It doesn’t take an intensive course to learn the basics of how to play roulette online. In fact, with Go Spin and our guides, learning how to play roulette takes just a few minutes. From how the table works to inside and outside bets, we’ve got everything needed to have a pop at the roulette tables today. While we’ll cover more extensive and advanced techniques in later guides, this one is for the rookies. Let’s begin by looking at what roulette really is.
How to Win at Roulette Online
The first stop on our tour of roulette rules is an explanation of what’s going on and how wins occur in the game. The basic game involves a spinning wheel that features numerous compartments, each coloured red or black and numbered one to thirty-six. There’s also at least one green pocket numbered 0 (zeros) and possibly two (depending on the variant) with a double zero (00).
Having bet on the betting table beside the wheel, a croupier then drops a ball into a spinning wheel. Whether or not a win occurs depends entirely on the pocket the ball lands in and whether or not it is favourable to a bet.
The Betting Table and Wheel
While it is possible to wager on all sorts of bets using the racetrack (a small, cylindrical feature beside the wheel and betting table), we will touch on those more advanced bets in another guide. Instead, Go Spin will focus on the simpler, more commonplace bets. There are two types of those available in generic roulette games – inside and outside bets. Here’s a little bit about each:
- Inside Bets: Taking their name from the fact that sit on the inner section of a roulette betting table, inside bets are the least likely to come off on a spin. They can, therefore, pay the biggest and best prizes.
- Outside Bets: Outside bets feature on the outside of the betting table. They have a far better chance of success. The higher probability of landing also means that the payouts are smaller for outside bets.
Newbies can place bets by moving their chips (displayed on-screen) to the necessary part of the betting board. Bear in mind that some bets require players to be specific about where chips sit at the end or top of rows/columns, etc. We’ll touch on those next, though.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are ideal for any newbies who fancy taking a chance. It’s well-suited for players who prefer risks. There are generally seven different types of inside bets to consider:
| Bet Name | Explanation |
| Straight-Up Bet | The least likely to land, this is a wager on a single number. Put a chip directly on the number to bet. It pays 35:1. |
| Split Bet | A bet on two numbers. Place the chip on the line between the two. It pays 17:1. |
| Street Bet | A bet on three numbers in a row. Place the chip on the end of the row. It pays 11:1. |
| Trio | Trios involve betting on 0, 1, 2 and 3 in European Roulette. The chip sits between 0 and 3 and it pays 11:1. |
| Corner Bet | A bet on four adjacent numbers. Place the chip on the intersection between the four numbers. It pays 8:1. |
| Five-Bet / Basket Bet | Five bets are a wager on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It is only possible in American Roulette. Place the wager on the corner between 0 and 1. It pays 6:1. |
| Six-Line / Line Bet | A bet on two rows. Place the chip at the intersection between the end of two rows. It pays 5:1. |
Outside Bets
Outside bets are far more likely to come off, and these are the types of bets suitable for roulette betting strategies, such as the Martingale. They are safer, ideal for newbies and include the following:
| Bet Name | Explanation |
| High / Low Bet | A bet that the ball lands in either a low (1-18) or high (19-36) numbered pocket that pays 1:1. Put the chip on either the high or low spot. |
| Red / Black Bet | A bet that the ball lands in either a red or black pocket that pays 1:1. Put the chip on either the red or black spot. |
| Odd / Even Bet | A bet that the ball lands in either an odd or even-numbered pocket that pays 1:1. Put the chip on either the odd or even spot. |
| Dozen Bet | A bet that the ball lands on the first (1-12), second (13-24) or third (25-36) dozens of numbers. It pays 2:1. Put the chip on one of the three dozen bet markers. |
| Column Bet | A bet that the ball lands in the first, second or third column of numbers. It pays 2:1. Put the chip at the bottom of the desired column. |
Common Roulette Variants
As detailed above, the availability of these bets may vary based on the roulette variant chosen. Here is a quick run-down of the three most common roulette variants, how they impact the game, and any available bets.
American Roulette
American Roulette has one extra pocket on the wheel, the extra zero (00). While players benefit from five/basket bets that aren’t in European Roulette, the extra zero spot means that the house edge is effectively double that of European Roulette, at 5.26%. American Roulette may be the world’s default roulette game, but it’s not exactly the most popular amongst those who understand its odds.
European Roulette
European Roulette ditches the dreaded double zero in favour of just one pocket. It also loses the five/basket bet and replaces it with trio bets, using its single zero. This single zero pocket drops the house to half that of American Roulette, at 2.70%. European Roulette games also feature the racetrack options we touched on earlier. We’re confident in calling European Roulette “the norm” and the default in casinos. It is often the game that most live roulette titles’ rules come from.
French Roulette
French Roulette includes special rules, aside from bets displayed in French. These are known as La Partage and En Prison. Players will receive half a bet back (or they can keep it in play for the next spin) if the ball lands in zero. This drops the house to half that found in European Roulette, at just 1.35%, making it the most favourable roulette game in our trio of options.
Our Eight Tip Tops for Playing Roulette as a Rookie
Our Go Spin experts will happily touch on more advanced bets and techniques in later articles. For now, though, let’s focus on providing a few top tips for playing roulette as a rookie. Here are a few things worth considering:
- #1 Roulette Strategies: Using betting strategies and systems such as the Martingale requires the same style of bet each round. Moreover, they work best with outside bets. We don’t recommend positive progression betting systems, though, as bankruptcy is a very likely outcome courtesy of losing streaks.
- #2 Play for Free: Play any roulette game for free (as a demo) ahead of time. This will reveal everything you need to know about the game before you have a crack at it. Always learn how a game works before betting on it.
- #3 Stick to Outside Bets at the Start: Don’t get too adventurous. Stick to outside bets to begin with, as these offer the best shot of success. Only alter bets as you gain experience in the game.
- #4 Tournament Action: Roulette games may feature in tournaments. If given the chance to join, you should. It may be possible to win a lot more alongside your winnings at the table.
- #5 Have Fun: All versions of online roulette are games of chance, so there’s nothing you can do to improve the mathematical odds of success. Therefore, don’t worry so much about making money. Try to have fun playing – if you’re not having fun, stop playing.
- #6 Promos and Bonus T&Cs: Pay attention to any bonuses and promotions. Not all are acceptable for roulette gameplay, and others may see stakes count as less than 100% towards wagering requirements.
- #7 Stick to Your Bankroll: This should go without saying – never spend beyond a predetermined budget. Stick to the same wagers (unless you’re using a betting system), and never reload your balance to keep playing. Think it over for a day or two first. Don’t go straight to the high-roller tables, though.
- #8 About Live Roulette: If you decide to have a crack at live roulette, then stick to the more basic variants to begin with. These will likely be based on European Roulette and won’t be as complicated as some other games, such as Lightning titles with multipliers.
