Roulette is one of the most popular casino table games. Blackjack is typically the only table game that receives more action.
One of the reasons so many players enjoy roulette is its simplicity. There are no complex rules to understand. Players make a wager on a range of numbers or individually. The dealer spins the ball. Bets are won or lost depending on which pocket it lands on the roulette wheel.
Roulette is also one of the most popular online casino games. It comes in many versions. Most online casinos deal single and double zero roulette. These are called European Roulette and American Roulette, respectively. Both games are usually available in video and live dealer versions.
US Casino Advantage is supported through advertisements and sponsors. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Buying into an online roulette game
The first step when buying into an online roulette game is to create your account. This step asks for information like your name, address, date of birth, and email address. Once that is complete, it is time to make an online casino deposit. Many options are available like credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, electronic wallets, and cryptocurrency.
Buying into a live roulette game
The first step in playing roulette in a casino is getting chips. Roulette tables typically have different chip colors for each player. This prevents any confusion when winning wagers are paid. The denomination may vary, depending on the table limits.
To receive chips at a roulette table, place your cash on the felt. The dealer will exchange it for chips that may be played only at a roulette table. If you brought chips from another game, you must exchange them for the proper roulette ones.
Roulette chips may not be used at any other table games. When you are ready to leave a roulette table, get your chips colored up by the dealer. You will receive chips that may be used at other tables, like blackjack and craps, or cashed out at the casino cage.
Make your bets
There are many ways to bet on a roulette table. The options include straight, split, street, basket, line, dozens, columns, odd, even, red, black, high, and low. Double zero roulette wheels have a line bet, which is five numbers. Its house edge is much worse than any other bet on a roulette wheel. European Roulette games have special types of bets not found in American games.
At a live game, take your chips and place them in the spots on the felt you would like to win. At an online casino, click the denomination of the chip that you prefer, then click the spot on the felt that corresponds to your bet. In most cases, you must meet the minimum bet either on the inside or the outside. This means that betting $5 on red and $5 on 7 will not satisfy the requirements of a $10 roulette table. Outside bets pay even money or 2/1. All other bets are considered inside.
At a live roulette game, the dealer will wave off all bets before the pill drops. This is the same for a live dealer game at an online casino. In a live or online casino video roulette game, the player controls the speed. When you are ready to play, simply click the spin button. In this type of game, the player may click the rebet button to make the same wagers on the next spin or make completely different ones.
The minimum bet at online casinos is usually somewhere from $0.10 to $1. At live casinos, the minimum bet is usually from $5 to $25, depending on the time of day and level of resort.
Online roulette games often come with bonuses
When you play roulette at an online casino, there is often a first deposit bonus. This is usually related to the size of the deposit. This adds to the player’s return. Some online casinos do not permit roulette as a game. That is because it is too easy to bet both sides of an outcome.
If you play roulette with a bonus, never make opposing bets like red and black on the same screen. This is against the terms and conditions of the bonus, which you should always read before playing. Live dealer roulette is usually not allowed when clearing casino bonuses.
Roulette payouts
The payouts below are for each type of bet available on a standard roulette wheel. It is multiplied by the amount wagered to determine the exact payout.
- Straight (single number): 35
- Split: (two numbers): 17
- Street (three numbers): 11
- Basket (0, 00, 1, 2 and 3): 6
- Line (six numbers): 5
- Dozens and columns: 2
- Odd, even, red, black, high, low: 1
Types of Roulette Dealt in the US
We found five types of roulette games dealt throughout the United States. Two use single zero wheels. Two use double zero wheels. The last is triple zero roulette.
European Roulette
European Roulette is the best version of the game that we have found in the United States. We have only seen it on the Las Vegas Strip at MGM Resorts properties, Cosmopolitan and Treasure Island, and at Red Rock Resort in the locals market.
The minimum is usually $100. However, you may find the game for $25 or $50 at slow times.
The roulette wheel has just one zero. However, there are a couple of differences between it and single zero roulette.
There are unique tracks on the betting felt of European Roulette. These are orphelins and neighbours.
The other difference is la partage. This gives players half of an even money bet back when the ball lands on zero. For example, a $100 bet on red only loses $50 when zero is called. All other bets that do not win are lost entirely to the house.
The house edge for European Roulette is 2.7% for most bets. Even money bets only hold 1.35% due to la partage returning half of even money bets when zero is called.
Many online casinos have a game called European Roulette with one zero. It plays differently than the one described in this section. It does not have la partage.
French Roulette
French Roulette is only available online. It is the same as European Roulette at live casinos. This means it only has one zero and la partage. Even money bets receive half back when the pill lands in the zero pocket. European Roulette is standard single zero without la partage at online casinos.
Single zero roulette
Single zero roulette is a standard game. There is one zero on the wheel. There is no la partage in single zero roulette. We have found the game for $15 at Plaza in downtown Las Vegas. It is typically $50 or $100 anywhere else it is dealt, which includes the Las Vegas Strip and high-limit rooms in Atlantic City. The house edge in single zero roulette is 2.7%.
Double zero roulette
Double zero roulette is by far the most common version of the game in the United States. We estimate that at least 98% of all roulette tables in the country have two zeros with no other special rules.
The house edge for all but one bet is 5.26% at double zero roulette. The basket bet, which is 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3, has a house edge of 7.89%. That is slightly worse than triple zero roulette.
Atlantic City double zero roulette
Double zero roulette is dealt a little differently in Atlantic City. The la partage found at European Roulette tables in Las Vegas is available at double zero wheels in Atlantic City. Players receive half of the even money bets back if the ball lands on zero or double zero.
Players that only make even money outside bets will have a slightly better return at these tables than the single zero high-limit ones in Atlantic City. That is because single zero roulette in Atlantic City does not have la partage.
The house edge on most Atlantic City double zero roulette tables is 5.26%. The even money bets hold 2.63% due to receiving half of the wager back on either zero.
Triple zero roulette
Triple zero roulette was first seen at Venetian and Palazzo on the Las Vegas Strip in 2016. This game has three zeros on the wheel. It is often disguised as the casino’s logo. This is the worst version of roulette that is dealt in the United States. Its house edge is 7.69%. All Las Vegas casinos with triple zero roulette, except O’Sheas, have at least one double zero table.
Roulette Xtra
Roulette Xtra is a new variant. It is sometimes called Roulette X. Straight bets only pay 30, as opposed to 35. In exchange for this, multipliers are randomly selected on four numbers. Payouts are 50 up to 500 times the bet if the pill lands on this number, depending on the exact game and paytable.
Last Updated on August 31, 2023 by John Mehaffey