Roulette is one of the many classic gambling games that has adapted to meet the needs of the modern gambler who loves to play online casino games. There are many reasons why people love online roulette and why it has remained a popular choice with beginners and veteran bettors alike.
If you’re new to the world of roulette and are interested in learning more about this exciting game, here’s what you need to know.
How Roulette Works
Roulette is a game where players place bets on the outcome of a spinning wheel that sits flat on a roulette table. This spinning wheel has numbered chambers, or pockets, that are black, red, and green. A ball is dropped into the spinning wheel, and winners are declared based on where the ball stops and what people wagered on.
This explains the basics of how roulette works, but if you’re interested in learning all the ins and outs of this casino table game, including how to understand the wheel and table layout in roulette, read on to get a more in-depth look at the experience.
The Roulette Wheel
There are two versions of roulette with different roulette wheels that you’ll commonly find at traditional or online casinos. This is important to know because it affects the roulette wheel layout and your chances of winning. These two versions of roulette are:
American Roulette
The American roulette wheel has 38 pockets in total. These pockets consist of the green 0, green 00, and black and red numbers 1 to 36. The American version has a house edge of 5.26% on all bets except one wager, which has a house edge of 7.89%.
European Roulette
The European roulette wheel has 37 pockets in total. These pockets consist of the green 0 and black and red numbers 1 to 36. This version of the game has a much lower house edge at 2.70%.
Roulette Bets
There are two categories of bets in roulette that you can choose to bet on. Each of these categories offers wagers with different payout odds. As with many other gambling games, the riskier the bet, the higher the payout. These categories are:
Inside Bets
Inside bets are bets on the longer section of the betting table with individual numbers. However, that doesn’t mean you are limited to only betting on single numbers. There are many inside betting options for you to choose from.
Here are all the inside bet options and their potential payouts:
| Bet | Description | Payout Odds |
| Straight up | A bet on any single number. | +3,500 |
| Split | A bet on two numbers that are vertically or horizontally next to each other. | +1,700 |
| Street | A bet on three consecutive numbers. | +1,100 |
| Corner or square | A bet on four numbers that share a common corner. | +800 |
| Five-number or top line | A bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This wager is only available in American roulette. | +600 |
| Six line | A bet on six consecutive numbers across two rows of numbers. | +500 |
Outside Bets
Outside bets are bets on the smaller section of the betting table that consists of groups of numbers. These bets have better odds, which is why they have lower payouts.
Here are all the outside bet options and their potential payouts:
| Bet | Description | Payout |
| Even/Odd | A bet on even or odd numbers. | +100 |
| Black/Red | A bet on red or black. | +100 |
| Low/High | A bet that the final result will be a number between 1–18 (low bet) or 19–36 (high bet). | +100 |
| Dozen | A bet that the final result will be a number from one of the three sets: 1–12, 13–24, 25–36. | +200 |
| Columns | A bet on one of the three vertical columns consisting of 12 numbers. | +200 |
4 Beginners Tips for Roulette
Now that you understand the basics of how to play roulette, you might be wondering if there are any beginner tips you can use to improve your odds of winning. Here is some general advice to keep in mind the next time you play.
1. Remember That Roulette is a Pure Game of Chance
Unlike games like blackjack and poker, which have an element of skill, roulette is entirely down to luck. No matter what you might read online, no system or strategy will improve your chances of winning. This is because you can’t use any information in the game to influence how you play the way you can with blackjack or poker.
2. Minimize Your Risk
If you want your bankroll to last, you’ll want to wager on the bets with the lowest house edge. These bets are odd or even, black or red, or low (1–18) or high (19–36) wagers. While this might not result in any surprising and exciting big wins, it will ensure you have the best chance of winning each time you play.
3. Don’t Chase Losses
One of the most important roulette money management tips is to know when to cut your losses if you’re on a bad run. No matter how much you think your luck is about to change, a series of losses doesn’t mean a win is just around the corner. Set a budget you can afford to lose when you play roulette and stick to it.
4. Have Fun
Remember, roulette wins are purely down to luck and whether fortune is smiling on you when you play. So remember to enjoy the game, even when the outcome isn’t exactly what you hoped for.
Roulette Games at BetMGM Casino
BetMGM Casino has a wide range of roulette titles that offer a great time when you play roulette online. Here are a few of the roulette games that offer a great experience:
- American Roulette
- Auto Roulette
- European Roulette
- Lightning Roulette
- Ultimate Roulette