Roulette is one of the oldest casino games, which dates back to the 1700s but is still very popular today. It gained such a good reputation thanks to its fast-paced gameplay and simple rules.
So, it’s no wonder most online casinos abound with numerous roulette variants.
Even though there are plenty of virtual versions of roulette, online live roulette games seem to be attracting a greater number of gamblers. If you’re a player who prefers the land-based-style roulette gaming experience and you’re looking to improve gambling skills, stay with us.
This article tackles roulette rules, bets, strategies, and variants to help you beat your opponents.
Roulette Gameplay
The first step toward winning is knowing the game and its rules inside out. There’s no point in trying to build on your knowledge of roulette strategies if you don’t have the fundamentals down.
So, let’s start there and go over all the details step by step.
A game of roulette involves a board, a wheel with colored and numbered slots, and a small marble ball. The slots are marked with numbers from 1 to 36 and one or two 0s, depending on the variant you’re playing. You’ll immediately notice the zero slots since they are green, while all the other numbers are red and black.
The game starts with a betting session. The players are supposed to predict where the marble ball will land on the spinning wheel and bet accordingly.
There are two main types of bets that you can place in a game of roulette — inside and outside bets, which are named based on their placement on the roulette board. The former is the number, and the latter is all the other bets on the board.
Roulette Bet Types
You can make the following inside bets in roulette:
- Single number (Straight bet)
- Two adjacent numbers (Split bet)
- Three numbers in a vertical line (Street bet)
- Four adjacent numbers (Corner bet)
- Two adjacent vertical lines (Double street/Six Line)
- Zero and two adjacent numbers (Trio bet)
- Numbers 0,1,2, and 3 (First Four bet available in European Roulette)
- Numbers 0,00,1,2, and 3 (Basket bet available in American Roulette)
Furthermore, these are the outside bets you can place:
- Numbers 1–18 (Low bet)
- Numbers 19–36 (High Bet)
- All red-colored numbers (Red)
- All black-colored numbers (Black)
- All even numbers (without zero)
- All odd numbers (without zero)
- First, second, or third square of 12 numbers (Dozens bet)
- One of the three columns of 12 numbers (Column bet)
Players wager by placing chips on the roulette table number squares or lines in between them depending on the bet that they’ve chosen.
Use Roulette Betting Strategies
We’ve reached the most critical section, but before we start discussing the strategies, you should know that none of them can guarantee a win. Roulette is a game of luck, after all. However, techniques like these can be pretty handy. You can use them to help you structure your gameplay and increase your chances of winning.
We can divide all roulette strategies into two big groups — progressive and non-progressive. You’ll find popular examples of both of these types below:
Progressive:
Martingale System
You should double your bet every time you lose according to this strategy. The reason behind this is the belief that doubling your next bet would both cover your losses and earn you more cash.
Reverse Martingale System
In contrast to the previous one, this technique implies you should double your bet when you win and lower it when you lose with the aim of decreasing your losses.
Fibonacci Strategy
This strategy involves placing minimum bets on even numbers following the Fibonacci sequence of numbers. Each new number in this sequence is the sum of the previous two. You must increase your wager every time you lose.
Non-Progressive:
Constant Betting Strategy
This is one of the most straightforward systems you can use in roulette. Just choose a bet amount you’re comfortable with and stick to it throughout the game. You’ll have control over how much you’re spending and a chance to earn some extra cash.
All-in Betting Strategy
Here’s an easy-to-understand roulette technique that you’ll like if you’re a risk-taker. You just have to choose a bet and place your whole bankroll on it.
James Bond Method
You might like this one best if you’re an agent 007 fan. All you need to do is place the highest bet on the numbers from 19 to 36, a smaller bet on the numbers from 13 to 18, and the lowest bet on 0. By covering this many numbers, you’ll get a good chance of winning.
Practice Online Roulette for Free
Now that you’re familiar with all the rules, we suggest you try playing the game yourself. One of the many great aspects of online casinos is that some operators allow you to sharpen your gambling skills for free.
While you won’t find a demo version of live dealer roulette, there are plenty of virtual options that can help you get started. Look for an online casino with a good offer of virtual roulette and practice away.
Since you don’t have to worry about the money, you can entirely focus on honing your skills. Take a good look at the roulette wheel and the board. Try out the bets and strategies we’ve discussed above.
- Note: Give yourself enough time to get a good grasp of the game and see what yields the best results.
Different Online Live Roulette Variants and Their Traits
Since we’ve covered the basics and the strategies, let’s move on to different Roulette variants. You’ll encounter many variants of live roulette on your gambling journey. However, European, American, and French roulette are by far the most common ones you’ll come across.
These three types differ in the number of slots their roulette wheel has. Namely, the European and French roulette wheel features only one zero, while the American one has two.
This difference may seem insignificant, but it affects the game on a large scale. Characteristics like these change the house edge and payout percentage of the game. For instance, the single zero slot in French roulette can cut the house advantage to 1.35%, depending on how you bet.
On the other hand, the extra zero in American roulette significantly lowers your odds of winning. This variant has a house edge of 5.26%.
- Note: Payout percentages go hand in hand with the house advantage.
French roulette offers players a 97.3% payout percentage, while in the American version, that number decreases to 94.7%. Therefore, keep in mind that your wallet will likely take a bigger hit if you choose to play the latter.
Additional Useful Tips for Playing Online Live Roulette
There are a few more pieces of advice you might find helpful when playing online live roulette. We suggest you do the following if you’re planning on indulging in this casino classic:
Choose a Reputable Online Casino
Make sure the casino you’re considering has a proper license and good reputation, apart from the games you’d like to play. There are a lot of scammy sites out there that you want to avoid.
Look Into the Games’ Stakes
Check whether the operator has games with a variety of stakes and how low are its minimum and maximum bet limits. It’s better to start small and go up from there.
Think About Your Budget
Decide on a budget before you start. The odds of the game will stay the same whether you’re on a winning or losing streak. So, it’s essential you stick to your budget and not lose more than you can afford.
Interested in testing your luck at a great online casinos? We list the best live roulette sign-up bonuses in this blog post.
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