Play Roulette Online For Real Money UK
As one of the most iconic casino games, it’s no surprise that roulette has maintained its popularity with the shift to online casinos.
Now, there is a range of options for playing roulette online; there’s standard roulette, variations such as mini roulette and 2-ball roulette, and live dealer roulette - providing the social aspect of a brick and mortar casino and the convenience of online.
Whether you are a beginner or a casino veteran, this page will explain everything you need to know about roulette and playing it an online real money casino.
How To Play Roulette Online
Roulette can seem a bit complicated when you first see it with the wheel at one end of the table and the grid showing all the possible bets - known as the layout - on the other end of the table. However, once you learn what each part of the layout means and its role, it can become a lot easier to understand.
The layout is set out as a grid comprised of 3 columns and 12 rows. These cells contain the numbers 1 to 36, and at the head of the grid is a zero (0) - and double zero (00) if playing American roulette (more on this later) - these are known as the inside bets. Surrounding this grid are boxes containing other possible bets, known as the outside bets.
The wheel has pockets corresponding to the numbers in the layout, alternating between red and black pockets, as well as high and low numbers. The zero pocket(s) are green so as not to satisfy any bets - including red or black.
In the simplest terms, to play roulette, you place a bet on where you think the ball will land on the wheel. If correct, you win. If not, you lose.
Different Types of Bets in Roulette
As mentioned above, you can place two different types of bets in roulette: inside bets and outside bets.
Inside bets are those placed on the numbers within the grid in the layout. These can potentially offer higher payouts than outside bets but have lower chances of landing. There are numerous bets you can place that fall within inside bets. They are as follows:
- Straight Up: Bet on a single number by placing your chip(s) directly on the selected number on the grid. This bet has a 35:1 payout.
- Split: Bet on 2 adjacent numbers by placing your chip(s) on the border they share. This bet has an 11:1 payout.
- Street: Bet on 3 adjacent numbers that form a row by placing your chip(s) on the outside wall of the last number in the row. This bet has an 11:1 payout.
- Corner: Bet on 4 adjacent numbers by placing your chip(s) on the corner where all 4 cells meet on the grid. This bet has an 8:1 payout.
- Six Line: Bet on 6 adjacent numbers in a similar way to the Street bet, but instead of just on the outside wall of the last cell, place your chip(s) on the outside corner where the last cells of the two rows meet to show it covers the 3 numbers in both rows. This bet has a 5:1 payout.
In American roulette, there is an additional inside bet that can be placed on 5 specific numbers. These are the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. To place this bet, you must place your chip(s) on the corner where the 0 cell meets the 1 at the edge of the grid. This bet has a 6:1 payout.
Outside bets are those placed on groups of numbers and are so labelled as they are positioned on the layout just outside the grid of the 37 numbers. The outside bets include:
- Red/Black: Bet on the ball landing on either a red number or a black number. This bet has a 1:1 payout.
- Odd/Even: Bet on the ball landing on either an odd number or an even number. This bet has a 1:1 payout.
- Low (1-18)/High (19-36): Bet on the ball landing on a low number or a high number; between 1 and 18, or between 19 and 36. This bet has a 1:1 payout.
- Column: At the end of the 3 columns that form the grid, there are boxes where you can place your chip(s) to bet on the ball landing on a number within the corresponding column. This bet has a 2:1 payout.
- Dozen: The grid is separated into 3 groups of 12 by boxes on the side, where you can bet on the ball landing in the first dozen (1-12), second dozen (13-24) or third dozen (25-36). This bet has a 2:1 payout.
Choose From Different Roulette Games
There are 3 main variations of roulette. These are American roulette, European roulette, and French roulette. Their differences are subtle but can make for different playing experiences.
In this section, we will highlight the key differences between these variations.
American Roulette
American roulette has 38 pockets on the wheel, rather than the typical 37. This is due to the presence of a 00 pocket in addition to the 0 and numbers 1-36. This results in American roulette having a larger house edge than the European and French variations.
The house edge in American roulette is 5.26%.
European Roulette
European roulette has 37 pockets on the wheel, 0 and the numbers 1-36. The house edge in European roulette is 2.70%
French Roulette
French roulette is much the same as European roulette, with a 0 pocket and the numbers 1-36. However, in French roulette, there are two rules that may be in place; these are the ‘La Partage’ and the ‘En Prison’ rules.
- La Partage: This rule holds that if the ball lands on 0, you receive half of your bet back (in European and American roulette, this bet would just be lost).
- En Prison: This rule holds that if the ball lands on 0, the bet is held in place (in prison) for the next spin. Say you bet £5 on red, and the ball lands on 0, then your bet will be held on red for the next spin. If the ball lands on a red, then you would receive your £5 back. If not, then you would lose the £5.
These rules only apply to the even-money bets, such as red/black, odd/even, and high/low. You have to check which rule is in effect when selecting a game of French roulette; La Partage is the default.
The house edge in French roulette is the same as in European roulette. However, if the La Partage rule is in effect, the house edge is 1.35%.
Play Roulette Online For Real Money
Just like in brick-and-mortar casinos, roulette can be played online for real money. Meaning you can bet with and potentially win real money.
There are many options for online roulette, be sure to have a look around to see what different roulette games offer. You can choose between American, European and French roulette; different games will also have different table limits on the bets you can place. There are also other roulette games such as mini roulette, multi-wheel roulette, and 2-ball roulette, to name a few.
All of the above can be played for real money at online live casinos. Since it deals with real money, your money, be sure to choose a respectable online casino you can trust and ensure it is licensed within your jurisdiction. Kong Casino is one such casino, safe and secure, fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, with responsible gambling support available on the site.
Play Roulette With Real Dealers
Here at Kong Casino, we also offer live dealer roulette. This helps to combine the social aspect and in-person excitement of playing roulette in a brick-and-mortar casino with the convenience and accessibility of an online casino.
In live dealer roulette, you play via a live stream of a dealer working a real roulette wheel. You place your bets virtually, the dealer calls time on placing bets, then spins the wheel and drops the ball. Any winnings are then paid out, and this repeats, just like in a land-based casino.
You can also chat with other players using the live chat function, and this can also be used to interact with the dealer.
Roulette Strategies & Tips
There is no way to improve your odds of winning in roulette. However, using the outside bets could potentially give you a better chance of winning compared to the inside bets. This is because they cover more pockets on the wheel. But, of course, this is balanced by the lower potential payouts.
What’s more, many players use bet management strategies in order to try to mitigate losses and as an effort to recover any already made.
In this section, we will cover a few of the most popular strategies used by roulette players. It is important to note that these strategies are implemented using the even-money outside bets only, as they typically have the best odds of all bets in roulette.
Martingale System
Following a loss, double the bet amount for the next bet. If you win the next bet, go back to the initial bet amount. If you lose, double the bet amount again.
For example, if you start on a £5 bet and lose, the next bet to place will be £10. If you lose again, the next bet will be £20. If this bet wins, your next bet will be £5 again.
If winning on the initial bet amount, stick with this bet amount.
This method can potentially help to recover losses, but it can be unforgiving if you hit a losing streak. The large jumps in the bet amount mean losses could quickly pile up.
D’Alembert System
Select a starting bet amount and use this as your ‘unit’. Increase your bet by one unit for every loss and decrease it by one unit for every win.
For example, if you lose on a bet of £3, the next bet will be £6. If you lose on the next bet also, then the following bet amount will be £9. However, if you won the £6 bet, the next bet amount would be £3 again.
This roulette strategy could be slightly more forgiving than the Martingale, but again, the bet amounts being placed can end up climbing quite quickly.
Paroli System
This strategy is the inverse of the Martingale strategy. Instead of doubling your bet after every loss, you double it after every win. However, there’s more.
The bet amount is reset to the starting amount after each loss, but also after 3 consecutive wins.
For example, if you start with a bet of £2 and win, the next bet will be £4. If this bet lost, you would go back to betting £2, but if it won, you would move on to betting £8. Following the £8 bet, you return to betting £2, whether it is a win or a loss. If it won, then this would be the 3rd consecutive win, so you would return to the initial bet, and if it lost, you would return to the initial bet amount as normal following a loss.
Can Roulette Be Beaten?
If by beaten, you mean is there a way to cheat or ensure you win? Then the answer is no. There isn’t a way to beat the game of roulette; it is purely based on chance.
You place your bet before the wheel is spun and the ball is dropped, so even if it could help, you cannot study where you think it will land. There is always a table limit (maximum bet limit) to prevent those who are betting higher amounts from being able to use strategies such as the Martingale or Fisher systems to their full effect. You simply place your bet and wait for the outcome.
Between limits placed by the casino and just the rules of roulette, there is no way to beat it.
Play Roulette Games On Your Mobile
With the rise in online casinos, there has also been a rise in mobile play. As such, the majority of games on online casinos are built using HTML5 software, making them compatible with mobile devices. This applies to online roulette as well!
You don’t even need to download any apps; you can play roulette online by visiting the online casino’s site as you would on a laptop or desktop.
Kong Casino offers a selection of online roulette games that are compatible with mobile devices, including live dealer roulette!
Online Roulette FAQs
Is There Any Skill In Roulette?
There isn’t any skill required for roulette. Unlike games such as poker or blackjack, where decision-making can affect your chances of potentially winning, the only decision you make in roulette is what bet to place.
You know the chances of each bet landing before you place it, so you accept those odds when placing the bets; the decision to pick a certain number over another has no bearing on the outcome.
The house edge remains the same regardless of your actions in roulette.
Can You Keep Doubling Your Bet On Roulette?
You can bet however you like in roulette. If you wish to keep doubling your bet, you can do just that. However, there is always a table limit, so you won’t be able to keep doubling your bet indefinitely. As soon as you place the max bet, you can go no further.
What’s The Difference Between American & European Roulette?
In American roulette, the wheel has 38 pockets and a higher house edge of 5.26%. These are the numbers 1-36, 0, and 00. Whereas European roulette only has 37 pockets, the numbers 1-36 and 0, as well as a house edge of 2.70%.
Is There Any Proven Roulette System?
Unfortunately, no, there is no proven roulette system as the house always has an edge.
In theory, the Martingale strategy could work if there were no limits to the bet amount.
Unfortunately, the casino implements table limits to combat systems such as the Martingale. So, there is no proven system that the casinos have not found ways to combat.
How Much Can You Bet On Roulette?
This varies from table to table in a casino, and the same is true for online. Each roulette game will have a different maximum bet.
You can find this by loading up an online roulette game you want to play and either use the arrows present on the screen to cycle through the bet amounts and see the betting limits, or you can load up the game information. This is normally visible on the screen under an information (i) icon. This can tell you the minimum and maximum bets you can place.
What Is The Smartest Bet In Roulette?
Potentially, the smartest bets to place in roulette would be the even money outside bets, such as red/black, odd/even, and high/low. These have the best odds of all available bets in roulette. In European and French roulette, they have a 48.65% chance of landing. In American roulette, they have a 47.37% chance of landing. The 0 pocket is what causes it not to be 50%, and in American roulette, the 00 pocket adds to this and further lowers the chance of these bets landing. However, it is important to remember that roulette is a game of chance and completely random in nature.
Is Roulette Rigged Online?
No, roulette is not rigged online. To emulate the randomness of dropping the ball into a spinning wheel, online roulette games use a Random Number Generator (RNG).
The RNG works by continuously producing a vast quantity of number sequences every second. Once you click the button for the game to drop the ball into the wheel, the sequence generated in that instance is used. The sequence corresponds to an outcome, i.e. the ball landing in a certain pocket.
There is no way to predict the outcome, and the casino cannot influence the outcome. RNGs are tested prior to being released by the developers and are regularly inspected and audited by a third-party company to ensure fair play.