Online Roulette Betting
You know the feeling. You get a roulette bonus, all seems to be going well, and you’re stacking up chips. Then, you start playing with your own money, and your fortunes change.
This scenario happens to everyone at least once or twice. It’s enough to make most players ask: “Is online roulette rigged?”
Outside bets offer the best odds of winning at roulette. These types of wagers are placed on groups as opposed to just numbers, for example odd or even, red or black, 1-18 or 19-46, dozen bets,. To avoid this, our experts recommend sticking to online roulette tables that offer capped betting amounts. Claim a bumper bonus at a great roulette casino Our recommended roulette online casinos dish out the best bonuses on the market. Our experts suggest taking advantage of them to make your money go further.
In this piece, I’m going to explain to you that online roulette is rigged, but not in the way you think it is. I’m also going to ease your mind and reassure you that there isn’t some evil casino genius interfering with the game algorithms, at least not at legit roulette casinos.
Is Roulette Rigged?
If you look at Reddit posts about roulette or at posts on other gambling forums, you’re going to find a lot of people who believe that online casinos are scams. Many posters are 100% convinced that online roulette is programmed to screw them. If you read enough of these opinions, they can be convincing.
I’m not going to tell you that every online roulette game is legit. There are scam casinos, some we have added to our casino blacklist, and they will rinse you for every cent they can.
What a lot of these forum posters are suffering from is called “gambler’s remorse.” They’ve lost, they can’t accept it, and they’re looking for someone to blame. Gamblers can be superstitious and paranoid. And when they lose money, especially at a new online casino they have never played at, they can start drawing irrational conclusions.
How can I be so sure? I’m going to explain to you how I know online roulette isn’t rigged most of the time.
Random Number Generators
There’s a great, in-depth post on Random Number Generators here. You can read that if you want to know the full details on how game outcomes are determined.
Online Classic Roulette
If you don’t have the time, I’ll briefly summarize it for you here. Random Number Generators (RNGs in industry parlance) are computer algorithms which spit out millions of numbers per second. Each number is associated with a game outcome. In roulette’s case, that game outcome is a number such as 10, 18, or 32. Each number has an equal chance of being chosen on each spin.
As soon as you click “spin,” the program selects one of the numbers which the random number generator has created. There are even Provably Fair games which you can use to check that no funny business has occurred. These use Bitcoin technology such as hashing, and let you check game outcomes for fairness.
You should also remember one important thing: The casinos do not control the Random Number Generators. Third-party software companies such as Microgaming program them. More often than not, they’re tested by an independent third-party organization like eCOGRA. They don’t work for the software firms and have no incentive to certify their games fair.
Online Betting Licenses
The second thing to consider is the online gambling licenses a casino has. It’s true that some of these aren’t worth much, but there are others which are. For example, if a casino has a gaming license from Malta or the UK, that’s a sure sign its games are legitimate.
These countries have a vested interest in keeping things fair. They generate a substantial portion of their tax revenue from online gambling. They can’t afford to license rogue casinos and lose that hard-won trust. The UKGC, for example, conducts its own random tests of casino games. If you believe that both the third-party testing companies and the national governments which issue licenses are in on rigged online roulette games, it may be best to lay off gambling for a while.
If you’re playing a Microgaming roulette game, or a game by any other reputable provider and the casino has a legit gambling license, you can be sure the games are not rigged. It’s much more likely that you’ve experienced a natural losing streak. All experienced gamblers will tell you that this can and does happen.
My Own Experience and Testing
I didn’t want this post based only on trusting big-name companies and organizations. While I know for a fact that they can be trusted since I work in this industry, I understand that some of you won’t have that same level of trust.
Therefore, I decided to put online roulette to the test. I played 500 spins on a game of European roulette to see if it was truly random. I placed random even-money bets worth $100 per spin.
Please Note:The results are as you would expect them to be. There’s no probabilistic difference between the number of red/black or odd/even spins. There are tiny percentage differences between these, with the zero appearing 4.2% of the time.
For this test, I was using popular online software and was placing red or black bets. The only thing that immediately jumps out at me is that the number 20 came up 4% of the time, and both 16 and 30 came up more than 4% of the time. Some players would call these “hot numbers” and advise you to bet on them, but I believe it’s just an anomaly and, over enough spins, these numbers wouldn’t appear more than any other number.
Are Live Dealer Roulette Games Rigged?
We’ve ruled out the idea that most online roulette games are rigged, but what about live dealer games? Wouldn’t it be easier to run a crooked roulette wheel from a game studio?
The answer is the same. There are rigged live roulette games at scam casinos, but if you stick with the legit ones like Evolution Gaming, that’s not the case. These guys didn’t build multinational businesses which hold UKGC and Malta gaming licenses by behaving like criminals.
As a matter of fact, live dealer roulette games are even less likely to be rigged than electronic games. There are often dozens of players watching at any given time, you can see what the dealer is doing, and it’s just so much harder to fix a live game than it is to slip something shady into an invisible game algorithm.
Live dealers from reputable companies are not:
- Using a brake under the table to stop the wheel and make sure the majority of people lose.
- Spinning the wheels at different speeds/forces to make it more likely that certain numbers will land.
- Flicking the ball, dropping it from a certain height, or using weighted/magnetic balls to make sure a certain game outcome occurs.
I’ve seen these accusations online. It’s ridiculous to think that award-winning companies like NetEnt are doing this. I don’t know what else to say about it than that.
Here’s a list of legit live dealer roulette firms. I can guarantee you that their games are not rigged:
- Evolution Gaming
- Extreme Live Gaming
- Ezugi (owned by Evolution)
- Authentic Gaming
- Playtech
- Microgaming
- NetEnt
As for the others, I’m not saying they’re not legit. I’m just not going to put my reputation or the reputation of LegitGamblingSites.com on the line to recommend them yet.
Where can you play these live roulette games? At one of our top-rated casinos, of course.
The One Way Which Roulette Games Are Rigged
Remember how I said at the beginning of this article that roulette is rigged, but not in the way you think it is? I meant that. It’s not rigged in a way where the casino is cheating, fixing spins, and conning you. However, the casino does have a built-in mathematical advantage. It’s called the house edge.
The roulette house edge depends on the variant you’re playing. You always have slightly worse odds in American roulette because of the double zero. You can learn all about the different roulette variants here.
The main point to remember is this—roulette is fixed in the sense that the casino has a mathematical advantage which ensures it will make money over the long run. You didn’t honestly believe they were running these games for the good of their health, did you?
In that sense, online roulette is fixed. It’s unbeatable over a long period. However, in the sense of “these guys changed the rules when I started betting with real money,” it isn’t. The only way that’s possible is if you’re playing at a rogue casino. You won’t find any of those recommended on this site.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can now see that the vast majority of online roulette games are not rigged. Third parties which have no incentive to scam you decide game outcomes and my own analysis proves that at least one major casino software company is running fair games. You’ll have to trust that the same game testers and regulators that keep these roulette games fair are doing their job with the rest.
Don’t believe the guys and gals who always bet too much then rant online. Bet within your means, play legit online roulette games and remember that the casino always has a slight advantage. With these practices, you’ll have an enjoyable and honest online gambling experience.
If you're thinking of playing roulette online, however big or small the stakes, you'll need to get up to speed on how roulette betting works. Blindly putting wagers down without having a grasp of the basics can lead to a serious dent in your bankroll. Learn which bets offer the best odds to win and have the highest payouts at any Canadian online casino.
Your Main Bet Options
Roulette bets are divided into two main types: inside or outside. While each offers different odds and payouts, both are subject to the same house edge. American roulette tables have a 5.26% edge and European tables offer a 2.70% edge. Even-money bets placed at European tables with French rules are only subject to a 1.35% house edge.
Inside Roulette Bets
These are the bet spaces located inside the table. Although the inside bets might have higher payouts, they are much less likely to win on any given spin. That said, there's nothing that matches the thrill of hitting a single number for a 35/1 payday!
| Bet Name | Bet Description | Payout | American | European |
| Straight Up | A wager on a single number: 1-36. | 35/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Split | A wager on the line between two numbers | 17/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Street | Also called a 'row' bet, this is a wager on three connected numbers such as 6, 5, 4. | 11/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Trio | A wager on a corner connecting three numbers such as 0, 2, 3. | 11/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Corner | Also called a 'quad' bet, this is a wager on the corner connecting four numbers such as 2, 5, 1, 4. | 8/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Double Street | Also called a 'line' bet, this is a wager on the line between intersecting rows covering six numbers. | 5/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% |
| Basket | A wager on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. | 6/1 | 7.89% | n/a |
Outside Roulette Bets
Outside bets are the best choice for beginners. Particularly, even-money bets including even/odd, black/red and high18/low18. These pay out 1/1 but provide a nearly 50-50 chance to win.
| Bet Name | Bet Description | Payout | American | European | French |
| Even/Odd | A wager on eighteen even or odd numbers. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| Black/Red | A wager on eighteen black or red numbers. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| High 18 | This wager covers numbers 19-36. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| Low 18 | This wager covers numbers 1-18. | 1/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | 1.35% |
| Column | A wager on twelve,non-sequential numbers in a column. | 2/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | n/a |
| Dozens | A wager on twelve sequential numbers in a row. | 2/1 | 5.26% | 2.70% | n/a |
Navigating the Roulette Layout
When you are just starting out in online roulette, it can be difficult to actually find your favourite bets on the table layout. Below is a typical American Roulette table layout.
Hover over the diagram to see where each bet is located, or click on any part of the layout for more info.
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ||
| 00 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 | < |
| B | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 | < |
| 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 34 | < |
| First Dozen | Second Dozen | Third Dozen | |||||||||||
| 1-18 | Odd | Red | Black | Even | 19-36 | ||||||||
Below is a typical European table layout:
| ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ||
| 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 | < | |
| 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 | < |
| 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 34 | < | |
| First Dozen | Second Dozen | Third Dozen | |||||||||||
| 1-18 | Odd | Red | Black | Even | 19-36 | ||||||||
A Closer Look at Roulette Bets
Inside Bets
The inside bets in roulette are, quite simply, found on the 'inside' of the table. They offer the lowest chance to win and the highest payouts. The different types of inside bets are explained below.
Straight Up
WHAT IS IT?
The straight up bet is one of the simplest wagers you can make in roulette. These are bets on what the number of the very next spin will be.You can either place bets on multiple single numbers at a time or combine them with outside bets.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Hitting a single number is obviously pretty hard with only a 2.63% – 2.70% chance to win. However, when you win with a straight up bet, you can take advantage of the game's highest payout: 35/1. In other words, for a straight up bet of 1 chip, you would receive 35 chips plus your original chip back on a win.
Split
WHAT IS IT?
The split bet is a double straight up bet. You just have to put your chip stack between the two numbers you want to bet on. If either number is shown, you win.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Split bets have the second highest pay out: 17/1. There is only a 5.26% – 5.40% chance that this type of inside bet will win each spin.
Street/Row
WHAT IS IT?
Taking inside bets to the next level, the street bet allows you to bet on a row of three numbers. Put your chips on the far line of a row, and you'll have marked this bet. See the top row of our sample layout.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Now we start to see just a little bit of action as this kind of bet wins 7.89% – 8.11% of the time. It pays out 11/1.
Trio
WHAT IS IT?
This bet also covers three numbers at a time when chips are placed at intersections connecting numbers on the table.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Like the street bet, the trio also has the potential to win 7.89% – 8.11% of the time and pays out 11/1.
Corner/Quad
WHAT IS IT?
To make a corner bet, put your chip stack at the intersection (or corner) where four numbers meet on the layout.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
This type of bet offers a 10.53% – 10.81% chance to win with an 8/1 payout. So, if you bet 1 chip on a corner bet space and the next spin results in a win, then you will receive 8 chips plus your original chip back.
'Many casual gamblers think roulette betting is rather black and red, but nothing could be further from the truth. From inside to outside bets, straights and corners, streets and splits, online roulette has an abundance of betting options.'
Double Street
WHAT IS IT?
The double street is just what its name implies - a bet on two 'streets' or rows. You place chips on the far side directly between the two numbers at the end of their respective streets.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Covering six numbers under a single wager gives a double street bet the odds to win of about 15.78% – 16.22% of the time. It pays out 5/1.
Basket / First Five
WHAT IS IT?
The basket bet is a wager on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. Since it relies on the 00 pocket, it can only be used with American wheels.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
TThis bet has a 13.16% – 13.51% chance to win and pays out 6/1. However, with a house edge of 7.89%, it sticks out like a sore thumb as the single worst bet in roulette.
Outside Bets
Unlike inside bets, o, outside bets cover larger portions of the wheel. This is where you will find even-money bets which pay the lowest but give the highest chance to win. The next highest chance bets include columns and dozens. Both cover about a third of the numbers and payout 2/1.
Even / Odd
WHAT IS IT?
These bets are very simple to make. Just look for the spaces on the layout labeled 'Even' and 'Odd.' Put your chip stack on whichever space you'd like, sit back and watch the wheel spin. There, told you it was easy, didn't we?
Put your chip stack on whichever space you'd like, sit back, and relax. This bet has the standard 5.26 percent house edge.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Because nearly half of the numbers are even and nearly half are odd, one of the bet spaces is going to win almost every spin. 0 and 00 aren't included in this bet giving the casino its edge. So, this type of bet has a 47.37% – 48.65% chance to win but only pays out 1/1.
Red or Black
WHAT IS IT?
This bet is also an even-money wager that covers eighteen numbers at once. Placing a stack on red will cover all the red pockets on the wheel. Placing a stack on black will cover all black pockets. 0 and 00 are green and give the house its edge.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Since most pockets are either red or black, , one of these spaces will win most of the time. Each bet has a 47.37% – 48.65% chance of winning and pays 1/1.
Betting on red or black is one of the most basic roulette bets making it perfect for beginners. Below, you can see what color each numbered pocket is.
| Red | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 |
| Black | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
High 18
WHAT IS IT?
If you bet on high 18, you are wagering that the following spin will result in a pocket numbered 19-36.
Online Gambling Roulette
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Like any even-money bet, the chances of winning are the best of any other bet option, and the payout is the lowest at 1/1. This is another great choice for new Canada players taking online roulette for a spin.
Low 18
WHAT IS IT?
As the name suggests, low 18 is the opposite of high 18. It wins when the ball lands in a pocket numbered 1-18.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Because this covers nearly half of the wheel-head,it will win around half of the time and pay out 1/1.
Column
WHAT IS IT?
The column bet is like the street bet, but it covers twelve numbers in a column instead of three in a row. There are three columns to choose from. Have a look at the numbers each choice covers below.
| Column 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 34 |
| Column 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 32 | 35 |
| Column 3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 36 |
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Betting on a column covers nearly one-third of the wheel for a 31.58% – 32.43% chance to win and pay out of 2/1. Since it should win around once every three spins, this outside bet offers much less risk than any of the inside bets.
Dozens
WHAT IS IT?
The dozens bet, as the name implies, lets you bet on twelve numbers at a time. However, instead of betting on numbers that lie in the same column on the table, you bet on a dozen numbers in sequential order.
These numbers are broken up into three separate dozens:
Online Roulette Betting Strategy
| First Dozen | 1-12 |
| Second Dozen | 13-24 |
| Third Dozen | 25-36 |
WHAT CAN I WIN?
Just like column bets, these have a nearly 1 in 3 chance to win and pay 2/1.
Picking the Right Bet for You
You now have all the information you need to choose which bet suits your strategy best. Inside bets are best for Canadian players that enjoy a high risk, high reward gaming experience with infrequent, big-money wins. Outside bets are low risk, low reward and work best for players that enjoy more frequent, small wins.
Learning the basics of betting is just the beginning of your roulette journey. Check out some of our related topics at OnlineRoulette.ca: