Best UK Online Roulette Sites

Taken from the French word for “small wheel”, roulette is a classic casino game that’s been entertaining bettors for more than four centuries. Although the true origins of the game are somewhat unclear, most signs point to 17th century France and the mathematician Blaise Pascal as the drivers behind the modern game.

However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that roulette was given a modern casino twist, when Louis Blanc added the “0” to the game in a bid to give the house a slight edge. This concept was then taken a stage further when it spread across the US and roulette operators added the now familiar “00”.

This dynamic continued over the decades until online casino gaming came in and shook things up. Today, regardless of where you live or where you choose to play, you’ll find European and American roulette variants. But that’s not all. As well as the two traditional variants, you’ll now find a myriad of unique ways to play at the best roulette sites, as we’ll explain below.

Before we explore some of the more exotic game options out there, let’s take a look at two main types of roulette: European and American. As we’ve said, the basic premise of these games is exactly the same, but the overall structure is slightly different. In European roulette, the presence of a single zero means you’ll have 37 numbers to choose from. In contrast, American roulette has a single and double zero, which means there are 38 numbers in play.

While this difference doesn’t look significant in theory, the reality is quite different. Regardless of the format you choose, the maximum payout you’ll receive on a single bet (i.e. betting on a single number) is 35:1. In mathematical terms, this mean the true odds look like this: European = 37:1, American 38:1.

When you convert these roulette odds into the percentages, the house edge for European roulette becomes 2.7% while American is 5.2%. Even if you’re noEinstein, you can see from this that your chances of winning are almost twice as good in European roulette as they are in American roulette.

Of course, as we’ve said, the best roulette sites now have more than two options both for free play and real money players. For example, French roulette has the added advantage of La Partage. Meaning “to share”, this betting option will give you 50% of your stake back if you bet on an even money proposition and the ball lands on zero.

Beyond French roulette, you’ll now find multi-wheel and multi-ball roulette as well as progressive jackpot games such as Age of the Gods Roulette where you can win upwards of £100,000. Basically, if you’re looking to play online roulette, there are now dozens of virtual variants out there for you to choose from and that, in simple terms, means more ways for you to win.

When it comes to the question of how to play roulette, regardless of whether it’s for fun or real money, the process is extremely simple. The aim of the game is to bet on the correct number, or group of numbers, before the wheel stops spinning.

After selecting a bet equal to, or exceeding the table minimum, you’ll have the following betting options:

Inside Bets:

• Singles (i.e. on number) = 35:1 payout
• Splits (i.e. splitting two numbers) = 17:1 payout
• Thirds (three numbers in a row) = 11:1 payout
• Quarters (splits four numbers) = 8:1 payout

Outside Bets

Dozens (i.e. numbers 1-12, 13-24 and 25-36) or Rows = 2:1 payout. These bets are often good ways to slowly and steadily make a profit at the table. Indeed, by betting on two separate thirds you give yourself a 66% chance of making 50% profit.

• Odd/Even = 1:1 payout
• Red/Black = 1:1 payout
• 1-18/19-36 = 1:1 payout

Once you’ve taken note of the roulette payouts above, you can start to put together a strategy based on your bankroll and betting preferences. Although you can’t find a roulette system that’s guaranteed to win.

The best roulette tip we can give you is to use the “double dozen” technique. By betting on two dozens at the same time, you can cover almost 66% of the board with just two bets and guarantee yourself a one unit profit if either comes in. Although this isn’t a sure-fire way to win, it does help increase your overall expectation.

To really get the most out of roulette online, you need to find the right place to play. Our top rated casinos are naturally the obvious starting point, but choosing one or two from this selection requires a bit of work.

With this in mind, here are a few roulette tips on finding a site that’s right for you:

Game Selection

All the top rated online roulette sites have at least four or five different variants. In our opinion, if you don’t see the following list of options, the site isn’t worth joining: European, American, French, Progressive Jackpot, Multi-Wheel and Live Roulette.

Bonuses

On top of having a great selection of games, the leading roulette sites online also have a ton of bonuses. From welcome rewards to reload offers, free bets and VIP deals, you should be able to find plenty of added value at our partner sites. One thing to remember is that you also need to check how easy it is to clear each bonus. If the terms and conditions are too harsh, especially on table games like roulette, move on.

Mobile Roulette

If you can’t play at least the main variants via a mobile website or app, then don’t sign-up.

Safety

Finally, as you’ll see when you join any of our top roulette sites, safety is a must. If a site isn’t licensed by a recognised regulator, we’d suggest you don’t ante-up. Fortunately for you, all of our recommend roulette operators are fully regulated and 100% safe.

Before we let you go to search through our top rated online roulette sites for 2018, we’ve compiled a few terms you might find useful at the table. Although it doesn’t cover every phrase, it should give you enough lingo to understand the action and make some money out there in the virtual arena:

Bankroll – The money you have to bet with.

Cold Table – A table is “cold” if the house is winning more than average.

Edge – The advantage you/the house has in the game.

Flat Betting – Making the same size bet each time.

High Roller – Someone that makes large bets.

Hot Table – A table where you are winning more than the house.

Odds – The likelihood of a number/numbers coming in.

Session – The period of time you play for.

Wager – Your bet.

Hopefully our guide to roulette has given you some food for thought and the hunger to go out and try a few games for yourself. If so, make sure you follow our secure links to find the best online roulette games and bonuses around.