Learn the bets you can make, both inside and outside the table, so you can start personalizing how you play online roulette. At the very least, know about the 50/50 bets, like black/red, even/odd, and high/low.
Roulette for Beginners: How to Play Roulette Online
For more than two centuries, roulette has been an iconic fixture on casino floors. Now that online casinos are on the scene, online roulette is no less iconic, even in a virtual setting.
However, with fast action, a spinning wheel, and plenty of wagers to make, roulette can feel intimidating to newcomers. No worries – we break down the basics of online roulette so you’re ready to play with confidence. Let’s get started!
Reading a Roulette Table Layout
Before we discuss how to play roulette, we need to talk about the roulette table. The table is where you place your bets. Although selected casinos may have different variants or side bets, these are the bets you can place:
- Individual numbers, from 1 to 36
- Numbers, 1-18 or 19-36
- Even numbers
- Odd numbers
- Black spaces
- Red spaces
- First row of numbers (1-12)
- Second row of numbers (13-24)
- Third row of numbers (25-36)
Payouts on each set of bets vary according to the odds of correctly predicting the ball’s final position. The more margin for error, so to speak, the greater the payout multiplier.
Roulette Betting Terms
Players can elect to bet on multiple individual numbers—up to six—by placing their wagers on or between multiple spaces. Different bets have different names, and it’s good to know them in case someone uses one – especially the dealer.
- A “straight up” bet is on 1 number
- A “split bet” is on two numbers
- A “street bet” is on three numbers
- A “corner bet” is on four numbers.
- A “six-line” bet includes six numbers.
If you have any questions about how to place these bets, feel free to ask the dealer or your chosen online casino’s customer support personnel.
How to read a roulette wheel
We should also talk about how to read the wheel itself. Each pocket on the roulette wheel contains a number and color.
The wheel contains 36 numbered slots, along with at least one space assigned to zero. Aside from the green-shaded zero(es), each number is either colored red or black.
How to play roulette in 3 steps
Now that we’ve talked about the materials of the game, let’s talk about how to play the game of roulette itself. Here are the three basic steps to play the game:
Step 1: Study the board
Step 2: Place your bets
Place bets on any of the spaces mentioned above. You can even continue to place them while the ball starts spinning. Betting stays open until just a few seconds before the ball drops into the wheel.
Step 3: Watch the wheel
When the dealer releases the ball, it will spin around the top lip of the wheel until landing in one of the spaces. Once it stops, the dealer places a marker on the winning space and pays out the winning bets.
Roulette payouts
Now, the fun stuff. There are different odds for each bet on the roulette table, but there are also different payouts. Here are the typical payouts for online roulette:
- Individual (straight up) bets on a number: 35:1
- Split betting on two numbers: 17:1
- Row 00 bet (American Roulette only): 17:1
- Street betting on three numbers: 11:1
- Corner betting on four numbers: 8:1
- 6-line bet on six numbers: 5:1
- 5-number bet (American Roulette only): 6:1
- Column bet: 2:1
- Dozens bet (1st 12/2nd 12/3rd 12): 2:1
- Red/black: 1:1
- Even/odd: 1:1
- High/low: 1:1
Although there is a bit of statistical variation, the overall house edge associated with the typical (for the US) double-zero wheel is 5.26%. A wheel with only 1 zero has a house edge of 2.70%.
Online roulette variants
While the basics of roulette remain the same, there are different variants available at select US online casinos. You may also find these variants in live dealer roulette studios. You’ll find different wrinkles in the gameplay that impact the house edge. Let’s cover the common types of roulette at online casinos.
Online roulette strategy
Players have developed many strategies over the years for how to win at roulette, but none are foolproof. Casinos are in the business of making money and always operate with a house edge over players.
However, to get the most out of your online roulette experience, here are a few points of strategy to keep in mind. First, if available, always stick to a European Roulette table. While this variation is not as widely available as American, European Roulette offers players a lower house edge because it doesn’t have that extra 00 space.
Secondly, if you’re a beginner, it’s probably best to stick to basic roulette bets at first. It’s always good to get your feet wet by experimenting with different inside and outside bets.
If you want to get some experience under your belt before sitting down at the table, many US online casinos offer free online roulette. While you won’t be able to win real money, you will be able to gain valuable knowledge of how roulette works.
For a more in-depth look, be sure to check out our roulette strategies and systems page. If you’d prefer to examine individual betting systems, check out these options:
How to Play Online Roulette FAQ
The number of spaces on a roulette wheel depends on the variation. In European Roulette, there are 37 pockets on a roulette wheel, numbered in specific order 0-36. In American Roulette, those 37 are present, plus a 00 slot, so 38 total. This extra space significantly affects the house edge, so make sure you know which roulette variation you’re playing.
Generally speaking, betting on both red and black is not a useful strategy to win money because although statistically, players have a 94% chance of winning, that other 6% (5.26%, actually) will eventually drain your wallet.
While you would receive the highest payout on the roulette board at 35-to-1, the fact of the matter is that betting on the zeros is a straight-up bet, which gives you only one out on the board. So, betting on a zero is no different – statistically – than betting on any of the other numbers.
No. Online roulette—like all casino offerings—is a game of luck. The notion of strategies and systems is dependent on many factors, including house edge, player experience, and mathematics, but no singular roulette strategy has been proven to beat a casino’s house edge.
No – they don’t have to be. The house edge on any roulette game is enough to keep the casinos in business. Just to be safe, however, online roulette games are also routinely tested by independent agencies to ensure fair play.
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