Roulette games come in a variety of variants, betting options and rules. Online Roulette Rules and Quotes The appeal of the game is that the rules of roulette are very clear, making them easy to learn before taking a seat at a real roulette table. There are differences depending on which variant of online roulette you play. 4 Number Bet – Bets on 0,1,2,3 at the same time. Only available on European and French roulette. 5 Number Bet – Bets on 0,00,1,2,3 at the same time. Only available on American roulette. This is also the worst bet in the entire game because of the unfair payout – avoid it. Outside bets offer the best odds of winning at roulette. These types of wagers are placed on groups as opposed to just numbers, for example odd or even, red or black, 1-18 or 19-46, dozen bets,. For your convenience, we have listed each bet's payout and the odds of winning according to the roulette online version you are playing. As you will probably notice, as a general rule, the higher the payout is, the lower the winning odds will be.
Palace elite login. More and more people can legally enjoy roulette games online.
Whether you enjoy free roulette for entertainment or gamble for high stakes, there are options for you. With competition between the casinos in regulated states, you will find big bonuses and loyalty rewards for players of all bankroll levels. Games are available on your desktop or mobile device.
This page has everything you need to enjoy online roulette games safely. You will find an overview of real money roulette games, bonuses and roulette apps below. At the end of the page, a FAQ will answer all your questions.
Best online casinos for real money roulette
Play free roulette online
Playing online roulette for real money
Head to your local casino and you will need to bet the minimum stakes to enjoy roulette. Stakes go up on weekends, with $5 to $10 on outside bets typically the smallest bets available. Head online, and you can play real money roulette for much smaller stakes. This gives you all the enjoyment (and chance to go on a winning streak) without the risk.
Improvements in network speeds have allowed for a new generation of online roulette games. Live dealer roulette lets you bet on a real game happening in real time, streamed from a studio. You can interact with the dealers and other players, giving this real money roulette option a social component.
The best online casinos offer welcome bonuses and ongoing rewards to roulette players. A 100% deposit matching bonus will get your bankroll off to a great start. Some casinos offer free play for new customers. While this is usually for slots, you can always head to the roulette games with the money you win with the free play.
For players who enjoy roulette regularly, it will pay to compare the loyalty reward programs of online casinos. Those loyalty points, reload bonuses and one-off promotions will make a huge difference to your bankroll over time.
How online casino bonuses work for roulette
When you first see online casino bonuses, they look similar. Many casinos offer a 100% match on your first deposit — sometimes over multiple deposits in a specified timeframe. The amount matched varies. The biggest welcome bonuses can reach $1,000 or more.
It is important to look at the terms and conditions of bonus deals. There are major differences covering the playthrough requirements, the type of games you can play to redeem your bonus and how long you have to meet your total.
Here is a checklist for roulette players:
- Is roulette allowed? Some casinos exclude roulette from the games permitted for bonus clearing altogether. Others will allow only a portion of wagers to count toward clearing.
- What is the playthrough requirement? All casino bonuses specify the number of times you need to bet the bonus money before cashing out. This can vary widely.
- How is roulette weighted? Slots contribute 100% toward clearing your bonuses. Roulette can be anything from 25% to 2% — depending on the casino. This can make a huge difference.
- Are specific bets excluded? Many casinos will state that covering too many outcomes is 'bonus abuse' and will void your welcome bonus. An example is covering both red and black (with a small bet on the zeros). Look out for brands that don't allow outside bets.
- How long will the bonus last? When you combine playthrough requirements with weightings, the requirements you must meet can be extensive. This makes the time allowed to complete your bets a key factor. Avoid roulette bonuses that expire too quickly.
Here are some examples of good offers at regulated casinos:
Golden Nugget Casino: This New Jersey / Michigan online casino gives you $10 free if you sign up with bonus code PLAYBONUS. There is also a matched deposit bonus of up to $1,500, plus 200 free slot spins. You can clear the no deposit bonus by wagering it 20x. Roulette is included, with your bets weighted at 25%. The deposit bonus needs to be wagered 10x.
BetMGM Casino: This casino is available in multiple regulated states. It offers an easy $25 no deposit bonus, plus $1,000 matched to your first deposit. Use bonus code PLAYNJFREE to claim these bonuses. You can clear both by playing roulette. The no deposit bonus has a simple 1x wagering requirement with no weightings for table games. The matched welcome offer has a 15x wagering requirement.
Free roulette vs. real money roulette
Online Roulette Betting
Pixel palace games. You can enjoy roulette for free online. This can be to learn the rules or practice different betting strategies — or simply for entertainment. When you switch over to real money roulette, the spin of the wheel gets a whole lot more exciting. Even at the smallest stakes, having some real money on the line adds interest to your spins.
Advantages of free roulette games:
- Play a casino classic without risking any money.
- Try out different combinations of bets.
- Try out different roulette betting strategies.
- Find out which roulette variation works best for you.
Advantages of real money roulette games:
- The chance to win big adds excitement to your spins.
- Clear casino bonuses while you play.
- Enjoy live dealer roulette variations online.
- Take part in promotions and receive loyalty rewards.
Choosing the right online roulette game
Not all roulette games have the same odds. In fact, the house edge of one game can be nearly twice as high as one that looks almost the same.
The difference is in the number of green segments on the wheel. These are the zero and double-zero slots. With a single zero, the game has a house edge of 2.7%; add one more and this shoots up to 5.26%. You will find these marked as European (single zero) and US (double zero) at many casinos. When it comes to the odds, it is always better to choose the European wheel.
You will also find French roulette at some online casinos. This variation uses a European single zero wheel and features an extra benefit. Any time the ball lands in the zero slot, you get a 50% return of stakes placed on 50/50 outcomes. The effect on the house edge depends on what percentage of your bets are on outside chances compared to single numbers and combinations. If you bet only on the 50/50 chances, then the house edge is a tiny 1.35%.
Casino apps with roulette
Online casinos let you access their games via apps or websites. The web-based versions will respond automatically to your screen size, allowing for mobile play. If an app is available, you can be sure that the roulette games on it have been optimized for smaller screens.
Before you install a mobile casino app, you need to make sure you are getting the best available bonus. You can do this by following our links to the regulated casinos — and following the app installation instructions from there.
If you are using an iPhone or an iPad, the casino will direct you to the Apple App Store to complete your download. For Android roulette players, you will need to install the app from the casino website. Google does not yet allow real money roulette apps in its store — even though such apps are fully legal in regulated states. Downloading from the casino is safe and easy. You will need to accept the download from an 'unknown source' to complete the process.
Casino live roulette. Apps allow you to claim your bonus, deposit real money and enjoy a range of games in addition to roulette. You will find that slots, blackjack and video poker are popular options.
If you are not in a state with regulated online casinos, then sweepstakes casino apps are a legal alternative. These turn casino games into mini-sweepstakes contests. They remain legal by offering free games and giving you 'free' sweepstakes entries (chips for the real casino options) when you make purchases of the play-money chips.
Legal online casinos with roulette
It is now legal to enjoy online casinos in multiple states. There are regulated brands already operating in a number of states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In these regulated states, online casino and sports betting giants have partnered with local brick and mortar casinos. They have produced mobile casino apps and websites that use geolocation to work only within state lines.
In turn, the casino brands curate a list of games from software houses like IGT and NetEnt. These include multiple roulette options. Bigger brands set up studios in live casinos. This allows them to provide live dealer casino games.
Below is an overview of the roulette options at online casinos in three of the regulated states.
NJ roulette sites
- Golden Nugget Casino: You will find the roulette options under the table games tab in the lobby. Live dealer tables and software-based options are available. You'll find European and French roulette games and advanced (racetrack betting) roulette. Novelty titles include bonus spin roulette, 100-to-1 roulette and three-wheel roulette.
- Caesars Casino: This casino has a separate roulette tab in the lobby, revealing nine options. One takes you to the live dealer lobby. The others are 100-to-1 roulette, three-wheel roulette, French roulette, Double Bonus Spin roulette and a selection of US and European wheels.
- Virgin Casino: You'll find a small selection of table games at Virgin Casino. You can win community jackpots on any game. Options include American, European and French roulette. This casino does not have a live dealer option.
PA roulette sites
- BetMGM Casino:MGM partnered with Hollywood Casino in Pennsylvania. The online casino features multiple roulette variations, including black and yellow roulette and European roulette pro as well as the regular US- and European-style wheels. Advanced roulette includes the racetrack betting options, and French roulette has the best odds.
- DraftKings Casino: You will find lessons on how to bet on roulette games at this casino. DraftKings has novelty games that include basketball roulette and spooky roulette, which has a Halloween theme. You will also find live dealer roulette options at this casino.
- Unibet Casino: You will find a live dealer room at Unibet Casino, featuring games dealt in real time while you bet through your desktop or mobile device. It has exclusive Diamond Series software-based games, EU roulette, French roulette and advanced roulette options to choose from.
WV roulette sites
- BetMGM Casino: If you check the roulette tab at BetMGM in West Virginia, only four games appear. There is one more — the Irish themed Luck o' the Roulette — under the table games tab. Your regular options are black and yellow roulette, plus American and European wheels. There is no live dealer option at this casino in WV.
- DraftKings Casino: With free casino credits up to $45, there are more reasons than just the roulette games to check out DraftKings in WV. You can enjoy a selection that includes European and US wheels, plus the sport-themed basketball roulette, spooky roulette and other novel variations.
MI roulette sites
- BetMGM Casino: The table games tab on BetMGM Michigan is nicely separated into rows of different game types, so it's easy to see that there are four different roulette games that are available. Naturally, BetMGM offers both American and European-style roulette wheel variants. There are also the Black & Yellow and Luck o' the Roulette options.
- FanDuel Casino: FanDuel Casino is a tab from the site's sportsbook, and, in turn, roulette has its own tab in the casino. Although it seems likely that FanDuel will add to the selection in the near future, there are two American roulette options and a European roulette option from which to choose.
- Golden Nugget Casino: Golden Nugget Casino has one of the finest online casino sites in the land. For roulette players, there are all of the standard options that you'd expect. There is also a 100/1 game which pays out 100-1 on single number hits. Finally, Golden Nugget is almost certain to have a live dealer roulette game before too long.
Roulette Bets And Payouts
How do sweepstakes casinos work?
Sweepstakes contests are legal in nearly every state, often taking the form of marketing promotions like draws and contests. Casinos have been using these laws to offer slots and table games since 2016.
Casino golden palace. To stay legal, sweepstakes casino bands like Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Funzpoints can't sell you chips to gamble with. Instead, they give you them for free — when you buy a different currency that you use for play-money gaming.
You then use the 'free' redeemable currency to play games — which are treated as fast sweepstakes contests. If you win while playing with the redeemable currency, you can swap your winnings for real cash prizes and legally withdraw the money to your bank account.
There are big jackpots to be won — though the selection of table games is more limited.
What to look for in an online roulette casino
When you choose an online casino, there are many factors besides the bonus deals to compare. They include the types of games, which ones are available on your phone, whether the casino has live dealer options and the legal status of each brand.
This list expands on some of those key factors to consider:
- Roulette variations available: Most casinos will have a US wheel and a European wheel. The variations expand rapidly from there. You can find French roulette, multi-wheel games, mini-wheels design for smartphones, roulette games with progressive jackpots, multiplayer games and live dealer options. The quality of graphics will also vary between games, with some having 3D effects and realistic betting surfaces.
- Bonuses and promotions: Casinos in regulated states often use free play bonuses to attract new players. You should also compare welcome (deposit) bonuses, promotions and loyalty programs. The best casinos work hard to keep loyal players well rewarded. If your current casino does not offer regular promotions, it is time to switch.
- Mobile games/apps: For the best experience on your smartphone, you should download a casino app. There are big differences in the number of roulette games available on these apps compared to the options on the desktop/browser casino sites. You also can try out responsive browser casinos on your phone; many will work perfectly after automatically adjusting to your screen size.
- Live dealer roulette: Casino table games that are dealt in real time are massively popular. They have a social element (via text) and are visibly fair. Some of the biggest brands in regulated states have set up live dealer studios. Smaller casino brands may not have this option.
- Legal and regulated: While many people choose to gamble at offshore casinos, you get zero protection in the (all too frequent) event that your money or bonus disappears. This gives regulated/legal casinos a huge edge. You will know your money is safe and that you have a way to complain if you feel you have been treated unfairly.
- Customer support: It is worth checking the reputation of any online roulette site for support before you play. Casinos offer telephone support, instant chat options and email. Friendly and helpful staff to assist with deposits, questions and withdrawals can make the difference between a good casino and a great one.
Live dealer roulette online
You can now re-create the feeling of playing roulette in a brick and mortar casino online. Live dealer casino games are hugely popular. They work by streaming a view of a real roulette table in real time to casino websites and apps. You can verify that the action is live by interacting with the croupier and other players via text chat. Dealers will reply verbally, as they are busy spinning the ball or dealing cards.
Online Blackjack Betting
A key factor for live dealer roulette is that the games are timed. You bet by dragging and dropping chips onto an overlay of the roulette betting surface. When 'no more bets' is called, the ball is spun and winning bets are automatically settled. You can 'rebet' or switch numbers each time. If you miss the deadline, the ball spins without your wagers.
In addition to games with a dealer, live dealer casinos often feature auto-roulette. This is a real physical wheel that spins automatically at set intervals.
Roulette odds: the truth in numbers
Roulette has an inherent house advantage of 5.26%. This means that if one bets $100 anywhere on the felt, the player's expected return is $94.74.
Hold percentage is naturally higher than house advantage. This is because players do not have the bankroll or time to beat the casino in the long run.
Furthermore, roulette affords opportunities to win many multiples of one's wager, like three, eight, or up to 35 times players' initial wager. But players can also lose those profits quickly. While other table games have specific wagers manufactured within them that are (in terms of expected value) worse for the player, roulette is generally known by the gambling community to be one of the less friendly games to gambling bankrolls.
A very key point is that every possible wager is equally disadvantageous to the player. A $10 bet on 00 or RED or EVEN would carry the same negative expected value of -$0.526 (fifty-two point six cents).
The house edge on roulette
Before jumping into the concepts of the gambler's fallacy, independent events, and mutual exclusivity, it helps to establish a clear thesis that the only way to (legally) affect the casino's advantage is to play only old-fashioned European Roulette. (It has only one green zero on the felt.) Doubledown casino promo codes on facebook.
A fair motto might be the fewer zeros, the better. The standard roulette wheel today, sometimes differentiated as American Roulette, features a zero and double zero. If there are 38 numbers on the felt, but a wager on exactly the correct number pays 35-1, the casino has a 5.26% house advantage on the game.
It's a little simple math — don't be alarmed:
- Odds of 35-1 means there are 36 total parts.
- 36/38 = .9474
- 1 – .9474 = .0526
- = 5.26%.
You can see how on a single roulette wheel, the house advantage is 2.7%. On the unfortunate Sands Roulette, it's 7.7 %. Conclusion: don't play triple zero roulette.
It's important for gamblers to understand that each roulette spin is an independent event. That means previous spins do not impact the odds or probability going forward. There are 38 possible outcomes on a typical double zero roulette game. Eighteen are red, 18 black, and two are green.
There is an 18/38, or about a 47.4%, chance the ball will land on a red or black number. What is the probability that the ball will land on a red number if the past 10 spins landed on red? What if the last 12 spins were black? It's always 47.4 %, independent from any past or future spins.
Wheel bias
This author, his host, and sponsors clearly and absolutely decry any form of cheating. That said, it would be unfair to ignore in a historical context how players have gained an edge by recording wheel bias.
Ultimately, roulette wheels are man-made. While today's wheels are manufactured with computer precision, in a past era, the most astute gambler may have been able to record and exploit some of the smallest biases in wheel imperfections.
Online roulette FAQ
What is the best online roulette site?
A large element of the 'best' site comes down to personal preference. There are some significant factors aside from the software, games and deposit options that separate online casinos. Bonuses (including ongoing promotions) can be a big factor, alongside the app and service. A popular pick in multiple regulated states is DraftKings Casino. This brand has multiple roulette options like live dealer games, basketball roulette and pro wheels with enhanced graphics.
Which online roulette game has the best odds?
If you can find a site with French roulette, this should be your go-to game. This variant uses a European wheel with a single green zero. If you hit that zero, then you get half of your stake back for any 50% (black/red or odd/even). Some variants of French roulette keep your bet in place for another spin instead. The odds of online roulette are as follows:
- American wheel (double zero): 5.26%
- European wheel (single zero): 2.7%
- French roulette: 1.35% (for 50/50 bets only) otherwise 2.7%
Some live casinos are now introducing games with a 'triple zero.' This offers terrible odds and should be avoided whenever possible.
Can you make money playing roulette online?
Many systems claim to be able to beat roulette games. They use progressive betting, often alongside complex patterns. While these can reduce variance in the short-term, they cannot beat the house edge over time. Casinos would not offer a game that was beatable.
You can enjoy bonus money and promotions while playing roulette, which can put the odds of winning in your favor for a while. Over time, the house edge is baked into this game. https://depositwidget-bovada-withdrawal-methods-fe.peatix.com. Play for entertainment and enjoy the wins whenever they come.
Is online roulette rigged?
A great reason to stick to the regulated/legal casinos is that you can be sure that the outcome of wheel spins is fair. This is controlled by random number generator software — which is regularly audited as part of the licensing requirement in all states with legal gambling.
Games like roulette are tested over millions of spins to ensure that the outcome is random.
You know the feeling. You get a roulette bonus, all seems to be going well, and you're stacking up chips. Then, you start playing with your own money, and your fortunes change.
This scenario happens to everyone at least once or twice. It's enough to make most players ask: 'Is online roulette rigged?'
In this piece, I'm going to explain to you that online roulette is rigged, but not in the way you think it is. I'm also going to ease your mind and reassure you that there isn't some evil casino genius interfering with the game algorithms, at least not at legit roulette casinos.
Is Roulette Rigged?
If you look at Reddit posts about roulette or at posts on other gambling forums, you're going to find a lot of people who believe that online casinos are scams. Many posters are 100% convinced that online roulette is programmed to screw them. If you read enough of these opinions, they can be convincing.
I'm not going to tell you that every online roulette game is legit. There are scam casinos, some we have added to our casino blacklist, and they will rinse you for every cent they can.
What a lot of these forum posters are suffering from is called 'gambler's remorse.' They've lost, they can't accept it, and they're looking for someone to blame. Gamblers can be superstitious and paranoid. And when they lose money, especially at a new online casino they have never played at, they can start drawing irrational conclusions.
How can I be so sure? I'm going to explain to you how I know online roulette isn't rigged most of the time.
Random Number Generators
There's a great, in-depth post on Random Number Generators here. You can read that if you want to know the full details on how game outcomes are determined.
If you don't have the time, I'll briefly summarize it for you here. Random Number Generators (RNGs in industry parlance) are computer algorithms which spit out millions of numbers per second. Each number is associated with a game outcome. In roulette's case, that game outcome is a number such as 10, 18, or 32. Each number has an equal chance of being chosen on each spin.
The difference is in the number of green segments on the wheel. These are the zero and double-zero slots. With a single zero, the game has a house edge of 2.7%; add one more and this shoots up to 5.26%. You will find these marked as European (single zero) and US (double zero) at many casinos. When it comes to the odds, it is always better to choose the European wheel.
You will also find French roulette at some online casinos. This variation uses a European single zero wheel and features an extra benefit. Any time the ball lands in the zero slot, you get a 50% return of stakes placed on 50/50 outcomes. The effect on the house edge depends on what percentage of your bets are on outside chances compared to single numbers and combinations. If you bet only on the 50/50 chances, then the house edge is a tiny 1.35%.
Casino apps with roulette
Online casinos let you access their games via apps or websites. The web-based versions will respond automatically to your screen size, allowing for mobile play. If an app is available, you can be sure that the roulette games on it have been optimized for smaller screens.
Before you install a mobile casino app, you need to make sure you are getting the best available bonus. You can do this by following our links to the regulated casinos — and following the app installation instructions from there.
If you are using an iPhone or an iPad, the casino will direct you to the Apple App Store to complete your download. For Android roulette players, you will need to install the app from the casino website. Google does not yet allow real money roulette apps in its store — even though such apps are fully legal in regulated states. Downloading from the casino is safe and easy. You will need to accept the download from an 'unknown source' to complete the process.
Casino live roulette. Apps allow you to claim your bonus, deposit real money and enjoy a range of games in addition to roulette. You will find that slots, blackjack and video poker are popular options.
If you are not in a state with regulated online casinos, then sweepstakes casino apps are a legal alternative. These turn casino games into mini-sweepstakes contests. They remain legal by offering free games and giving you 'free' sweepstakes entries (chips for the real casino options) when you make purchases of the play-money chips.
Legal online casinos with roulette
It is now legal to enjoy online casinos in multiple states. There are regulated brands already operating in a number of states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In these regulated states, online casino and sports betting giants have partnered with local brick and mortar casinos. They have produced mobile casino apps and websites that use geolocation to work only within state lines.
In turn, the casino brands curate a list of games from software houses like IGT and NetEnt. These include multiple roulette options. Bigger brands set up studios in live casinos. This allows them to provide live dealer casino games.
Below is an overview of the roulette options at online casinos in three of the regulated states.
NJ roulette sites
- Golden Nugget Casino: You will find the roulette options under the table games tab in the lobby. Live dealer tables and software-based options are available. You'll find European and French roulette games and advanced (racetrack betting) roulette. Novelty titles include bonus spin roulette, 100-to-1 roulette and three-wheel roulette.
- Caesars Casino: This casino has a separate roulette tab in the lobby, revealing nine options. One takes you to the live dealer lobby. The others are 100-to-1 roulette, three-wheel roulette, French roulette, Double Bonus Spin roulette and a selection of US and European wheels.
- Virgin Casino: You'll find a small selection of table games at Virgin Casino. You can win community jackpots on any game. Options include American, European and French roulette. This casino does not have a live dealer option.
PA roulette sites
- BetMGM Casino:MGM partnered with Hollywood Casino in Pennsylvania. The online casino features multiple roulette variations, including black and yellow roulette and European roulette pro as well as the regular US- and European-style wheels. Advanced roulette includes the racetrack betting options, and French roulette has the best odds.
- DraftKings Casino: You will find lessons on how to bet on roulette games at this casino. DraftKings has novelty games that include basketball roulette and spooky roulette, which has a Halloween theme. You will also find live dealer roulette options at this casino.
- Unibet Casino: You will find a live dealer room at Unibet Casino, featuring games dealt in real time while you bet through your desktop or mobile device. It has exclusive Diamond Series software-based games, EU roulette, French roulette and advanced roulette options to choose from.
WV roulette sites
- BetMGM Casino: If you check the roulette tab at BetMGM in West Virginia, only four games appear. There is one more — the Irish themed Luck o' the Roulette — under the table games tab. Your regular options are black and yellow roulette, plus American and European wheels. There is no live dealer option at this casino in WV.
- DraftKings Casino: With free casino credits up to $45, there are more reasons than just the roulette games to check out DraftKings in WV. You can enjoy a selection that includes European and US wheels, plus the sport-themed basketball roulette, spooky roulette and other novel variations.
MI roulette sites
- BetMGM Casino: The table games tab on BetMGM Michigan is nicely separated into rows of different game types, so it's easy to see that there are four different roulette games that are available. Naturally, BetMGM offers both American and European-style roulette wheel variants. There are also the Black & Yellow and Luck o' the Roulette options.
- FanDuel Casino: FanDuel Casino is a tab from the site's sportsbook, and, in turn, roulette has its own tab in the casino. Although it seems likely that FanDuel will add to the selection in the near future, there are two American roulette options and a European roulette option from which to choose.
- Golden Nugget Casino: Golden Nugget Casino has one of the finest online casino sites in the land. For roulette players, there are all of the standard options that you'd expect. There is also a 100/1 game which pays out 100-1 on single number hits. Finally, Golden Nugget is almost certain to have a live dealer roulette game before too long.
Roulette Bets And Payouts
How do sweepstakes casinos work?
Sweepstakes contests are legal in nearly every state, often taking the form of marketing promotions like draws and contests. Casinos have been using these laws to offer slots and table games since 2016.
Casino golden palace. To stay legal, sweepstakes casino bands like Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots and Funzpoints can't sell you chips to gamble with. Instead, they give you them for free — when you buy a different currency that you use for play-money gaming.
You then use the 'free' redeemable currency to play games — which are treated as fast sweepstakes contests. If you win while playing with the redeemable currency, you can swap your winnings for real cash prizes and legally withdraw the money to your bank account.
There are big jackpots to be won — though the selection of table games is more limited.
What to look for in an online roulette casino
When you choose an online casino, there are many factors besides the bonus deals to compare. They include the types of games, which ones are available on your phone, whether the casino has live dealer options and the legal status of each brand.
This list expands on some of those key factors to consider:
- Roulette variations available: Most casinos will have a US wheel and a European wheel. The variations expand rapidly from there. You can find French roulette, multi-wheel games, mini-wheels design for smartphones, roulette games with progressive jackpots, multiplayer games and live dealer options. The quality of graphics will also vary between games, with some having 3D effects and realistic betting surfaces.
- Bonuses and promotions: Casinos in regulated states often use free play bonuses to attract new players. You should also compare welcome (deposit) bonuses, promotions and loyalty programs. The best casinos work hard to keep loyal players well rewarded. If your current casino does not offer regular promotions, it is time to switch.
- Mobile games/apps: For the best experience on your smartphone, you should download a casino app. There are big differences in the number of roulette games available on these apps compared to the options on the desktop/browser casino sites. You also can try out responsive browser casinos on your phone; many will work perfectly after automatically adjusting to your screen size.
- Live dealer roulette: Casino table games that are dealt in real time are massively popular. They have a social element (via text) and are visibly fair. Some of the biggest brands in regulated states have set up live dealer studios. Smaller casino brands may not have this option.
- Legal and regulated: While many people choose to gamble at offshore casinos, you get zero protection in the (all too frequent) event that your money or bonus disappears. This gives regulated/legal casinos a huge edge. You will know your money is safe and that you have a way to complain if you feel you have been treated unfairly.
- Customer support: It is worth checking the reputation of any online roulette site for support before you play. Casinos offer telephone support, instant chat options and email. Friendly and helpful staff to assist with deposits, questions and withdrawals can make the difference between a good casino and a great one.
Live dealer roulette online
You can now re-create the feeling of playing roulette in a brick and mortar casino online. Live dealer casino games are hugely popular. They work by streaming a view of a real roulette table in real time to casino websites and apps. You can verify that the action is live by interacting with the croupier and other players via text chat. Dealers will reply verbally, as they are busy spinning the ball or dealing cards.
Online Blackjack Betting
A key factor for live dealer roulette is that the games are timed. You bet by dragging and dropping chips onto an overlay of the roulette betting surface. When 'no more bets' is called, the ball is spun and winning bets are automatically settled. You can 'rebet' or switch numbers each time. If you miss the deadline, the ball spins without your wagers.
In addition to games with a dealer, live dealer casinos often feature auto-roulette. This is a real physical wheel that spins automatically at set intervals.
Roulette odds: the truth in numbers
Roulette has an inherent house advantage of 5.26%. This means that if one bets $100 anywhere on the felt, the player's expected return is $94.74.
Hold percentage is naturally higher than house advantage. This is because players do not have the bankroll or time to beat the casino in the long run.
Furthermore, roulette affords opportunities to win many multiples of one's wager, like three, eight, or up to 35 times players' initial wager. But players can also lose those profits quickly. While other table games have specific wagers manufactured within them that are (in terms of expected value) worse for the player, roulette is generally known by the gambling community to be one of the less friendly games to gambling bankrolls.
A very key point is that every possible wager is equally disadvantageous to the player. A $10 bet on 00 or RED or EVEN would carry the same negative expected value of -$0.526 (fifty-two point six cents).
The house edge on roulette
Before jumping into the concepts of the gambler's fallacy, independent events, and mutual exclusivity, it helps to establish a clear thesis that the only way to (legally) affect the casino's advantage is to play only old-fashioned European Roulette. (It has only one green zero on the felt.) Doubledown casino promo codes on facebook.
A fair motto might be the fewer zeros, the better. The standard roulette wheel today, sometimes differentiated as American Roulette, features a zero and double zero. If there are 38 numbers on the felt, but a wager on exactly the correct number pays 35-1, the casino has a 5.26% house advantage on the game.
It's a little simple math — don't be alarmed:
- Odds of 35-1 means there are 36 total parts.
- 36/38 = .9474
- 1 – .9474 = .0526
- = 5.26%.
You can see how on a single roulette wheel, the house advantage is 2.7%. On the unfortunate Sands Roulette, it's 7.7 %. Conclusion: don't play triple zero roulette.
It's important for gamblers to understand that each roulette spin is an independent event. That means previous spins do not impact the odds or probability going forward. There are 38 possible outcomes on a typical double zero roulette game. Eighteen are red, 18 black, and two are green.
There is an 18/38, or about a 47.4%, chance the ball will land on a red or black number. What is the probability that the ball will land on a red number if the past 10 spins landed on red? What if the last 12 spins were black? It's always 47.4 %, independent from any past or future spins.
Wheel bias
This author, his host, and sponsors clearly and absolutely decry any form of cheating. That said, it would be unfair to ignore in a historical context how players have gained an edge by recording wheel bias.
Ultimately, roulette wheels are man-made. While today's wheels are manufactured with computer precision, in a past era, the most astute gambler may have been able to record and exploit some of the smallest biases in wheel imperfections.
Online roulette FAQ
What is the best online roulette site?
A large element of the 'best' site comes down to personal preference. There are some significant factors aside from the software, games and deposit options that separate online casinos. Bonuses (including ongoing promotions) can be a big factor, alongside the app and service. A popular pick in multiple regulated states is DraftKings Casino. This brand has multiple roulette options like live dealer games, basketball roulette and pro wheels with enhanced graphics.
Which online roulette game has the best odds?
If you can find a site with French roulette, this should be your go-to game. This variant uses a European wheel with a single green zero. If you hit that zero, then you get half of your stake back for any 50% (black/red or odd/even). Some variants of French roulette keep your bet in place for another spin instead. The odds of online roulette are as follows:
- American wheel (double zero): 5.26%
- European wheel (single zero): 2.7%
- French roulette: 1.35% (for 50/50 bets only) otherwise 2.7%
Some live casinos are now introducing games with a 'triple zero.' This offers terrible odds and should be avoided whenever possible.
Can you make money playing roulette online?
Many systems claim to be able to beat roulette games. They use progressive betting, often alongside complex patterns. While these can reduce variance in the short-term, they cannot beat the house edge over time. Casinos would not offer a game that was beatable.
You can enjoy bonus money and promotions while playing roulette, which can put the odds of winning in your favor for a while. Over time, the house edge is baked into this game. https://depositwidget-bovada-withdrawal-methods-fe.peatix.com. Play for entertainment and enjoy the wins whenever they come.
Is online roulette rigged?
A great reason to stick to the regulated/legal casinos is that you can be sure that the outcome of wheel spins is fair. This is controlled by random number generator software — which is regularly audited as part of the licensing requirement in all states with legal gambling.
Games like roulette are tested over millions of spins to ensure that the outcome is random.
You know the feeling. You get a roulette bonus, all seems to be going well, and you're stacking up chips. Then, you start playing with your own money, and your fortunes change.
This scenario happens to everyone at least once or twice. It's enough to make most players ask: 'Is online roulette rigged?'
In this piece, I'm going to explain to you that online roulette is rigged, but not in the way you think it is. I'm also going to ease your mind and reassure you that there isn't some evil casino genius interfering with the game algorithms, at least not at legit roulette casinos.
Is Roulette Rigged?
If you look at Reddit posts about roulette or at posts on other gambling forums, you're going to find a lot of people who believe that online casinos are scams. Many posters are 100% convinced that online roulette is programmed to screw them. If you read enough of these opinions, they can be convincing.
I'm not going to tell you that every online roulette game is legit. There are scam casinos, some we have added to our casino blacklist, and they will rinse you for every cent they can.
What a lot of these forum posters are suffering from is called 'gambler's remorse.' They've lost, they can't accept it, and they're looking for someone to blame. Gamblers can be superstitious and paranoid. And when they lose money, especially at a new online casino they have never played at, they can start drawing irrational conclusions.
How can I be so sure? I'm going to explain to you how I know online roulette isn't rigged most of the time.
Random Number Generators
There's a great, in-depth post on Random Number Generators here. You can read that if you want to know the full details on how game outcomes are determined.
If you don't have the time, I'll briefly summarize it for you here. Random Number Generators (RNGs in industry parlance) are computer algorithms which spit out millions of numbers per second. Each number is associated with a game outcome. In roulette's case, that game outcome is a number such as 10, 18, or 32. Each number has an equal chance of being chosen on each spin.
As soon as you click 'spin,' the program selects one of the numbers which the random number generator has created. There are even Provably Fair games which you can use to check that no funny business has occurred. These use Bitcoin technology such as hashing, and let you check game outcomes for fairness.
You should also remember one important thing: The casinos do not control the Random Number Generators. Third-party software companies such as Microgaming program them. More often than not, they're tested by an independent third-party organization like eCOGRA. They don't work for the software firms and have no incentive to certify their games fair.
Online Betting Licenses
The second thing to consider is the online gambling licenses a casino has. It's true that some of these aren't worth much, but there are others which are. For example, if a casino has a gaming license from Malta or the UK, that's a sure sign its games are legitimate.
These countries have a vested interest in keeping things fair. They generate a substantial portion of their tax revenue from online gambling. They can't afford to license rogue casinos and lose that hard-won trust. The UKGC, for example, conducts its own random tests of casino games. If you believe that both the third-party testing companies and the national governments which issue licenses are in on rigged online roulette games, it may be best to lay off gambling for a while.
If you're playing a Microgaming roulette game, or a game by any other reputable provider and the casino has a legit gambling license, you can be sure the games are not rigged. It's much more likely that you've experienced a natural losing streak. All experienced gamblers will tell you that this can and does happen.
My Own Experience and Testing
I didn't want this post based only on trusting big-name companies and organizations. While I know for a fact that they can be trusted since I work in this industry, I understand that some of you won't have that same level of trust.
Therefore, I decided to put online roulette to the test. I played 500 spins on a game of European roulette to see if it was truly random. I placed random even-money bets worth $100 per spin.
Please Note:The results are as you would expect them to be. There's no probabilistic difference between the number of red/black or odd/even spins. There are tiny percentage differences between these, with the zero appearing 4.2% of the time.
For this test, I was using popular online software and was placing red or black bets. The only thing that immediately jumps out at me is that the number 20 came up 4% of the time, and both 16 and 30 came up more than 4% of the time. Some players would call these 'hot numbers' and advise you to bet on them, but I believe it's just an anomaly and, over enough spins, these numbers wouldn't appear more than any other number.
Are Live Dealer Roulette Games Rigged?
We've ruled out the idea that most online roulette games are rigged, but what about live dealer games? Wouldn't it be easier to run a crooked roulette wheel from a game studio?
The answer is the same. There are rigged live roulette games at scam casinos, but if you stick with the legit ones like Evolution Gaming, that's not the case. These guys didn't build multinational businesses which hold UKGC and Malta gaming licenses by behaving like criminals.
As a matter of fact, live dealer roulette games are even less likely to be rigged than electronic games. There are often dozens of players watching at any given time, you can see what the dealer is doing, and it's just so much harder to fix a live game than it is to slip something shady into an invisible game algorithm.
Live dealers from reputable companies are not:
- Using a brake under the table to stop the wheel and make sure the majority of people lose.
- Spinning the wheels at different speeds/forces to make it more likely that certain numbers will land.
- Flicking the ball, dropping it from a certain height, or using weighted/magnetic balls to make sure a certain game outcome occurs.
I've seen these accusations online. It's ridiculous to think that award-winning companies like NetEnt are doing this. I don't know what else to say about it than that.
Here's a list of legit live dealer roulette firms. I can guarantee you that their games are not rigged:
- Evolution Gaming
- Extreme Live Gaming
- Ezugi (owned by Evolution)
- Authentic Gaming
- Playtech
- Microgaming
- NetEnt
As for the others, I'm not saying they're not legit. I'm just not going to put my reputation or the reputation of LegitGamblingSites.com on the line to recommend them yet.
Where can you play these live roulette games? At one of our top-rated casinos, of course.
The One Way Which Roulette Games Are Rigged
Remember how I said at the beginning of this article that roulette is rigged, but not in the way you think it is? I meant that. It's not rigged in a way where the casino is cheating, fixing spins, and conning you. However, the casino does have a built-in mathematical advantage. It's called the house edge.
The roulette house edge depends on the variant you're playing. You always have slightly worse odds in American roulette because of the double zero. https://torrentegypt.mystrikingly.com/blog/play-n-spin. You can learn all about the different roulette variants here.
The main point to remember is this—roulette is fixed in the sense that the casino has a mathematical advantage which ensures it will make money over the long run. You didn't honestly believe they were running these games for the good of their health, did you?
In that sense, online roulette is fixed. It's unbeatable over a long period. However, in the sense of 'these guys changed the rules when I started betting with real money,' it isn't. The only way that's possible is if you're playing at a rogue casino. You won't find any of those recommended on this site.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can now see that the vast majority of online roulette games are not rigged. Third parties which have no incentive to scam you decide game outcomes and my own analysis proves that at least one major casino software company is running fair games. You'll have to trust that the same game testers and regulators that keep these roulette games fair are doing their job with the rest.
Don't believe the guys and gals who always bet too much then rant online. Bet within your means, play legit online roulette games and remember that the casino always has a slight advantage. With these practices, you'll have an enjoyable and honest online gambling experience.
