Of all the different casino games, roulette is one of the best known and most recognisable. The way the game works is very simple indeed. There’s a wheel with numbered pockets on it, and you have to bet on which of these the ball lands. The croupier spins the wheel in one direction and drops a ball on to it in the other direction. The ball goes around a circular track and comes to a stop in one of the pockets, with bets then paid out accordingly. With the online version, there’s obviously no croupier, with everything done by the computer instead. Pretty much every online casino has some roulette games available to play, with many offering a separate section dedicated to the game – EuroGrand Roulette is a classic example. If you’re keen to try out some roulette games, you’ll see that there are lots of different ones out there. Here’s a look at 10 of the most popular ones.
10 – American Roulette
There are two main types of this game: American and European. The key difference between the two is the number of pockets on the wheel. European variation has 37: there’s the numbers 1-36, as well as the 0 pocket. American type has all of these, plus an extra 38th pocket, 00. Betting options and payouts are the same for both versions. However, because the wheel of the American type has one extra pocket, your chances of winning are slightly lower. This is the most common type of roulette online and the one most people will play.
9 – French Roulette
This version is almost identical to the European one, except that it has two extra rules. According to the ‘la partage’ rule, if you’re placing an even money bet, and the ball lands in the 0 pocket, you receive exactly half of your stake back. The ‘en prison’ rule lets you hold your stake over for the following spin. If you win, your stake will be returned to you in full, if you lose it will be forfeited.
8 – Mini Roulette
A great option for beginners, this version is played with a much smaller wheel that has far fewer numbered pockets and betting options than the standard European/American wheel. It’s ideal for those who are still getting used to how the game works.
7 – Multi-Wheel Roulette
As its name suggests, this game is played with more than one wheel. The way it works is usually as follows: you choose how many wheels to bet on, then choose what bet to place, with the same bet being applied to all active wheels. In other words, you can’t choose different bets for different wheels. All of the wheels you’re betting on are spun at the same time then any payouts are made. These games can have up to eight wheels you can bet on.
6 – Progressive Roulette
If you find a progressive roulette game at an online casino, you’ll be able to play for a much larger cash prize. Whenever you place a bet, a portion of it goes towards the progressive jackpot. The way you win the jackpot varies from game to game. You might have to land the same number on several consecutive spins or trigger some sort of mini-game or bonus round that gives you a chance of hitting the jackpot. Some games even have more than one progressive jackpot: each one starts off at a different amount, with the highest one the hardest to win.
5 – Double Ball Roulette
As you might have guessed from its name, this game uses two balls instead of one. It gives you more chances of winning. For inside bets, only one ball needs to land in a corresponding pocket, whereas for outside bets, you have to have both balls in corresponding pockets. This game puts a great twist on the classic game – it’s not too common just yet, but it’s sure to take off and become more widely available over the next few years.
4 – Pinball Roulette
What makes this innovative game so appealing is that it combines pinball and roulette. There’s no wheel in this game – instead, you play a pinball game. You click to release the ball and after passing through bumpers and pins, it eventually lands in one of the moving pockets at the bottom. These moving pockets are the same as the ones in European type.
3 – 3D Roulette
This is a standard game (usually the European version) that’s so-called because of its 3D graphics. It does an excellent job of bringing to life the wheel in great detail. It’s a great game to play for those who appreciate high-quality graphics and enjoy immersive online gambling experiences.
2 – European Roulette
As previously mentioned, the European type of this game has one less pocket than the American version. The odds of winning are therefore slightly higher. It’s for this reason that, of these two main versions of the game, it’s European roulette you’ll see more often at online casinos. Most casinos offer American variation as well, though many obviously favour the European version because of its better chances of winning.
1 – Live Roulette
Live games with real-life dealers combine the convenience of gambling at home or on the go with the experience of playing in a land-based casino. These games are broadcast in real-time and are a lot more engaging and thrilling than animated online roulette games. Many of the variants mentioned on this list, such as the European, French and American ones, are widely available at live casinos.