How To Play Online Roulette

Roulette may look complicated, but this popular table game draws a crowd in every casino, and its straightforward rules are easy to learn. The primary goal is to pick where a small white ball will land after it’s sent rolling into a spinning colored and numbered wheel. The slots on the wheel where the ball might land are called pockets. They’re numbered 1-36 and can be either black or red. Plus, there’s a green zero and possibly a green double zero pocket. You can bet on any one of these possibilities and combinations of them. You’ll get paid up to 35:1 odds on your bet if you get it right.

Every legal and licensed online casino in the country hosts several online versions of roulette. Online roulette trades the physical ball and wheel for a random number generator that decides the outcome of each spin and a graphic interface that mimics the wheel and ball action, but the game is the same. Here’s a complete guide on how to play online roulette.

Basic roulette rules

The roulette basics are outlined above, but there’s a little more to this game. Here are the main rules in more detail.

A small white ball is sent rolling into a spinning colored and numbered wheel, and you bet on where it will eventually land.
Where the ball might land include pockets numbered 1-36. Half of these pockets are colored black, and the other half are red. Plus, there is a green-colored zero pocket. American Roulette wheels also have a green-colored double zero pocket.
Online roulette uses a random number generator to determine the outcome of each spin and a graphic interface that displays the action of the rolling ball and spinning wheel.
All your betting options are laid out on a table beside the wheel.
“Inside” bets are on specific numbers from 00 and 0 to 36.
Straight up inside bets are bets on one number. This bet pays 35:1.
Split inside bets are on two numbers at the same time. You straddle the line between the numbers with your bet. These bets pay 17:1.
Street inside bets are on three numbers at the same time. You place your bet at the end of the street, or a group of three numbers, listed on the table. These bets pay 11:1.
Corner inside bets are on four numbers at the same time. You straddle the lines between all four numbers with your bet. These bets pay 8:1.
Six-line inside bets are on six numbers at the same time. You straddle the line between streets, or groups of three numbers, with your bet. These bets pay 5:1.
“Outside” bets are not on specific numbers but on groups of numbers.
Outside bets on even/odd, high(19-36)/low (1-18), and red/black pay 1:1.
Outside column bets on listed groups of 12 numbers pay 2:1.
Outside dozen bets on 1st 12, 2nd 12, or 3rd 12 pay 2:1.
Every roulette table lists minimum inside bets and minimum outside bets.
The dealer will clear the table and pay out all winners after each spin before betting on the next spin begins. Most of this happens instantly online.
The next spin starts shortly after betting starts, and once the ball is rolled, the dealer will close the betting. Online, the next spin begins when you’re ready.

You’ll also find roulette basics explained in the video below, produced by Caesars Entertainment, the company behind Caesars Casino & Sportsbook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNqs17-cIm4

Glossary of roulette terms

It might seem like roulette has its own language. However, you can quickly learn to speak it using this glossary of roulette terms.

American Roulette: Roulette with a zero and a double-zero.
European Roulette: Roulette with just a single zero.
House Edge: The casino’s advantage, expressed as a percentage of how much players put into the game that the casino will ultimately keep. European Roulette has a house edge of 2.70%, but it’s 5.26% for American Roulette.
Pockets: The spots on the wheel where the ball might land.
Marker: The small device the dealer uses to indicate the winning number on the betting table.
Inside Bets: Bets on specific numbers or small groups of numbers.
Outside Bets: Bets on groups of numbers.
Straight Up: Bets on one number paying 35:1.
Split: Bets on two numbers paying 17:1.
Street: Row of three numbers on the betting table. Street bets pay 11:1.
6-line Bet: Bet on two streets paying 5:1.
Corner Bet: Bets on four numbers paying 8:1.
Column Bet: Bet on a group of 12 numbers paying 2:1.
Dozen Bet: Bet on 1st 12, 2nd 12, or 3rd 12 groups paying 2:1.
La Partage: A French Roulette rule whereby you only lose half your bet on even/odd, high/low, or red/black wagers if zero hits.

Best online casinos for roulette

Here’s a look at the best legal online casinos in the US when it comes to roulette and what they have to offer:

BetMGM Casino

BetMGM Casino has a huge collection of roulette games, covering the classics and much more. The list includes:

BetMGM Roulette Pro
NHL Roulette
76ers Roulette
NY Jets Roulette
American Roulette
First Person Lightning Roulette
Space Invaders Roulette
First Person American Roulette
Black & Yellow Roulette
25c Roulette
Blazing 7s Roulette
Double Bonus Spin Roulette
Lightning Auto Roulette
Lightning American Roulette
European Roulette Classic
101 Roulette
100/1 Roulette
Luck O’ The Roulette
European Roulette Pro

DraftKings Casino

DraftKings Casino has more than a dozen roulette games, many exclusive to the online casino. The list includes:

DraftKings American Roulette
DraftKings Basketball Roulette
DraftKings European Roulette
DraftKings March Mania Roulette
DraftKings Touchdown Roulette
DraftKings VeeFriends Roulette
100/1 Roulette
Blazing 7s Roulette
Double Ball Roulette
Double Bonus Spin Roulette
First Person Lightning Roulette
First Person Roulette
Monopoly Big Spin
Real Roulette with Sarati
Roulette 6
Roulette!
Space Invaders Roulette
Online Roulette with DraftKings Casino

FanDuel Casino

FanDuel offers roulette variants that cover all the classic and live dealer options. Roulette on this platform includes:

FanDuel Live Dealer American Roulette
American Roulette
European Roulette
French Roulette
Roulette Advanced
Platinum Roulette (Single Zero)
Blazing 7s Roulette
Double Bonus Spin Roulette
First Person American Roulette
First Person Lightning Roulette
First Person Roulette
Live Dealer Roulette
Live Dealer Slingshot Roulette
Live Dealer Lightning Roulette
Live Dealer Lightning Auto Roulette
Live Dealer Roulette

BetRivers

BetRivers doesn’t have the most extensive list of roulette games, but there’s more than just the classics here. The list includes:

Live Roulette
American Roulette
French Roulette
European Roulette
Lightning Roulette
First Person Lightning Roulette
First Person Roulette
Roulette!
Platinum Roulette
Platinum Roulette (Single Zero)

Caesars Casino & Sportsbook

Caesars Casino has among the smallest lists of roulette games online. However, the classics are covered, and there are choices. The list includes:

American Roulette
European Roulette
Live Auto Roulette
Roulette Touch
Advanced Roulette

How to play roulette online

If you want to play roulette online, you must sign up for an account with a state-licensed online casino, deposit into that account, and pick a roulette game to play.

Registering for an account takes just a few minutes. You give the casino personal and account details, like your name, email, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Add any online casino bonus or promo code listed on this page to get your best bonus and accept all terms and conditions. After that, the online casino will verify your identity and location and open the account.

Once you’re verified, you can deposit money into your account using whatever banking method option works best for you. You should have a choice, including debit and credit cards, online banking, and other online payment providers.

Once verified and fully funded, click the ‘Roulette’ or ‘Table Games’ tab on the online casino’s website or app. You’ll find all its roulette games listed there. There will be info on how each game is played, and you can start them up with a click.

How to play different roulette variants

As you can see on the lists above, several roulette variants are available at licensed online casinos across the country. Most of the rule changes are minor. Here are some of the most popular roulette games online and the critical differences between them:

American Roulette: Traditional electronic roulette with a zero and double zero pocket and a 5.26% house edge.
European Roulette: Traditional electronic roulette with just a single zero pocket and a 2.7% house edge.
French Roulette: European Roulette with the ‘La Partage’ rule, giving you half your even-odds bet back if zero hits.
Roulette!: Traditional European Roulette.
Live Dealer Roulette: Live American Roulette, unless otherwise specified, broadcast on the internet, with online betting.
Double Ball Roulette: Two balls means two winning numbers every spin.
Double Bonus Spin Roulette: American Roulette with two more ways to win when the double bonus spin is triggered. This reduces the house edge to 1.936%, but only when the double bonus spin is initiated.
Advanced Roulette: European Roulette with more unique betting options.
Lightning Roulette: Roulette where five numbers are randomly struck by lightning and given increased odds between 50:1 and 500:1.