video roulette is a heads-up game at online casinos. At live casinos, it may be heads-up or multiplayer. Video roulette is usually double zero. However, there are some single zero versions of it. Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has video triple zero roulette.

The minimum bet for video roulette is usually $1. It may be as low as a dime or quarter online and as high as $5 at Las Vegas Strip casinos.

Electronic Roulette

Many live casinos offer a form of electronic roulette with a real roulette wheel. In these games, all wagers are placed electronically on a video screen. Usually, there are a few individual kiosks for each player to sit at surrounding one enclosed roulette wheel.

An electronic roulette game in Nevada

Although the wagers are placed on a screen, the roulette wheel in play is almost identical to a live table version of roulette. Of course, there is no croupier, so the pill is automatically spun for each round of play.

Live Dealer Roulette

Live dealer roulette is another popular way to play the game online. It involves a real dealer and a wheel. Bets are made on screens with virtual chips. Live dealer games are multiplayer. These resemble live stadium games dealt in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Maryland, Rhode Island, and West Virginia casinos.

Live dealer roulette at Bovada

American Roulette

American Roulette is the most popular version of the game. It is another name for double zero roulette. The American name is used at online casinos. At live casinos, it is simply double zero roulette.

In Atlantic City, these tables have la partage. This returns half of even money bets when the pill lands in the zero pocket.

The minimum bet for American Roulette starts at $2 and may be as high as $25 on the Las Vegas Strip. At online casinos, limits start at a dime, quarter, or dollar for the video version and $1 or $5 for the live dealer one.

European Roulette

European Roulette means different things between live and online casinos. Both tables only have one zero and offer racetrack bets like neighbours.

At Las Vegas casinos, Europan Roulette has the half-back la partage rule. Online European games do not have this feature. European Roulette usually starts at $1 online and $100 in Las Vegas.

French Roulette

French Roulette is what Las Vegas European Roulette is called online. It has la partage, meaning half the chips from an even-money bet are returned when the pill lands in the zero pocket. This game is rare and only available at a handful of casino sites. The minimum bet is usually $1 but may be slightly higher at some sites.

Double Ball Roulette

Double Ball Roulette is available at a few online casinos. It uses two balls. Outside bets require both balls to land in qualifying pockets to win. Inside bets only need one ball to land on the number. The win doubles if both balls land in qualifying pockets.

Triple Zero Roulette

Triple zero roulette is only found at live casinos. It is common in Las Vegas. Some regional markets in Maryland and Ohio have the game. There are three zeros on the wheel. The minimum bet is usually $10 or $15.

Triple zero roulette table in Las Vegas

La Partage and En Prison

La partage is available in live European Roulette tables in Las Vegas, double zero roulette in Atlantic City, and French Roulette online. In the early days of roulette, en prison was used. If the pill landed on zero, the even money bets on the table would go into an area held by the house. The wager would be placed again on the same result.

If it won on the next spin, it was restored to the player. If the next spin was a loser for the en prison bet, the house removed it from action and added it to its bank.

La partage speeds the action. The croupier or dealer does not need to track the even money bets when zero is called. The house takes half the wager and a new spin begins.

The house advantage is the same for en prison and la partage, assuming the player makes the same bet on a future spin. Using la partage over en prison increases the dealer’s efficiency and allows the casino to have more spins per hour.

Summary

Roulette is a game of luck. The only skill is knowing what types of bets to make that work with your risk tolerance. The higher the payout a bet has, the higher the variance.

The house edge for every bet on the table is the same with two exceptions. The basket bet at double roulette is higher than all other bets. At online French and live European games, la partage cuts the house advantage on the even money bets in half.

Roulette has one of the highest house advantages of all table games. There are better options at every casino that offers it. If roulette is your preferred game, Professional Rakeback recommends only playing at single zero tables.

Roulette FAQs

We have tried our best to cover all of the most important aspects of roulette, but of course, we cannot possibly cover everything in this article. If you have any unanswered questions regarding roulette, please feel free to consult our frequently asked questions section below.