Roulette Rules Explained for Different Variations
Online roulette is a game that relies on luck and has straightforward rules and gameplay: you place your bet and wait for the wheel to spin! The online and land-based roulette has the same rules and requirements that you need to understand before playing. So read on, as I’ve prepared a comprehensive guide to playing online roulette designed to help anyone looking to learn the roulette rules!
Basic Roulette Rules
Roulette is very simple to play, and the basic rules are straightforward. The first thing to do is select a quality online casino with your preferred roulette variant, for example, European, American, French roulette, etc. Then, place your favorite roulette bet and watch the wheel and ball spin – the roulette ball determines the winning bet. Still, the rules can vary slightly depending on your selected variant, which I’ll outline below, and here are the general roulette rules that govern all roulette variants:
- The European roulette wheel has pockets from 1 to 36 in red and black and a green zero pocket.
- The American Roulette wheel has pockets from 1 to 36 in red and black and two green zero pockets.
- You must place your bet on the dedicated spot on the roulette table by clicking the appropriate section.
- You can’t place a roulette bet after the wheel is spun
- Roulette bets can’t exceed the table limits
- Roulette bets are placed before the dealer spins the wheel
- The dealer is the one announcing the outcome and results and collects the losing bets
- The roulette winnings are paid directly to your account
Rules of Roulette for Different Variations
I’ve shared the basic roulette rules and etiquette when playing online, but I must share a more detailed outline of how the roulette rules vary per the roulette variant. Please note that these are globally famous roulette variants that you can find at top online casinos like 10Cric.
| Roulette variant | Zeros | Special rules/bets |
|---|---|---|
| European | One | No |
| French | One | En Prison & La Partage |
| American | Two | Basket bet |
| Double Ball Roulette | One/Two Balls | Gold Bet |
| Lightning Roulette | One | Lightning multipliers |
European Roulette
European or traditional roulette is the best-known and most-loved roulette variant. It is fun, engaging, and gives you a chance to win real money, and I suggest you test the 20Bet European roulette offer. The rules of European roulette are straightforward and very easy to learn:
- A single-zero wheel is used.
- The numbers on the wheel are random, alternating between odd and even and red and black.
- There is one zero pocket on the wheel.
- You can place inside and outside bets and some specialty bets that depend on the casino.
American Roulette
American roulette is a modern online roulette variant, and this one has 38 pockets on the roulette wheel, the numbers from 1-36 in red and black, and two green pockets, one single 0 and one double 0. Two zeros increase the house edge and odds, but these vary slightly from European roulette. Still, high rollers prefer American roulette, and you can play this online roulette at 10Cric:
- A double-zero wheel is usually used
- The layout of the numbers on the wheel is different from traditional roulette.
- You can place a specialty bet called the Basket bet: 0, 00, 1, 2, 3, and it pays 6:1
French Roulette
French roulette follows the same basic gameplay as European roulette but has two additional rules. These rules are the En Prison and La Partage, allowing you to save some of your money if your bet loses if the ball falls on a zero. You can try playing French Roulette at 22Bet:
- A single-zero wheel is used
- The layout is the same as traditional roulette
- En Prison: when the ball lands on zero, the even-money bets stay on the table for the next spin
- La Partage: when the ball lands on zero, half of the even-money bets are returned to the players
Lightning Roulette
Lightning roulette is a variant of European or traditional roulette, a live casino game popular at many online casinos like Spin Casino. In Lightning roulette, the rules are almost the same as traditional roulette, but a twist is added to the gameplay. Every round, lightning strikes a select number once the wheel is spun, and the lightning multiplies the possible payout.
- A single-zero wheel is used
- The layout is the same as traditional roulette
- When the wheel is spun, lightning strikes a number
- The lightning strikes are multipliers going from 25x to 500x
Double Ball Roulette
The Double Ball roulette is a specialty roulette version developed by Evolution Gaming. I include this version here as it is found at many top online casinos like 888Casino and has attracted a good following. Double Ball roulette has almost the same rules as European roulette, with slight differences and additions:
- A single-zero wheel is usually used
- The layout is almost the same as traditional roulette
- Two balls are used instead of one
- Both balls must be successful for “outside” bets to win
- Either ball must be successful for “inside” bets to win
- For the “Double Ball Jackpot” or Gold bet to win, both balls must fall on the chosen number
Online Roulette Payout Rules
Online roulette payouts are straightforward and almost the same in all variants. There are slight changes in the house edge and odds, but generally, the payout rules, described as ratios, are the same. The table below outlines the payouts and odds for European and American roulette bets:
| Roulette bet type | Potential payout | European roulette odds | American roulette odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight bet | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.60% |
| Split bet | 17:1 | 5.4% | 5.3% |
| Street | 11:1 | 8.1% | 7.9% |
| Corner | 8:1 | 10.8% | 10.5% |
| Basket | 6:1 | Not available | 13.2% |
| Line | 5:1 | 16.2% | 15.8% |
| Column | 2:1 | 32.40% | 31.6% |
| Dozen | 2:1 | 32.40% | 31.6% |
| Even/Odd | 1:1 | 48.60% | 47.4% |
| High/Low | 1:1 | 48.60% | 47.4% |
| Red/Black | 1:1 | 48.60% | 47.4% |
Roulette Rules For Minimum and Maximum Bets
Every roulette table has minimum and maximum bets allowed, displayed on the side of your screen. For example, a roulette table can have a ₹10 minimum and a ₹100 maximum bet, or ₹1000 max outside bets and ₹100 max inside bets.
These limits are in place to protect the casino and ensure it turns a profit. Also, it is more likely to find an online roulette game with a lower maximum for inside bets because of the higher payouts and higher maximum for the outside bets, as these have even money payouts.
“I suggest you set a budget before playing online roulette and turn to tables with lower minimums and maximums. This way, you don’t have to risk all your bankroll on fewer bets, but you can stretch it longer and play more rounds. Also, you can take advantage of some roulette strategies and learn how to maximize your profit and minimize your losses.” – Rohit Parmar, casino expert at ProIndianCasinos.
Where to Apply Roulette Rules in India?
You can apply your newfound roulette rules knowledge at top online casinos in India. Before you select one, please follow my list of selection criteria, as these ensure you will have a pleasant online experience, won’t be fleeced of your winnings, and your personal data won’t be brought at risk.
Always check the available deposit methods, the casino license, the casino bonuses, the mobile optimization or mobile casino app, other features like sports betting, and the available customer support.
FAQs
How does roulette work?
Roulette is a game of chance where you rely on luck. You place your favorite roulette bet, and the dealer spins the wheel in one direction and rolls the ball in the other. The number the ball will land on is the winner.
Are there any different online roulette rules?
The online roulette rules are generally the same; still, some variations are present in the different variants. For example, American roulette has two pockets with zeros; in French roulette, you get extra chances to recover your losses; in Lightning roulette, you stand to win a 500x multiplier payout.
What are the online roulette rules for neighbor bets?
Neighbor bets are used in French roulette; you can place a bet on 17 numbers that are the neighbors of zero, and this bet has a varied payout.
Can a strategy change the rules of the online roulette game?
No strategy can change the rules and odds of online roulette, but you can apply strategies to help maximize profits and minimize losses.
What is the difference between the European and American rules of roulette?
Almost all the rules are the same in European and American roulette. Still, the American roulette wheel has an extra pocket with a 00, which slightly brings down the winning odds and house edge.
Why are roulette rules different in the French roulette version?
The French roulette variant has the same rules as the European roulette, with the addition of the En Prison and La Partage. If the ball lands on the zero pocket, in En prison, the losing even money bets can stay on the table for the next round. In the La Partage, if the ball lands on the zero pocket, all even money bets get half the stake back.