| Updated: A true casino mainstay, roulette has dominated gambling halls worldwide for centuries. Today, the game is available to players at the click of a mouse at hundreds of online casinos, where it comes in a variety of enticing forms, some traditional and others new and unconventional.
That is why we at BonusInsider created this page. Here, we share our knowledge of roulette, including its rules and the bet types it supports. We also introduce our readers to the top software vendors that supply roulette games to trusted online casinos.
On this page, you’ll discover the best variations of this iconic game available online. We also explain the most popular betting systems used at both online and land-based roulette tables. Let’s begin with a brief overview of roulette’s key rules.
Roulette Bets
Before we proceed any further, we would like to warn you that there is no way to change the odds of winning in this game. The odds of any given number hitting always remain the same – 1 to 35 on single-zero wheels – because roulette is based on independent trials; that is, the past does not impact the future, and previous results have no effect on the outcomes of subsequent spins.
With that out of the way, let’s look at the main categories of roulette bets. Check them out below, along with the payouts they offer when luck smiles upon you.
Outside Bets
Inside BetsOutside Bets
The chips used for outside bets are placed in the designated outside-bet area of the cloth-covered layout. This category includes several wagers that cover entire groups of numbers or number properties, such as parity and color. These bets offer higher chances of winning but come with lower payouts.
- Bets on number properties such as red/black, odd/even, and high (19 through 36)/low (1 through 18) pay even money (1 to 1) and lose when the ball settles in the green zero pocket unless the La Partage or En Prison rule is in effect.
- Column bets comprise three groups of 12 numbers each, positioned in the vertical columns on the table layout. For example, a bet on the middle column covers numbers 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, and 35. A winning column bet pays 2 to 1. It loses when zero hits, as neither 0 nor 00 belongs to any of the three columns.
- Dozen bets cover 12 numbers, as the layout is divided into three dozens. The first dozen contains numbers 1 through 12, the second spans numbers 13 through 24, and the third covers numbers 25 through 36. Under each dozen is a betting box where you place your chips. The boxes are labeled 1st 12, 2nd 12, and 3rd 12, respectively. These bets pay 2 to 1 and also lose when zero hits.
- The snake bet comprises the following 12 numbers: 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34. It gets its name from the zigzagging pattern these numbers form on the layout. This bet is not available at all roulette tables, but when it wins, it pays 2 to 1.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are placed either on individual numbers or on combinations of multiple numbers. The chips for these wagers are placed in the central area of the layout, which contains the numbers 0 through 36. You place your bet either in the box corresponding to a single number or at the intersection of your chosen numbers. Inside bet combinations can consist of two to six numbers.
- The straight-up bet is the highest-paying wager in roulette. It is placed on any single number from 0 through 36. If your number hits, you collect 35 chips for every chip you have staked.
- A split bet covers two numbers of your choice. Chips for split bets are placed on the line that divides two adjacent numbers on the table layout, such as 6/5, 6/9, or 8/11. A winning split bet pays 17 to 1.
- A street bet covers three consecutive horizontal numbers, such as 1, 2, and 3; 4, 5, and 6; or 7, 8, and 9. Chips are placed on the outer border of the first number in your chosen row. When the ball lands on any of the three numbers, your street bet wins at odds of 11 to 1.
- The double street bet covers six consecutive numbers positioned in two neighboring rows on the layout, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. With this bet, you place your chips at the intersection of the two rows. It pays 5 to 1.
- The corner bet covers four numbers whose boxes on the layout share a common corner, such as 1, 2, 4, and 5. You place the chips at the point where the horizontal and vertical lines of the betting boxes intersect. You receive a payout of 8 to 1 if any of your four numbers hits.
- The basket bet covers zero and the numbers 1, 2, and 3 in single-zero variations of the game. With this wager, you place your chips at the intersection of 0 and 3 or 0 and 1. This bet offers the same payout as the corner bet, 8 to 1, and wins if the ball lands on 0, 1, 2, or 3. A similar bet is available on double-zero tables, where it covers five numbers: 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.
- High Stakes Roulette
- Low Limit Roulette
- Fibonacci Roulette System
- Parlay Roulette System
- Martingale Roulette System
- Inside Bets
- Outside Bets
- Roulette Rules
- Roulette Strategies
- American Roulette
- French Roulette
- European Roulette
- American and European Wheel Sequences
- Roulette – From a Perpetual Motion Machine to a Casino Landmark
- Roulette Basics and Rules of Table Conduct
- Roulette's Bet Types
- The French Roulette Layout
- Independent Trials, Odds, and Casino Edge in Roulette
- En Prison and La Partage
- Taking Your Roulette Game to the Next Level with Call Bets
- The Many Faces of Roulette – Interesting Variations to Try
- Progressive Roulette Systems
- Reading Biased Wheels and Other Predictive Methods
- The Master of the Wheel Gonzalo Garcia Pelayo
- Improving Your Roulette Game
- Dispelling Roulette Myths
- How to Protect a Roulette Bankroll
- Software Providers of Online Roulette
- Roulette Games with Progressive Jackpots
- Live Dealer Roulette
- Roulette Goes Mobile
- Roulette in Literature, Film, and Television
Popular Roulette Games
Roulette Software
Industry frontrunners, such as the software studios listed below, all offer online versions of the legendary game of chance. The roulette games supplied by these vendors are visually striking and boast a number of extra features to further enhance online players’ experience. The graphics are sharp, and many of the variants are optimized for play on both desktop and mobile.
Playtech Microgaming NetEnt BetsoftPlaytech
Playtech offers a wide range of online roulette variations. The studio has created numerous roulette games that use single-zero and double-zero wheels. Prominent examples include New AR Roulette, Diamond Bet Roulette, Spread Bet Roulette, and 101 Roulette. The studio has also introduced live HTML5 roulette, giving players instant in-browser access to its live tables.
Microgaming
Microgaming is another reputable studio with a versatile catalog of online roulette variants. Established in 1994, it is a long-standing software vendor. Its titles include Multi-Player Roulette, Multi-Wheel Roulette, and Premier Roulette. You can also play against Microgaming’s dealers at the Playboy-branded live tables.
NetEnt
NetEnt is a leading Swedish software studio founded in 1996. This vendor may not offer as broad a range of roulette options as the previous two suppliers on our list, but its games emphasize gameplay, compatibility, and graphics. NetEnt’s most popular variants include American, European, and French Roulette, as well as Roulette Advanced.
Betsoft
Betsoft is a European online casino software developer that specializes primarily in 3D slots. However, the studio has also released several roulette variations notable for their playability, visuals, and intuitive interfaces. Examples include Betsoft’s Zoom Roulette and Common Draw Roulette.
Roulette Variations
There are dozens upon dozens of roulette variations available online for both real-money play and practice. This can make it difficult for anyone to separate the wheat from the chaff, especially if they lack experience playing the game online. We have tested virtually every roulette variant imaginable, so trust us when we say these are the six must-try variations every die-hard fan should play.
Multi-Wheel Roulette Progressive Roulette Double Ball Roulette Spread Bet Roulette Mini Roulette Common Draw RouletteMulti-Wheel Roulette
Multi-Wheel Roulette is one of the less conventional versions of roulette available online. There are two distinct variants. The version provided by Microgaming uses eight wheels that you can activate and play simultaneously, while the Playtech version features six wheels. Each wheel you activate requires an additional bet, so keep that in mind.
Progressive Roulette
Progressive jackpots are no longer reserved exclusively for slot players. Roulette fans can also win a pooled jackpot prize through progressive roulette variations developed by Microgaming and Playtech. Large pots can be won in Roulette Royale, Frankie Dettori’s Jackpot Roulette, Dragon Jackpot Roulette, and Age of the Gods Roulette. Some variants require you to place a small optional side bet to qualify for the pot.
Double Ball Roulette
Double Ball Roulette uses two balls instead of one. Software supplier Felt has produced a variant in which even-money bets win when both balls land on the same outcome. The game supports unconventional wagers such as Red and Black, which pay even money when one ball lands on each color. If both balls land on the same color, the payout is 3 to 1.
Spread Bet Roulette
Playtech’s Spread Bet Roulette stands out because it offers a wider range of betting options. This is made possible by a gilded inner wheel, which lets you place side bets and potentially win up to 400 times your initial stake.
Mini Roulette
Mini Roulette is another Playtech creation that differs from the traditional version of the game. It follows the same rules but is played on a smaller table layout and uses a wheel containing only the numbers 0 through 12. The payouts for straight-up, split, corner, and dozen bets are reduced to account for this difference.
Common Draw Roulette
Software provider Betsoft has added a social element to online gaming with the introduction of Common Draw Roulette. This multiplayer version includes a chat box that lets you talk with other participants. Because of this feature, you have 32 seconds to place a new bet between spins.