How to Play Roulette: Beginner’s Guide

tips for playing roulette online

Roulette is a popular casino game that combines luck and strategy. In this beginner’s guide, the PlaySafe experts will discuss the roulette wheel and how it works. We’ll walk you through the rules, and different types of bets, and even provide tips for playing roulette online at the Best Safe Online Casinos Canada 2025.

Table of content

Roulette Rules


How to play online roulette? Before you start betting, be sure you know how roulette works. One positive aspect of roulette rules is that they are brief and straightforward:

  • Guess where the ball will land on a wheel with numbers on it; that’s the goal.
  • To wager, select a number or set of numbers and lay down chips on them.
  • Depending on how accurate your guess was, you may win anything from 1–35x your initial wager.

So there you have it, a brief rundown of the rules of roulette. To put it simply, you place bets on a numbered board in an effort to guess where the ball will land; if your prediction is correct, you win.

How Does Roulette Work: Basics Betting Options


There are two typical betting options available for betters. This includes Outside bet and Inside bets. Outside bets have a higher win rate than inside bets. The most common roulette is an outside bet. The player bets on better odds but is usually paid less. This bet is usually recommended for beginners. This is a general wager that the ball will fall into one of these categories. The best casino bonus offers no wagering for players.

Inside Bets (Specific Numbers):

Inside bets are against individual wheel numbers, while outside bets are against sets. They offer high payouts but have lower odds of winning.

Bet (Type)ExamplePayout
Straight UpPlacing a chip on a single number35:1
SplitPlacing a chip between two adjoining numbers17:1
StreetPlacing a chip on the line at the end of a row of three numbers11:1

Outside Bets (General Areas):

These bets cover larger sections of the wheel and offer lower payouts but with higher odds of winning.

Bet (Type)ExamplePayout
Columns (1, 4, 7 and 10, up to 34)Staking on the ball landing in one of the three vertical columns of numbers2:1
Dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36)Staking on the ball landing in one of the three dozen sections2:1
High (19-36) or Low (1-18)Staking on the ball landing in the high or low half of the numbers1:1
Even or OddStaking on the ball landing on an even or odd number1:1
Red or BlackStaking on the ball landing on a red or black number1:1

Improve Odds at Online Roulette


In our guides to roulette strategies, we discuss how to estimate roulette odds at all online platforms including 1 CAD minimum deposit casinos. You can calculate the odds by dividing the winning outcomes by the total number of possible outcomes.

Roulette Bet TypePotential PayoutEuropean Roulette Odds
Odds or Even1 to 148.6% (18 out of 37)
Red or Black1 to 148.6% (18 out of 37)
High (19-36) or Low (1-18)1 to 148.6% (18 out of 37)
Dozen (1-12, 13-24, 25-36)2 to 132.4% (12 out of 37)

How to Play in Different Types of Roulette


Roulette isn’t just one game! We discuss roulette variants in this section. The basic idea (betting on where the ball lands) stays the same, but each kind has its special features and rules. This way, you can find a roulette game that suits your taste. Check out the different versions available in the next section to know the type of roulette to play.

House Edge in Roulette:


We also discuss house edge in this online roulette guide. The house edge simply means the calculated advantage the online casino holds in roulette. It is a common phenomenon at online casinos with Paysafecard. This means the house is meant to profit in the long run, regardless of the strategy you employ. Players might win individual bets, but the house still profits over time. This is also applicable to some new slots online games.

FeatureAmerican RouletteEuropean RouletteFrench Roulette
Pockets38(1–36, 0, 00)37(1–36, 0)37(1–36, 0)
Zeros2(0, 00)1(0)1(0)
House Edge5.26%2.70%2.70%
Free PlayFree Spins/Bonus BetsFree Spins/Bonus BetsFree Spins/Bonus Bets. La Partage Rule: If the ball lands on zero, players lose only half their even-money bets.

Explanation:

  • Pockets: This indicates the total number of numbered slots and zero(s) on the roulette wheel.
  • Zeros: This shows how many green zero pockets are on the wheel. More zeros increase the house edge.
  • House Edge: This percentage represents the casino’s average profit over time. A lower house edge is more favorable for players.
  • Free Play (Some Casinos): While some casinos might offer free play options to try roulette, remember these don’t change the house edge and shouldn’t be a reason to play beyond your means.

American Roulette


Numbers 1–36, plus the zero and one, are divided into 38 sections on the American roulette wheel. Green represents the single zero and double zero, and black and red alternate for the 1–36. Predicting where the numbered pocket the roulette ball will land in is the primary objective for every player. This is accomplished by placing a bet on a specific number and hoping for the best in the outcome of the roulette spin. After you finish this American roulette online guide, you can now play at a mobile casino for real money.

American Roulette

European Roulette


The game of European roulette is played with a wheel that has 36 slots, each of which is numbered from 1 to 36 and alternately coloured red and black. It is comparable to American roulette in the majority of respects; however, the 0 and 00 sections are absent from the game. Additionally, the payout percentage is larger than that of American Roulette at top casino to pay with Google Pay. We also discuss the French version of the European roulette guide.

European&French Roulette

French Roulette


French Roulette online guide: The wheel used in French roulette is very similar to that used in European mobile roulette. A single zero (0) slot distinguishes it from all the others. You can place identical bets on the outside and the inside. Its popularity is also low and it can be found in some casino that accepts Boku.

Live Roulette


Live roulette ensures that you enjoy the benefits of a real casino on your screen. At top rated live casinos in Canada, you can play with real dealers, chat with other players and also watch the reel spin in real-time. You can enjoy all this in the comfort of your house. Learn more about live dealer roulette before you continue.

Roulette Strategies and Tips


Roulette Strategies and Tips

Though a little bit tricky, roulette is all about the ball’s landing! Here is some working strategy for players learning how to play roulette.

  • Balance Risk and Reward: Compare bet odds and payouts. Red/black and even/odd outside bets are safer but pay less. Inside bets (single numbers) pay more but are riskier. Select comfortable bets. Like roulette, online slots operate on RNGs.
  • Benefit from Bonuses and Features: Many online casinos provide roulette welcome bonuses or promotions. Explore these for more playtime. Before playing, learn how unique roulette variations function.
  • Stick to Your Limits: Among the top tips to play roulette online, this is one of the best strategies. Set a budget before you start and stick to it! It’s easy to become excited, so gamble responsibly. Only bet what you can afford to lose and enjoy the game.
  • Remember, Fun Matters: Roulette is random, thus winning streaks aren’t guaranteed (unlike Popular Casino Games for Canadians that need skill). Focus on having fun, not getting rich. Also, there are no 100% strategies to help beat roulette.

Types of roulette strategies

After you understand the rules of a roulette, there is a need to know the types of roulette strategies that fit your style of play. How to boost roulette winnings? You can do that by optimizing the roulette strategy that suits your style of play.

Types of roulette strategies

Progressive betting in roulette

A progressive roulette technique changes the wager between rounds based on the preceding bet. If they lose, Martingale players double their next bet. You can use a cashback casino bonus to improve your gameplay.

Non-progressive betting in roulette

A non-progressive roulette strategy is one where the betting amount stays the same regardless of the outcome of the previous bet. For example, the James Bond Betting Strategy requires players to place the same bets each round.

Streak or trend betting

Players may gamble on or against the trend to boost their odds at online casino British Columbia. If red has hit 7 times, you may think it will hit again or that black will win, so you wager. You use prior data to influence future bets.

However, a past spin won’t affect a future spin. Black’s 7-hit streak doesn’t matter. Since the outcome is random, red or black hitting next always has equal probabilities. So banking on prior numbers or patterns doesn’t help.

Factors that Affect Roulette Strategies


Before you choose a roulette strategy, you should know that several factors might affect its effectiveness. They include:

  • Game Type
    The mobile roulette version you play is crucial. American Roulette has two zeros, which boosts the house edge. Discover all roulette types here.
  • Betting Limits
    Table betting restrictions also matter. Some betting techniques won’t work at a low-limit table. Lower-limit tables make the Martingale Strategy challenging since players must double their wagers.
  • Bet Choice
    Strategies often focus on specific bet types (inside bets, outside bets). It is important to make sure that your chosen strategy works with your bet choice and bankroll management.
Stephen
Article by Stephen Olayanju Updated: January 3 2025
Stephen Olayanju is a professional casino content writer with 5 years of experience. He has been privileged to work with many popular casino brands, which are mostly ghostwritten. He’s a casino player and punter too, and has helped many players to get most out of gambling

FAQs

Is roulette an easy game?
Roulette is one of the casino games that is the least difficult to learn. Picking numbers and placing your wagers on the table is all that is required of you.
How good are the odds in roulette?
European roulette's winning number prediction chance is 1-in-37, or 2.70%. Playing 30 rounds gives you a chance of 55% of getting the outcome right. Long-term players can earn from 35:1 odds.
What is the best strategy to win at roulette?
Focusing on outer bets is the greatest method to win more roulette games or minimise the chance of losing money. Although these roulette bets don't yield huge wins, odds/even, red/black, and high/low offer the best odds.
Can a roulette betting system improve your odds?
Yes, good practice of a roulette betting system can improve your odds of winning. With good discipline and commitment to the system, you can be sure that you will better chance of winning at online roulette.
What are the odds of hitting red or black in roulette?
US roulette wheels have 18 black, 18 red, and 2 green slots (0 and 00). Same 47.4% chance of getting a black or red. A black/red bet has a 52.6% chance of the house winning all your chips.
Are there software programs that help you determine the best bets to make?
Data analytics, software programs can make use of algorithms, and data analytics to determine the best bet to make. However, the recommendation is not a sure guarantee that you will win.
Can math help you win at roulette?
You can make use of mathematical systems like D’Alembert Strategy, Martingale System or Labouchere System to improve your gameplay. However, these systems are not absolute and you should be careful when using them.
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