Online roulette is the digital version of the classic casino game and is considered as one of the favourite online casino games among new and experienced gamblers. There are many different types of roulette games available at both land-based and online casinos, each with different rules, house edges, bets, strategies and more. Knowing the difference between the various game types can work wonders for your gameplay and overall opportunities to win. These games can be played for free or for real money at your favourite South Africa online casino.
Contents
- 1 Roulette Game History
- 2 The Basics of Playing Roulette
- 3 The Rules of Online Roulette
- 4 The Roulette Wheel
- 5 The Roulette Board
- 6 Types of Bets
- 7 Online Roulette Variants
- 8 The Advantages of Playing Online Roulette
- 9 The Best Online Casinos
- 10 Mobile Roulette
- 11 Playing Roulette for Free or Real Money
- 12 FAQs for Roulette
Roulette Game History
While there are numerous variations of the game of roulette, the origin of the game is not known. According to many theorists, the game was created and inspired by an Italian lotto-style game at the beginning of the 18th century. Like the lottery games, roulette uses a wheel to determine a winning number.
It is unknown who was the first person to come up with roulette, but the game soon became popular in casinos in France, with reports of roulette tables in casinos appearing as early as 1758. Roulette was one of the most common games at casinos by the end of the century.
This first version of the game, which is now called ‘American Roulette’, featured zero and a double zero slots. Earlier versions of the game even had an eagle symbol, which represented America’s liberty. This symbol has since been removed.
What is now called ‘European Roulette’ was developed in Germany as a way to decrease the house edge as it featured just one ‘0’ slot. Soon, this version became popularised and available at many land-based casinos. In the 1970s, casinos became widespread. American Roulette was favoured in the US, Canada and the Caribbean, while European Roulette was predominantly played throughout Europe. While South African online casinos feature both versions, American Roulette seems to be the most common version available in the country.
The Basics of Playing Roulette
The game is simple and is purely one of chance. This means that you do not need any skill to win. The game is played with a roulette wheel, which commonly contains 37 slots for European Roulette and 38 slots for American Roulette. The roulette numbers go from 0 to 36 for the former and 00 to 36 for the latter. These slots are split by colour.
Before the dealer spins the wheel, players are required to place their chips on the roulette board. This represents the bets being made. Players can bet in a particular number, groups of numbers or the colour of the number in which the ball will land. Once all bets are made, the ball is released by spinning the wheel. Once the ball has landed in one of the pockets, the winner is announced, and payouts will be made accordingly.
The Rules of Online Roulette
As mentioned before, roulette is an easy game to play once you understand the rules and gameplay. While the different variants of the game do come with some altered rules, the basic understanding and gameplay remain the same. Some important things to remember when playing for real money include the following:
Know the rules of the game. As mentioned, the different types of roulette come with some different rules, so make sure you understand them before betting any real money.
Improve your odds of winning by betting more than one number at a time. Combo bets are available, with red/back and odd/even bets being recommended to players just starting their igaming journey.
Strategies do not guarantee wins, but the right one can help improve your chances of winning and help you manage your bankroll.
The Roulette Wheel
The roulette wheel is synonymous not only with the game but in the world of gambling in general. It is one of the most popular symbols in the gambling world and the first thing you’ll notice when playing roulette. The roulette wheel contains either 37 or 38 numbered slots, depending on the version you are playing, with each slot separated by colours, usually red and black with the 0 and 00 slots usually green.
The numbers are not listed consecutively on the wheel and are instead out of sequence. The wheel is spun (by a dealer at live casinos or simply when you press Spin at an online casino) in one direction, and the ball spins in the opposite direction. The wheel is only spun after all bets are made and locked, which will take place on the roulette board.
The Roulette Board
This is where the bets take place. All players are advised to review and understand the board before playing real money roulette. The numbers on the wheel are replicated on the board, although they are in sequence and appear from left to right. The numbers are also separated into three columns to make betting easier. To bet on a number, just drop your chips directly on the number. When playing online, simply click on the number/s you want to bet.
Types of Bets
Before you can confidently make a bet in roulette, you need to know the types of bets available. There are several ways to place bets, although having that said, remember that the results are based completely on luck. Placing different types of bets do not have influence over the results of the game, with the only chance to gain an advantage being the betting variation you choose. Bets fall into one of two categories:
Inside Bet
This is a bet placed on one or more numbers located inside the roulette grid. There are even and odd numbers from 0 (and 00 for American Roulette) to 36.
Some of the most popular types of inside bets include:
Straight bet – A bet made on a single number.
Split – A bet made on two numbers on the same line
Street – A bet made on three numbers on the same line
Six Line – A bet that covers numbers in two joining lines
Outside Bet
These are bets that are placed outside the numbered grid. These offer ‘blanket’ bets and are said to improve your chances of winning on each spin. Outside bets allow you to wager on a group of numbers or colours, for example, all red numbers.
Popular outside bets include:
Odd or even – A bet made on an odd or even number.
Low or high – A bet made on one of two sets of number ranges – low: 1 to 18 and high: 19 to 36.
Dozens – A bet on one of the three dozen. This bet pays 2:1 and does not include the 0.
Online Roulette Variants
Thanks to the rise of modern technology, players have access to multiple variations of roulette at your fingertips. Some of the most popular game variants found at modern online casinos in South Africa include the following.
European Roulette – As mentioned before, European Roulette features numbered slots 0 – 36 and offers a lower house edge than its American counterpart.
French Roulette – French Roulette also features one ‘0’ on the wheel. The main difference between this version and European Roulette is two important rules. The first is the La Partage rule, which means that a player only loses half the bet if the ball lands on zero on all outside bets only. The second is the En Prison rule, which places inside bets ‘in prison’ whenever the balls land on zero. Unlike the La Partage rule that pays half of the bet back, it keeps the bet for the next spin. If a player wins the next spin, they get out of jail free, but if they lose, they forfeit the entire bet.
American Roulette – Considered by many as the standard version of the game. The wheel in this game features an additional ‘00’ square on top of the standard ‘0’, which improves the house edge and decreases player odds. That means this version is favoured by online and land-based casinos alike.
Mini Roulette – Features a smaller wheel with numbered squares going up to 12 instead of 36 and features just one zero square.
Multi-Ball Roulette – Features up to 10 balls that can be played at any one time. The number of balls used will have a direct effect on the players’ odds as it provides more chances to guess the outcome correctly.
Multi Wheel Roulette – This version features up to eight wheels that spin simultaneously. Bets will extend across all eight wheels, but players can deselect wheels to reduce the amount being used in each spin.
Live Roulette – A live version of the online game. This version features real dealers and is live-streamed with all activities taking place in real-time. Players can enjoy real-time action from your desktop or mobile device without ever having to set foot in a casino venue.
The Advantages of Playing Online Roulette
There are many advantages to playing roulette online versus at land-based casinos.
You have 24/7 access to all tables – Unlike brick-and-mortar casinos that have limited space and tables as well as operating hours, online players can take a seat at their favourite tables whenever the mood strikes. There are no queues, no waiting times and unlimited space. Also, due to the nature of an online casino, players can play at any time of the day or night.
You can play at your own pace – When you play at a live casino, you’re forced to play at the dealer’s speed and must consider the rest of the players at the table. Online roulette lets you play at your own pace with no considerations for anybody else. You can make bets and change bets as you see fit before pressing Spin. There is no pressure and no rush to start the game.
No need to commute – Lots of time and effort goes into visiting a land-based casino, especially if you live far away. Thanks to online casinos, there is no need to worry about travelling back and forth as everything is available directly from the comfort of your home. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can play your favourite roulette game wherever you are.
You have access to more rewards and bonuses – Online casinos do not have to spend as much on overheads as land-based casinos. Because of this, online casinos can provide players with much more bonuses and rewards. Just joining an online casino will give players access to a welcome bonus as well as additional daily and monthly offerings to registered members. From juicy deposit bonuses to loyalty rewards and ongoing bonuses, online players have plenty of opportunities to boost your bankroll through various bonuses and promotions.
The Best Online Casinos
Jackpot City
Jackpot City is one of the most reputable online casinos available to South African players. In addition to a generous welcome bonus for new players of up to R30 000, the casino offers a host of exciting and entertaining games to suit all needs. The lobby is packed with hundreds of slot machines, table games and live dealer games, including some of the most popular Roulette variations, including European, French and American Roulette.
Springbok Casino
Springbok Casino has become one of the best places for South African players to enjoy top-class gaming in a safe environment. Here, players can enjoy a wealth of free and real money gaming options, including a wide variety of Roulette games to choose from. In addition to the three most popular versions, namely American, European and French Roulette, Springbok Casino also offers Multiplayer Roulette, which allows you to play against other players online.
Yebo Casino
Yebo Casino is one of the best online casinos and online gambling sites in South Africa. It is a top-rated South African casino that offers a range of generous and exciting bonuses and promotions. The games lobby offers a diverse selection of casino games to suit all tastes, preferences, skill levels and budgets, including multiple Roulette options. Play your favourite casino game in a safe and fun environment, including American, French, European and Multiplayer Roulette.
Mobile Roulette
The igaming industry is constantly evolving, with mobile gaming becoming one of the most popular ways to play online. Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology, everyone now has access to their favourite mobile casino games from the palm of their hands. Mobile gaming is overtaking standard online casinos as the leading way to play a wealth of online gambling options, including slot machines, video poker, table games, live dealer games, sports betting and bingo, to name a few.
Casino operators and software providers have, therefore, optimised their products to suit mobile devices. Players can now access almost every Roulette game, including live roulette, from your mobile device. Mobile roulette can currently be enjoyed by casino players all over the world on their mobile devices, which has certainly boosted the popularity of the game to some extent. Most variations are available, whether you choose to play for free or real money.
Playing Roulette for Free or Real Money
Many online casinos offer players the chance to try a Roulette game for free or in demon mode before switching to the real money version. There are benefits to playing both versions, as detailed below:
The benefits of playing for free:
- The ability to try out new variants before placing any bets
- The ability to play for fun and enjoying unlimited games
- Practising your strategies without risking any money
- Playing instantly without having to sign up or make a cash deposit
The benefits of playing for real money:
- You have access to all roulette variants available at an online casino
- The chance of winning serious cash rewards
- The ability to unlock a wealth of bonuses and promotions
- You can enjoy the full betting experience
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FAQs for Roulette
✅What is the best bet in roulette?
The ‘best bet’ in roulette is the bet that is going to make you the happiest when playing. Some players prefer smaller, more frequent wins, while others want to play as long as possible for the chance to claim one large payout. Others may prefer bets that offer the lowest house edge. The best bet, therefore, depends on your personal preferences and what you hope to achieve out of the game.
✅Is there a strategy to win in roulette?
Roulette is a game of chance, which means the results are based on luck. That said, some strategies can be implemented to increase your chances of winning and helps you to manage your bankroll better. These strategies do not guarantee a win but do help you play a better game. Some of the most popular strategies include Martingale, Reverse Martingale, The Fibonacci, The D’Alembert and James Bond, to name a few.
✅Is there any skill in roulette?
While there is always some level of skill involved in managing your bankroll, luck is the main factor when playing roulette. The roulette wheel works similar to the lottery in that you don’t have any influence on the results. This ultimately makes it a game of chance with no skill required to win.
✅What is the best number in roulette?
Many research and data have been collected to try and find the best number in roulette. Some research and simulations have found that the best numbers were 20, 5, 29 and 2 depending on how many times they appeared respectively in a set amount of spins. That said, there is no proof that any one number is the best number in roulette.