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Perhaps you've heard the phrase, "Everything old is new again." Well, that's perfectly applicable to this 300-year-old French gambling game. Roulette is having a bit of a renaissance.
Once relegated to just a few games on each casino floor, due to lousy casino management decisions on only providing high house advantage American style roulette and from a preference of earlier gambling generations for craps and blackjack, roulette almost went the way of the French Royalty.
But now a new generation is finding joie de vivre in this deceptively simple, highly entertaining age-old casino game due to the internet. Online roulette has exploded in popularity; now, live dealer roulette has only added fuel to the flame.
Because online casinos don't need extra space to add more roulette tables, they don't need to hire dealers that will only deal to a handful of people at a time. They've been able to offer new roulette variations, bring back older versions that paid the player much better, and keep the minimums ridiculously low.
Those changes have created a massive increase in business for online casinos and brick-and-mortar casinos with solid roulette offerings as Gen Z gamblers increasingly flock to the game.
How Do Online Roulette Games Work?
There are several different versions of roulette available on the internet, as well as lots of roulette-like games that also involve spinning wheels and dropping balls with a fun twist. Here are a few examples of some popular online roulette games.
American Roulette
Perhaps the most easily identifiable is the classic American Roulette games played with an RNG (Random Number Generator). These games have two green spaces on the wheel head, 0 and 00, making them the American version. Generally, the ball and wheel head are simulated and not real, which is where the RNG comes in, as it will randomly assign one of the 38 numbers on the wheel head for the ball to fall into. This version of online roulette has a 5.26% house advantage.
European Roulette
The European version of Roulette is also easily told apart as it has only one zero on the wheel head. The numbers around the wheel are not in the same sequence as on the American wheel. Interestingly, the payouts on this wheel are the same as American Roulette, just minus one green zero and with only 37 spots on the wheel head. This reduces the house advantage on this version of online roulette to 2.6%
French Roulette
Last but certainly not least is the French variation of European roulette, which can usually be denoted by its racetrack feature on the layout by the wheelhead, often with bets written in French. There is also only one green zero on the wheel.
Because the French version allows a rule called with En Prison or occasionally La Partage, which basically either gives you back half of any even money bet when zero lands or locks it in place for another spin, the house advantage on even money bets drops to a very respectable 1.3%.
Double Ball Roulette
We have moved away from classic roulette and towards some games that can only be played online, such as double ball roulette. Using a simulated roulette wheel head and an RNG program allows us to see what using two balls simultaneously might be like. If both balls land on your number, the payout is as high as 1200 to 1, so it is a trendy online roulette game.
Multi Wheel Roulette
If you can imagine two balls, how about eight-wheel heads? In Multi-wheel roulette, you can choose from up to eight wheel heads to bet on. There are many ways to win, but you need the bankroll to bet it.
Live Dealer Roulette
This is about as close to the actual brick-and-mortar casino version of playing roulette that we can get on the internet. Live dealers, either in a studio or, in some cases, on the actual casino floor, spin the ball on a real roulette wheel. This is live streamed to your desktop or mobile device, and then the software notes the number the ball lands in and settles all bets.
One dealer and wheel might have hundreds or even thousands of people betting on each spin, but it seems instant since they do it through an online casino app, and computers settle the payouts.
Learn Roulette Rules Before Playing
Except for the live dealer one, these variants and versions are also offered as free online roulette games. But even in that one, you can play for real money bets as low as ten cents. Free roulette games offer you the chance to learn to play the games, what varying bets pay, and all the ins and outs of different strategies you might want to try before you ever have to risk a penny.
The classic roulette games all pay the same for each of their bets. That would be American, European, and French Roulette games. Remember, we can tell which is which by looking at the roulette wheel.
Bets are divided into inside and outside roulette bets. A straight-up bet is just a bet on a single number and pays 35 to 1. A split is a bet on any two numbers made by placing or clicking the line between the two numbers you wish to bet, paying 17 to 1.
The corner bet covers the four numbers touched by your chosen corner and pays 8 to 1. Last, we have the streets. These are either three numbers in a row that are bet by clicking on the outside of that row, or you can bet the double street, which is where the two streets intersect. The first pays 11 to 1 and the other 5 to 1.
The outside bets are the dozens, which are 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36, which pay 2 to 1. You can also bet the columns. This bet is placed at the foot of the roulette wheel layout and includes the columns' twelve numbers. It also pays 2 to 1. From there, we have the even money bets, Red/Black, Odd/Even, and 1-18/19-36.
Please note that while the classic games pay the same, the many roulette variants, like mini roulette, lightning roulette, and instant roulette, may pay differently. Another reason to play free roulette online is to understand what each bet on each variant pays.
Free Online Roulette Games
Free roulette games allow us to learn the game and see how everything works. It also helps us test and refine the strategies we want to use. More than any other casino game, except perhaps for craps, roulette has many ardent believers in various betting strategies. When we play online roulette for free, we can test some more dangerous ones, like the Martingale, without risking real money.
American Roulette
You can find American Roulette for free in demo mode at most major online casino operators. You will not be required to be in a legal state to play in demo mode or to register. You'll only have to meet these conditions to bet real money. You can also play it without registration at NetEnt, a large slot and software provider for many of these same casinos.
European Roulette
European-style free online roulette is also widely available on large online casino sites or NetEnt. Remember, it is well worth seeking out as it has only half the house advantage American-style roulette has due to having the same payout but only one green zero and only 37 numbers on the wheelhead instead of 38.
French Roulette
We are a big fan of French roulette — not only because the La Partage or En Prison rules mean that the even money bets have such a low house edge at 1.3%, but because bets like Orpheline, Tiers du Cylindre, and Voisins Du Zero allow us to bet sections of the wheel. While a bit harder to find with La Partage and traditional French bets, it is well worth the effort. We very much like the one made by Evoplay. You can play their free roulette games on their website.
NFL Roulette
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play roulette in a luxury box watching the Steelers play in Heinz Field? Ok, us neither. But BetMGM and Evolution obviously have, and they've brought that to life, not just with the Steelers but with more than a half dozen NFL teams. In New Jersey, not only can you play Jet Roulette in demo mode, but you can play it for free in real life at the Jets practice facility in Florham Park.
Mini Roulette
Mini roulette is small but mighty; it is one of the most popular roulette variants out there. The Playtech version has only thirteen numbers, including one zero. The payout table has been changed, and oddly, you always win on a zero. But really, it is the same fundamental game. You can play it as a free roulette game at Playtech or in demo mode at the more prominent online roulette casinos.
Best Online Roulette Wheel Deposit Bonuses Ranked
We've taken a look at the best casino welcome bonuses for signing up to play either free roulette or roulette for real money. These are our top ten picks for January 2024:
Caesars Palace Online Casino
Caesars Palace is almost always at the top of these lists because they have a bonus package that is hard to beat. With promo code YARD2500, new players can get the welcome offer of Get a 100% Deposit Match up to $2,500 + 2,500 Rewards Points!
They have over a thousand slots, video poker, and table games titles to choose from, more than 50 brick-and-mortar casinos all around the country, and they've been licensed in more than two dozen states, along with having one of the most glamourous brands in the casino industry.
They have over a dozen roulette games, including free roulette if you play some of their titles in a demo mode. These include an awesome French Roulette game with low minimums, a house advantage of only 1.3% on even-money bets, and the live dealer European roulette games that are so popular right now.
BetMGM Casino
BetMGM has an even more extensive library of games than Caesars, with more than 1,200 to choose from. And while you don't get a pile of BetMGM rewards just for signing up, you get reward points for every real money bet you make.
You can play free roulette by using the demo mode here as well. They have many branded roulette games with major league sports themes, though most are American roulette with a higher house edge. They have the European Roulette Pro and a version of French roulette if you want to play lower-house edge games. And, of course, they also offer the live dealer real money roulette game.
bet365 Casino
bet365 has an initial deposit bonus match. Their library of titles isn't as deep overall as their two more prominent competitors. Still, they have some great roulette offerings, including Penny Roulette, which may not be free roulette but might as well be, along with a version of Europen Roulette and French Roulette.
They also offer an American Live Dealer, Quantum American Roulette, and Playtech 101 Roulette, which can be hard to find.
FanDuel Casino
You can play roulette in demo mode for free, and they have nine roulette games in their library, including European Roulette and French Roulette, with minimums starting at ten cents if you wish to play for real money.
Golden Nugget Casino
Golden Nugget offers up a jackpot for a ten-cent bet on almost all of their roulette games, and the total jackpot is currently over a million dollars. Not bad for a ten-cent wager.
Playing free online roulette in demo mode is allowed, and unlike some at real money online casinos, you won't even need to register first. They are partnered with DraftKings so that you can play some DraftKings titles like March Mania Roulette or NBA Slam Dunk Roulette. They also have the classics like American Roulette and European Roulette as well.
Fanatics Casino
Fanatics Casino made its debut among West Virginia online casinos and later rolled out in Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Despite having a smaller library as a new operator, Fanatics Casino has decent roulette options for users who want to test their luck.
Borgata Casino
BetMGM owns Borgata, but they have their own online casino, complete with some exclusive titles that you will only find here. They are very focused on driving play to the actual land-based Borgata, so you can expect lots of emails, promos, and offers for that beautiful property when you play at their online site.
They offer up an initial signup match as we have seen elsewhere, but their roulette library is anything but standard. There are 27 titles covering just about any roulette variation you might want to play. Most of which you can play free in demo mode. But if real money roulette is what you are after, they have some of the highest max bets out there and plenty of games to bet it on.
One of their live dealer roulette games is broadcast from the actual casino floor on a game you can either play online or live at the Borgata. They have oddities like Space Invaders Roulette and Luck O' the Roulette, as well as classics like European Roulette Classic and European Roulette Pro.
Ocean Online Casino
Oceans offers up to $1,200 on your initial deposit. They have over a dozen games, including one of my favorites, the Sling Shot Auto Roulette. There is no RNG software, just a ball rolling around the wheel every 30 seconds. Sadly, it's not a free online roulette game.
How to Redeem Casino Bonus Codes Online
Online casinos want your business, so they make the signup process as painless as possible. Just follow our quick instructions, and you will be playing roulette in no time.
Create your account, and be very careful about names matching your ID.
Put in the promo code when prompted.
Verify and screenshot the terms and conditions of your casino offer.
Finalize your account setup.
If you had a no-deposit offer, it should now be available.
Deposit using any of the various deposit methods.
Your initial deposit will be matched up to the amount mentioned in your deposit-match offer T&C, or your losses will be rebated if using Fanduel. There may be a play-through requirement, so always check the terms and conditions of each offer.
Bonus funds will expire in the not-too-distant future and cannot be withdrawn for real cash, so make sure to use them before expiration.
Mobile Casino Bonuses
Are you using your mobile device? No big deal. It's basically the same process to sign up and use the casino bonuses.
Create a new player account at the online casino.
Use the promo code if requested.
Follow instructions to meet your deposit requirements and play through amounts to get your bonus money.
Top Roulette Strategies
Here are some top roulette strategies to keep in mind:
- Play games with a low house edge. American Roulette has twice as high of a house edge as European roulette. Online casinos offer both side by side, so why choose the one that will take your money twice as fast?
- Watch your bankroll. Only bet what you can afford to lose. Always have a bankroll set aside just for gambling, and never go above that. If you or a friend has questions about problem gambling, please reach out to 1-800-Gambler.
- Don't use strategies. Roulette is known for its betting strategies, like the Martingale, which consists of doubling your bet after every loss. I've seen more than eighteen black numbers in a row in the casino business. That's an awful lot of doubling.
- Use bonuses and free play. Bonuses and free play have expiration dates. You've worked hard to get them, so don't waste them.
- Play roulette games for free or in demo mode first. A free roulette game lets you practice and understand the game. Take the time to understand it before you bet real money, and you will come out ahead in the end.
Online Roulette FAQ
Here are some answers to some of the online roulette questions we often hear.
Can you play free roulette on mobile devices?
You can find free roulette games on iPhone, Android, or any other mobile operating system. The best online roulette casinos will have many different online roulette variations that you can play for free.
How do I find roulette games in the US?
If we are playing for real money, it is crucial that we only play in highly licensed and regulated US casinos. Still, even if we are playing for free, it is best to stick to either the manufacturer's website or demo mode in one of the US-licensed casinos. Other sites may play fast and loose with your data, spam you with email, or even give you a virus.
How do you play roulette with a live dealer online?
The beauty of the live dealer game is that it is exactly like playing a real casino. The only difference is that you will bet on the screen instead of the layout. Playing roulette online has never felt so much like being in a real casino. Sadly, while you can play the live dealer roulette games for very small stakes, we aren't aware of any live dealer games that allow playing free roulette online.
Are the results of roulette spins online really random?
We can't speak for every online casino. Still, any online casino licensed and regulated by West Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania or Rhode Island will have been tested and retested by multiple state gaming labs to ensure randomness.
Is there a way to win real money playing free online roulette?
It is unrealistic to win real money when playing for free. But you can expect email offers of free play, comped dinners, and even marked-down hotel rooms once you register and start playing free roulette with the larger online casino companies. There may even be promotions, prizes, or tournaments offered occasionally. And that's kind of like free.
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