Roulette

Everyone that has played games at the casino will recognize roulette. It's a simple game, but when you play you can make your bets as complex as you like, so there is fun to be had for all.

Probably one of the most fascinating and intriguing games of chance of all times, Roulette, or rather a crude version of it, can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome, when Roman soldiers used their shields for entertaining purposes.

The form of Roulette that we know today first appeared in the Early Modern period of Baroque, with the invention of the Roulette Wheel.

The structure and the design of the game underwent another significant change in 19th century, when brothers Blanc added a zero to the 1-36 range of numbers - after crossing the ocean and being introduced to the New Orleans gambling parlours, Roulette was once again modified to meet the demands of the casino operators in the New World. This time, double zero is added, increasing the house edge and establishing Roulette as one of the most popular games among the casino proprietors.

Most popular Roulette variants

The two main Roulette variants that you will find in pretty much every brick and mortar casino are American and French Roulette, the latter often being confused with the European Roulette. The difference between these two variations is in the range of numbers, which consequently produces a different house edge, making French Roulette more popular with the players.

American Roulette

There are altogether 38 numbers in this version of the game, including 0 and 00, arranged in pairs of odd and even numbers and distributed across red and black table areas. Betting options are divided into Outside and Inside Bets, without a limit to the number of bets that the player can cover on a single spin.

The higher advantage that the house gains in American Roulette is achieved by the already mentioned double zero category, since all the bets are lost when the ball lands on these two fields - 0 and 00. The player can of course bet on these two options, but with a significantly decreased winning chances and a much higher house edge.

French vs European Roulette

The first thing that you will notice when comparing French to American version is the absence of double zero, making French Roulette a preferred variant of Roulette for the majority of players. Another major difference is the table layout. The Outside bets are arranged differently in the French version of the game, placed to the left and the right side of the table, while the American Roulette table layout has all the Outside bets on one side.

Most players often assume that European and French Roulette are completely the same – looking at the house edge, this is not entirely wrong, however French Roulette includes two rules that are characteristic for this version alone:

- En Prison, where players who wagered on Even/Odds are given the opportunity to "re-bet" on the same option one more time if the previous spin resulted in a zero.

- La Partage, similar to En Prison, except that in this case players only lose 50% of the original bet if the Roulette ball landed on zero in the previous spin.

Now, as gambling has expanded to the realms of cyber universe, the possibilities are practically endless, and Roulette players can easily find a number of Roulette variations in online casinos – Double Wheel, Speed, Mini, Multi, Progressive.

Most popular Roulette strategies

Not to be confused with the strategic skills that one has to employ in the game of Blackjack or Poker, Roulette strategies mostly refer to betting systems, such as Martingale, Grand Martingale and James Bond Strategy.

The strategies are designed to recover the player's balance in a single spin and generate a notable profit by making the most out of the winning streaks. Therefore, they rest on the principle of increasing the stake after every losing spin. In Martingale betting strategy, the stake will be doubled, while those who employ Grand Martingale to their gameplay will double the stake and add the original amount to their overall wager.

Splitting your stakes across the table is known as James Bond strategy – using this system will cover a wider range of numbers and only generate loses that should not be difficult to recover from.

Where to play Roulette

If you are a USA resident, Atlantic City and Las Vegas are the obvious places to start looking for the perfect Roulette table. Caesars Palace and Bellagio will certainly not disappoint with their offer, and for those who live on the East Coast, Tropicana Casino, Borgata, Golden Nugget and Caesars Atlantic City Casino will certainly give you the run for your money and provide you with possibly the best Roulette experience of your life.

European casinos are more than capable of competing and residents of the Old Continent should not miss out on playing at Casino di Campione in Italy, Casino de Monte Carlo in France or The Casino at the Empire in London.

If all of this is a bit out of your league, do not be discouraged – many online casinos have a separate Live Dealer offer, which enables any account holder to play at the actual casino table broadcast live from the most exclusive international resorts and brick and mortar casinos.

Free Roulette Online

Our free roulette casino game has proved really popular with fans. As such a simple, but fascinating game, roulette was one of the most obvious choices to include in our free casino games section. As well as roulette, we have several other free online casino table games too. You can see these listed below:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RTP of Roulette?

The RTP of Roulette varies depending on the variant you play. European and French Roulette offer the best return to player at approximately 97.3%, thanks to the single zero wheel. American Roulette drops to around 94.7% due to the additional double zero pocket, which increases the house edge significantly.

Can I play Roulette for real money online?

Yes, Roulette is one of the most widely available real money casino games online. You can play American, European, and French Roulette for real money at hundreds of licensed online casinos, with many also offering Live Dealer Roulette streamed directly to your screen from professional studio environments.

What is the difference between American and French Roulette?

The key difference is that American Roulette has both a single zero and a double zero (00), giving the house a higher edge of around 5.26%. French Roulette uses a single zero wheel and includes the En Prison and La Partage rules, which can reduce the house edge to as low as 1.35% on even-money bets.

What are the En Prison and La Partage rules in Roulette?

Both rules apply in French Roulette when the ball lands on zero. En Prison allows players who placed even-money bets to leave their stake "in prison" for one more spin rather than losing it outright. La Partage returns half the even-money bet to the player immediately instead. Both rules significantly reduce the house edge.

What is the Martingale strategy in Roulette?

The Martingale is one of the most well-known Roulette betting systems. After every losing spin, the player doubles their stake with the aim of recovering all losses and making a small profit when a win eventually comes. While straightforward in theory, it requires a large bankroll and can be limited by table maximum bet restrictions.

What Roulette variants can I find at online casinos?

Online casinos offer a wide range of Roulette variants beyond the classic American and French versions. Popular options include Double Wheel Roulette, Speed Roulette, Mini Roulette, Multi-Wheel Roulette, and Progressive Roulette. Live Dealer lobbies also feature exclusive variants from leading software providers such as Evolution Gaming.