Roulette is a simple enough game to learn. Pick a number, color or row, place your bet and cross your fingers in hopes that your bets win.
However, once you get past the initial learning phase doors start to open up. Behind one door you have betting systems, behind another is Las Vegas roulette games and another is online roulette, which includes online casinos, live dealer games and more.
You quickly realize this game is more than just picking a number or color. It starts becoming more complicated.
So it’s no surprise that we a ton of questions about how and where to play. Instead of answering all of these questions individually we thought it would be helpful to post the questions and answers below for all of our visitors to read.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Do roulette betting systems work?
No, to put it simply betting systems don’t work. The reason why betting systems don’t work for roulette is because there is no way to beat the game. Roulette is totally random; the outcome of the last spin has no effect on the outcome of the next spin, therefore making it impossible to determine what number is most likely to come up.
What are some advantages to playing roulette online?
There are a few:
- No need to travel. This saves you time and money spent on room, board and travel. You don’t need to take time off work either.
- Play whenever you want. All you have to do is get online and log-in.
- Smaller stakes. Most table games will have a minimum limit of $1. A smaller bankroll of $25 or $50 will go much further compared to live roulette.
- You can switch casinos in a matter of minutes.
- Play from the privacy of your own home.
How does the zero or double zero give the advantage to the house?
The easiest way to explain it is that if you were to only bet on black or red, it wouldn’t be a 50/50 bet because the zeroes are neither black nor red.
But it’s not only the zeroes that give the casino the advantage. It’s the fact that they pay 35:1 for any winning number, but there are 37 or 38 numbers depending on the roulette game you’re playing.
In other words, if you were playing American roulette and placed a $1 on every number (1-36, 0, 00) you’d win $35 plus your $1 original bet for $36 total. However, being as there is 38 numbers you’d of wagered $38 for a $2 loss.
Why can’t I play roulette to clear my deposit bonus?
I’ve never seen a casino explain why in their terms and conditions. However, the games that are excluded are the same from one casino to the next. If you look at each game there is a common theme — they all have low house edges. The house edge for roulette varies from 2.70 to 5.25%, depending on the game and bet you make.
So I would guess that the reason why casino doesn’t allow you to play these games despite having an edge (however small it may be) is because the edges are so small that the short term variance could easily favor the player. So not only is the player earning free bonus money, but they’re beating the casino for a profit while they’re at it. The casinos don’t like this, as you might imagine.
In general, any casino game where you can bet against yourself is not good for clearing bonuses as the casino either bans or restricts bonuses on them.
Can I own a roulette wheel?
That depends on a lot of things. What country do you live in? If in the US, what state do you live in? What are their laws? Many states don’t mind if you have casino equipment so long as it’s not in play and it’s considered an “antique.”
Can I play roulette online for free?
Yes. Most, if not all, online casinos allow you to play their games for free. Most casinos will require you to create an account first, but that should only take a couple of minutes to do.
Can Americans play roulette online for real money?
Yes. There is a handful or two of casinos that accept real money US customers. However, keep in mind that it’s not indicative of whether or not it’s legal for you to play online. You’ll need to check your local laws to be sure.
What are the best bets to make in roulette?
You have the highest chances of winning your bet by betting on a red/black, odd/even or on 1-18/19-36. However, your house edge will be the same regardless — about 2.7 or 5.26%. So it doesn’t really matter what you bet on.
What are the worst bets to make in roulette?
In terms of probability it’s any one number at 2.63%. In terms of house edge it’s the first five (5 numbers) bet (7.89% house edge for double-zero roulette).
What is a good online casino for roulette?
That’s subjective. Everyone’s needs are different in terms of games, promotions, where they live, and the banking methods they can use and so on. The best way to find this answer is to read our reviews here at Roulette Online and see which casino fits your needs the most.
Off the top of my head though, I’d start with Bet365 and Bovada Casino.
What casinos? have the lowest and highest table limits
Nearly every casino will have a table minimum of $1. Of the casinos we recommend, Bovada has a table maximum of $500 ($500 inside and out) and Bet365 has a $50 inside and $500 outside, and a total table bet of $500.
It is possible to talk to your casino management and get the option to play at higher tables, even if they don’t make them available to the public. That’s the case for VIP members, too. Of course, if you don’t want to play at the casinos we recommend you can find table limits as high as $10,000, and sometimes even higher.
Can I make a living playing roulette?
No. You can’t beat the game. There’s no way to shift the odds in your favor, which is needed to play and win long term. So that’s like asking if you can play the lottery for a living.
How old do I need to be to play roulette online?
At most casinos it will be 18. Sometimes it’s 21. You can find this out for sure by reading the terms of the casinos or contacting their support.
What are the lowest limits for roulette in Vegas?
It’s possible to find $3 roulette (and blackjack and craps). Your best bet to find the lowest limit table games is to travel off the strip.
What casinos have mobile roulette?
It’s possible to play on your iPhone, iPad and Android device at Bet365. You’ll play from your browser, though, and not from an app.
Platinum Play Casino is setup for mobile devices too. Their Android device offers roulette (according to their website), however, when I visited the site on my iPhone it appeared that they only had slots and video poker games.
Those are the casinos that we recommend checking out. That said, you should technically be able to play in any instant Flash casino so long as your device supports Flash. Find more about playing on your mobile in this guide.
What are the differences between American, European and French roulette?
The American roulette wheel has a 0 and 00 and a house edge of 5.26, the European has a 0 house edge of 2.70 and the French has only the 0, too, but unlike the European variation the French will pay half the bet back to the players if the ball lands on 0, which reduces the house edge to 1.35. We cover this in more detail on the roulette games page.
What is Russian roulette? Can I play it online?
Russian roulette is not a casino game, but a game played with a gun. The idea is that one bullet is loaded, the cylinder is spun and people take turns firing at their heads. They’re gambling on whether or not that shot will be the one with the bullet. We don’t recommend playing this game for obvious reasons.
Are betting systems illegal? Can I use the Martingale online?
To the best of our knowledge betting systems aren’t illegal, so long as they’re not cheating. If you’re playing the game correctly then you can use whatever system you want, even the Martingale. Betting systems will have the same effectiveness online as they do live — none.
I want to host roulette and blackjack night. Will I make money if I’m the dealer?
Technically, yes. However, keep in mind that both games have small house edges, therefore you can experience large swings in favor of you or the players. The point that I’m trying to make is that although you should win in the long run, you will need to be prepared for the short term swings. You’re going to want to have enough money to cover player wins.
What casinos offer free spins for roulette?
These types of promotions change often. We recommend reading our reviews which will have all the up-to-date promotions listed for each casino.
Are online casino games fair? Can I trust them?
Yes. The caveat here is that you need to play at legitimate casinos. Those casinos use random number generators to determine what number the ball lands in, and those RNGs are tested by companies to prove that the results are fair and random.
In terms of trusting a casino — the best way is to use our reviews and recommendations. We only recommend casinos we play at (or would play at) ourselves. Read about our rogue casinos here.
What types of betting systems do people use for roulette?
There are several betting systems you can use:
- The Column King
- Cuban
- D’Alembert
- Fibonacci
- Green Black Attack
- Guetting
- Labouchere Cancellation – Reverse Labouchere
- Law of the Third
- Martingale – Anti-Martingale & Grand Martingale
- Oscar´s Grind
- Pivot
- Six Pence
- Wells Pendulum
Each system will tell you how to adjust your betting depending on how much you bet before and whether you won or lost. Keep in mind that betting systems should be used for fun only. You’re not actually going to win with them.
What is the best casino for free roulette?
Bovada is one of our top picks. They accept US players and don’t require you to have an account to play for free in their Flash casino.
What casinos in Las Vegas offer European roulette?
The Las Vegas casinos that have single zero roulette include:
- Bellagio
- MGM Grand
- Rio Suites
- Wynn
How much money can you win playing roulette while betting on black/red?
None. Truth be told, you’ll lose money in the long run betting on black or red. You’re going to win either bet a little more than 47% of the time, and you need 50% to break even.
In the short term you can win money, but there’s no way to determine how much.
Will the casinos in Las Vegas allow me to track previous numbers with a pen and paper?
Yes. In fact they’ll probably give you a paper and pen to do so. However, many roulette tables have a sign that shows the last 20 or so numbers, so there’s no need to do it yourself. Keep in mind that showing the numbers is merely a mind game — they show the numbers as if knowing the previous numbers makes a difference, when in fact it has no bearing on the outcome of future numbers.
Do I have to pay taxes on my roulette winnings?
Yes. The rule of thumb is that if you win more than $600-$1500 (depending on the game) you’ll need to report it as additional income. You’ll want to talk to your accountant to determine if you’ll need to pay taxes, and how much you should set aside.
What are the odds of any one number on a roulette layout?
1/37 or 1/38 depending on the variation you’re playing.
How do I learn how to play roulette?
The rules are very simple. You’ll choose a number or bet and place your wager. If the outcome is what you bet on, you win, and if not, you lose. That’s the basic gist of it. However, you can read our rules, strategy or tips page to learn the finer details.
Can I play live dealer roulette?
Yes. International players will be able to play live dealer roulette. Of the casinos we recommend Bet365 has live dealer games.
How does live dealer roulette work?
It’s the same idea as non-live dealer roulette. You’ll go to a table, choose and place your bets. The key difference is that there is a live dealer which is shown via a live feed in a brick and mortar casino. You’ll be able to chat back and forth with the dealer, and possibly tablemates.
One key difference from live dealer roulette and video roulette is that live dealer roulette cannot be played for free. Those games usually have a limited number of seats, so they need to be filled with paying customers. Plus, the casinos need to pay their dealers.
What casinos offer multi-player roulette?
32Red offers multi-player roulette.
What is the etiquette for live casino roulette?
Etiquette is as follows:
- Avoid getting too drunk. This is so that you’re not falling into other players or otherwise being loud and annoying.
- Limit how much you smoke. Not everyone wants to smell like an ashtray.
- Follow the dealer’s instructions and pay attention to their announcements. They’ll tell you when to make a bet and when you cannot make any more bets.
- Tip your dealer. Part of the dealer’s income comes from gratuity. If you think your dealer did a good job you should tip them.
- Understand the rules and lingo. That way you don’t slow the action down.
Common sense will go a long ways here.