February 24, 2021
Tips for Getting Started With Online Roulette
So you want to play some online roulette but don’t know where to start? Use our guide to help you understand how online roulette works and how to choose the best online casino for you.
Roulette is one of the more straightforward casino games to learn. In live roulette, a dealer drops a ball into the wheel while it’s spinning, and this ball will land in one of the numbered pockets. If you’ve bet correctly on which number would come up, you’ve won. There are no cards to keep track of and no antes or calls you’ll have to make to stay in the game.
Online roulette is much the same; though, instead of a physical wheel, you’re often playing with a digital wheel that spins on your screen. Which number the ball “lands” on is determined by a random number generator instead of centrifugal force and gravity. But the thrill and the odds of winning are still exactly the same, so plenty of people have turned to online roulette to try their luck.
If you’re just starting out, trying to figure out online roulette might seem like a big undertaking. Read these tips below to get a sense of how best to find which online casino works best for you and how to make your first bets.
How the Roulette Wheel Works
The digital roulette wheel will have 37 or 38 numbers, depending on if there’s a double zero or not. You’ll see the numbers randomly dispersed along the wheel, alternating between red and black (except for the zeroes, which are typically green).
After you’ve locked in your bets, the digital wheel will spin in one direction while the white ball spins in the other direction. It will eventually come to “rest” on a single number. If you guessed the right number, you win.
Placing Your Bets
Roulette allows for so many different types of bets to maximize your wagers. You can choose to bet on one single number or cover a lot of numbers with a single bet.
Take a careful look at the roulette layout, where you’ll be placing your bets. While the numbers on the wheel are scattered, the numbers on the layout are listed consecutively and ordered into three columns to make them easier to choose.
Here are some major bets you can make beyond simply placing all of your chips on just one number:
- Dozen: Bet on the first, second, or third dozen out of the 36 numbers available.
- Column: Bet on any of the three columns on the layout.
- Low or High: Bet on either the first 18 numbers or the second 18 numbers.
- Red or Black: Bet on whether the winning number will be red or black.
- Even/Odd: Bet on whether the winning number will be even or odd.
- Split Bet: Bet on two numbers by straddling the line between the two numbers.
- Street Bet: Bet on three numbers in a row by placing your chips on the outside border of a full row.
- Corner Bet: Bet on four numbers at once by putting your chips on the intersection where four numbers meet.
- Line Bet: Bet on six numbers by making your chips straddle the line between two rows.
If you’re betting on broad propositions like red/black or even/odd, the risk is relatively low, and so your potential payout is lower. If you’re betting on specific numbers, the risk is far higher, but so is the potential payout.
Finding the Right Online Casino for You
So many online casinos exist right now that you might be tempted to sign up for the first one that you find. Instead, you should do some research first to see which casino is right for your needs and your playing style:
- Look for online casinos that have an extensive library of casino games. You don’t want to feel stuck playing the same thing all the time.
- Read reviews of online casinos. You can get a sense of the quality of their offerings and what people like most about each one.
- Explore the casinos’ websites for information about their licenses and customer service. You don’t want to accidentally sign up for a casino with little to no player protections and dodgy customer care.
If you want to try one out first, most online casino sites allow you to play their games for free. This lets you get comfortable with how to navigate the site before you make a deposit.
You’ll also want to find out the ways you can access an online casino’s roulette games. Look for sites that offer options like:
- Download for PC
- Download for Mac
- Mobile browser
- Mobile app
This way you have as many options as you’d like for playing. If you find an online casino that allows computer download, mobile browser, and a mobile app, then you’re in great shape because then you’ll be able to play anywhere.
The Registration Process
You’ll most likely see a big “JOIN NOW” button on the casino’s homepage, so that part is easy. Then, you’ll need to enter your name, date of birth, contact information, billing details, and more.
Make sure that you’re entering an email address that you’d be comfortable with receiving promotional emails from the casino. If you’re trying to play at a New Jersey online casino, you may also have to provide proof that you live in New Jersey to ensure that everything is on the up-and-up.
Finally, you’ll get to choose your username and password. You probably won’t be able to change your username, so pick something that you’re comfortable with other players seeing if you want to use any multiplayer games.
Take Advantage of Casino Bonuses
Plenty of online casinos extend new-player bonuses as soon as you sign up with them. Some offer free credits to play with, while others will offer you free spins. Think of these as more accessible versions of the “comps” that high rollers might get at a live casino. Instead of having to drop thousands of dollars, though, all players get rewarded for their site activity somehow with online bonuses.
You’re honestly leaving free money on the table if you don’t try to use these bonus offers whenever you can. Just make sure to read the terms and conditions on the casino’s website about what restrictions might apply or any requirements you have to meet before earning rewards.
Maybe Try Live Dealer Online Roulette
This is a form of online roulette that feels a bit more like “the real thing.” With live dealer online roulette, you’re still playing at home, but you get to watch a dealer in a casino spin the wheel while the whole process is streamed to you.
On the casino’s website, you should see a section for live dealer games. The casino may even have several different tables for different stakes levels. You can choose your game (or often choose your dealer) and get ready to bet.
You won’t be able to interact with the dealer like you would in a brick-and-mortar casino, but the dealer can still speak to you. They’ll tell you when you can make your bets, spin the wheel, and call out the winning number. They’ll also ensure that your balance reflects any wins.
This type of roulette is a nice happy medium between playing at a physical casino and playing online at home. You get the interpersonal aspect mixed with the convenience of playing where you’re most comfortable.
Pace Yourself
Because online roulette is so convenient, it can be easy to get absorbed in your game so much that you lose track of time. Start off by setting a timer for yourself, and limit your playing time to just that. This way, you won’t overload yourself too soon by playing all day, and you won’t accidentally blow through your bankroll if you’ve hit an unlucky streak.
Use These Online Roulette Tips To Get Yourself Started
Playing roulette online can be a great way to unwind and make a little extra money. It’s also a safe, fair, and convenient way to gamble when you can’t make it to a live casino. But before you place your first bet, use these tips to make sure you’re informed about how to get the best bang for your buck.