What Is Online Roulette?
Roulette is one of the oldest and most iconic casino games, and its online version faithfully recreates the experience. A ball spins around a numbered wheel, and you bet on where it will land. It's pure chance with no skill element, but understanding the different bet types and variants helps you make smarter choices.
European vs American Roulette
This is the single most important decision you'll make when playing roulette online.
| Feature | European | American |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 0-36 (37 pockets) | 0-36 plus 00 (38 pockets) |
| House Edge | 2.7% | 5.26% |
| Your Edge | Better | Worse |
The extra zero on the American wheel nearly doubles the house edge. There is no strategic reason to play American roulette when European is available. Always choose European.
French Roulette: The Best Option
French roulette uses the European wheel but adds the La Partage rule: if you place an even-money bet and the ball lands on zero, you get half your stake back. This reduces the house edge on even-money bets to just 1.35%, making it the best roulette variant for players.
Bet Types Explained
Inside Bets (Higher Risk, Higher Reward)
- Straight Up - Bet on a single number. Pays 35:1
- Split - Bet on two adjacent numbers. Pays 17:1
- Street - Bet on a row of three numbers. Pays 11:1
- Corner - Bet on four numbers. Pays 8:1
- Six Line - Bet on two rows (six numbers). Pays 5:1
Outside Bets (Lower Risk, Lower Reward)
- Red/Black - Bet on colour. Pays 1:1
- Odd/Even - Bet on odd or even numbers. Pays 1:1
- High/Low - Bet on 1-18 or 19-36. Pays 1:1
- Dozens - Bet on 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. Pays 2:1
- Columns - Bet on a column of 12 numbers. Pays 2:1
Every bet type has the same house edge (2.7% on European roulette), so the choice is about your risk appetite, not mathematical advantage.
Live Roulette
Live roulette has become hugely popular, with real dealers spinning real wheels streamed in HD. Evolution Gaming dominates the live roulette market with several innovative variants.
Popular Live Variants
Lightning Roulette is the standout. Before each spin, 1-5 numbers receive random multipliers of 50x, 100x, 200x, 300x, or 500x. Straight-up bets on these numbers pay the boosted amount. The trade-off is that standard straight-up bets pay 29:1 instead of 35:1.
Immersive Roulette uses multiple camera angles and slow-motion replays for a cinematic experience, while Auto Roulette offers faster spins without a live dealer.
Common Roulette Myths
"The Martingale System Works"
The Martingale (doubling your bet after each loss) doesn't overcome the house edge. It increases the size of your losses when a losing streak hits, and table limits prevent unlimited doubling. No betting system changes the mathematical reality of roulette.
"Numbers That Haven't Come Up Are Due"
Each spin is independent. The ball has no memory. A number that hasn't appeared in 100 spins is no more likely to appear on spin 101.
"Dealers Can Control Where the Ball Lands"
In live roulette, dealer signature theory suggests patterns exist, but modern wheels are designed to be as random as possible. In RNG roulette, results are completely random.
Tips for UK Players
- Play European or French roulette exclusively; never American
- Start with outside bets (red/black, odd/even) to learn the game with lower variance
- Set a session budget and treat roulette as entertainment, not a money-making strategy
- Try live roulette for the most engaging experience, but be aware of higher minimum bets
- Avoid "guaranteed winning systems" sold online; they don't work
Responsible Play
Roulette's fast pace and near-miss excitement can make it particularly engaging. Set strict time and money limits. If you find yourself chasing losses or increasing bets to recover, stop and review our responsible gambling guide.
