How to Play Roulette
Before you get started on a roulette table, it’s important to understand the elements of the basic game:
The Roulette Table
The roulette table is divided into two parts:
- Inside: This is where you’ll see all the black and red numbers. These are divided into quarters or halves.
- Outside: This contains wider bet options such as odd, even, number ranges, and colour.
You can place bets on whichever section you like. Most online roulette games allow you to stake on multiple squares, sections, and numbers at the same time.
The Roulette Wheel
European roulette wheels have pockets numbered from 0 to 36. American roulette wheels are the same with the addition of the double 0. The pockets are numbered in an order that balances high, low, odd, and even numbers to give players a fair chance of winning.
Getting Ready to Play
You’re now ready to play online roulette. Here’s how to do it:
- Sign up to a reputable online casino and claim your welcome bonus.
- Find your preferred roulette table by observing a few rounds of different variants or by playing with bonus cash.
- Choose your bet size and place the bet according to your selected betting strategy.
- If you’re playing an RNG variant, spin the roulette wheel. The croupiers will spin it if you’re sitting at a live online roulette table.
- Wait for the ball to fall in its pocket to see if you’ve won your bet. Your prize will be automatically credited to your online casino account if so.
Roulette Bet Types
There’s plenty to play around with when it comes to online roulette bet types. We’ve listed them below:
Inside Bets
These are the bets you can place on the inner section of the roulette table:
- Straight-up: A bet that is placed on a single number. Since the odds of winning are low, this is typically the highest paying roulette bet with a ratio of 35:1.
- Split: A bet that is placed in the middle of two numbers, for example, 17 and 20. This bet pays 17:1 as there are double chances of winning.
- Street: A bet placed in a row that consists of three consecutive numbers like 6, 7, and 8. This pays 11:1 because of the triple chances of winning.
- Corner: A bet placed in a corner where four numbers meet. This gives you a quadruple chance of winning so the odds decrease to 8:1.
- Six Line: A bet that covers six consecutive numbers (two three-numbered rows) like 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. You’ll place the chip on the line that separates the outside and the inside bets and in between the rows of the numbers you want to bet on. This pays 5:1, also known as the quint bet.
- Basket: A bet unique to American roulette. This includes staking on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 with odds of 6:1.
Outside Bets
These are the bets you can place on the outer section of the roulette table:
- Odd or Even: A bet placed on all odd or even numbers.
- High or Low: A bet placed on all low (1 – 18) or high (19 – 36) numbers.
- Red or Black: A bet placed on the entire red or black set of numbers.
- Dozens: A bet placed that covers thirds of the roulette wheel. Possible bets include numbers like 1 – 12, 13 – 24, and 25 – 36.
- Column: A bet that covers one of the three columns of the roulette table. These are divided into column 1 (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34), column 2 (2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35), and column 3 (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 31, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36).
Called Bets
These are more typical of European and French online roulette. They are based on the positioning of the numbers on the roulette wheel:
Variable Called Bet Types
- Final Straight: A bet on numbers that end in the same digit, for example, 2, 12, 22, and 32.
- Final Split: A bet based on two numbers. For example, if you choose 2 and 3, you’d bet on 2, 3, 12, 13, 20, 22, 23, 30, 32, and 33.
- The Neighbours: A bet on a single number and the two numbers next to it. This means you’ll bet on a total of five numbers.
Fixed Called Bet Types:
- The Orphans: A bet on 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, and 0 – a total of eight numbers.
- Zero Game: A bet on the seven numbers closest to zero that fall between the numbers 12 and 15.
- Neighbours of Zero: A bet between all numbers between 22 and 25 on the roulette wheel.
- Thirds of the Wheel: A bet on an entire third of the wheel where numbers fall between 33 and 27.
How to Win at Roulette
Time needed: 1 hour
Online roulette is a game of chance, which means there is no magic potion that is guaranteed to land you big wins. However, there’s no harm in increasing the odds of you winning by implementing a few strategies. You’ll find some of our favourite ones next:
- Opt for Outside Bets
Outside bets give you higher chances of winning – up to 50% in some cases. This allows you to get a feel of the game without having to stake too much. Keep in mind that since the odds of winning are reasonably high, the payouts are relatively low.
- Try the Martingale Roulette Strategy
The Martingale roulette strategy involves placing outside bets and doubling the stake each time you lose to recover any previous losses. While this strategy can be effective, you’re also running the risk of running out of cash or hitting the table limit after a few rounds, so use it wisely.
- Use Casino Bonuses
The main advantage of casino bonuses is that you can test the games without committing with real cash. Always read the terms and conditions beforehand to make sure you can use the bonus on live casino games or table games, and to see what the wagering requirements are.
- Know When to Stop
Probably the most important strategy, knowing when to stop playing is vital. Gambling should be a source of entertainment, and just as with everything else, you’ll need to set a budget before you start, and stick to it. If you feel like your online gambling is becoming problematic, contact the casino’s customer support team via email or live chat immediately.
Online Roulette Variations
When looking to play online roulette, you’ll get to choose between a few variations. You’ll find a short summary of the most common ones below:
European Roulette
European roulette is the most common variant found at online casinos in Canada in both the table games and live casino sections. The wheel has 37 pockets numbered from 1 to 36 and the 0, which gives the house edge down to 2.7%. The low casino advantage is the main reason why European roulette is a popular choice for Canadian players.
American Roulette
American roulette is played in the same way as European roulette with the difference of an additional pocket, the double zero. This increases the house edge to 5.26%, making it the lesser played of the roulettes.
French Roulette
The French roulette wheel is the same as the European roulette one. The difference lies in the addition of the rules ‘en prison’ and ‘la partage’. These are forms of insurance that save half the stake if the ball lands in the zero pocket.
Live Roulette
Many online casinos in Canada offer live dealer games. These work in the same way as RNG (Random Number Generation) online roulette wheels. The only difference is that a live croupier spins it instead. You’ll also have the possibility of interacting with the dealer and with other players via the live chat.
Live roulette tables may have variations that include unique features like multipliers or side bets. We suggest you read through the game’s rules or observe a few rounds to get a feel of the game before committing with real money.
Online Roulette FAQs
To play online roulette, you need to sign up to a reputable online casino in Canada. Next, place your first deposit and claim your welcome bonus. Finally, choose your favourite online roulette variant and place your first bet.
Online roulette begins when you place chips on the numbers you would like to bet on. This could be a straight up number, red or black, or on a group of numbers. The wheel spins and you will win a prize if the ball lands in a pocket with a corresponding number.
There are no guarantees when it comes to online roulette, but that doesn’t mean you cannot use strategies. We suggest opting for outside bets, using the Martingale strategy, and taking advantage of casino bonuses.
Online roulette generally has three types of bets. The first is inside bets, which are bets placed on particular numbers. Next, there are the outside bets, which are bets placed on the outer section of the roulette table (including 50/50 bets such as odd or even). Finally, there are the fixed call bets, which are bets on a specific group of numbers such as the ones neighbouring the zero pocket.
The highest roulette odds are 35:1, which you’ll have when placing straight up bets. These are when you stake on a single number, which also gives you the lowest odds of winning the round.
More live casino games
Baccarat
Baccarat is an engaging casino game that is popular with both novice and veteran players.
Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the oldest casino games, which is why there are tens of online variants for Canadian casino players to enjoy.
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