5 Different Ways to Play Roulette

Few casino games better exemplify the classic gaming scene than roulette. First introduced in Parisian casinos in 1796, roulette still retains the same qualities that it featured back in those days.

Therefore, many gamblers still prefer playing roulette in brick-and-mortar casinos. But they can also enjoy this casino classic through other formats.

Assuming you’re looking to experience roulette in as many ways as possible, then you should definitely check out the following 5 versions.

1 – Online Roulette

Up until the mid-1990s, all casino gaming took place in land-based establishments. This situation changed in 1996, though, when the first online casino launched.

Roulette was one of the first games to appear at this original gaming site. Since then, it has spread to thousands of other internet casinos.

You have no shortage of options when looking to play this game online. You can also enjoy it different formats and variations.

For starters, online roulette is available in the American, European, and French formats. Here are the main differences between each game:

• American roulette – 38 numbers; zero and double-zero pockets; 5.26% house edge
• European roulette – 37 numbers; zero pocket; 2.70% house advantage
• French roulette – 37 numbers; zero pocket; pays half back on losing even-money bets when ball lands on zero; 1.35% house edge

Some internet casinos also offer exotic roulette games. These variants give you an opportunity to play roulette in a totally new ways.

Here are some examples of what to expect:

• Double ball
• Mini roulette
• Multi-wheel (up to eight wheels)
• Pinball roulette

2 – Live Dealer Roulette

Traditional online roulette has been available for a quarter century. It’s withstood the test of time thanks to its convenience and aforementioned variations.

However, the one downside to internet roulette is that it doesn’t provide much realism. In the end, you’re just spinning a virtual wheel by yourself and letting the random number generator determine results.

Live dealer roulette, on the other hand, gives you an opportunity to play online with more atmosphere involved. This version presents a real roulette wheel and dealer.

Therefore, you get to feel like you’re actually in a casino. The best part, though, is that you can play through your smartphone or computer.

European roulette is commonly available at live dealer casinos. You can also enjoy Lightning roulette (offers win multipliers) in some cases too.

3 – Low Stakes in Land-Based Casinos

Online real money roulette sites can certainly be fun. Eventually, though, you may yearn for the land-based roulette games.

No roulette version offers more atmosphere than a brick-and-mortar casino. A land-based venue lets you play with other people, physically handle chips, and cheer alongside others when you win.

The catch, though, is that brick-and-mortar roulette games cost more to play than the online version. The latter only requires you to risk $1 per spin.

Nevertheless, you can still enjoy land-based roulette for a relatively cheap cost. You just need to seek out the low-roller tables.

A low-roller table lets you make wagers for as little as $5. While this amount may be 5x higher than the online roulette minimum wager, it’s still cheap in the overall scheme of things.

Furthermore, you can even collect comps on your play. You just need to join the player’s club ahead of time.

Afterward, you’ll receive a player’s club card that you can give to the dealer. The dealer will then hand your card to the pit boss, who rates your play and determines fair comps.

4 – High Stakes in Land-Based Casinos

Assuming you like the refined side of gaming, then you should strongly consider high-stakes roulette. The high-stakes version takes place in private areas of the casino and may even require a dress code.

You also need to ante up serious money to play these games. The average high-stakes roulette game costs $50 per bet.

Of course, many perks exist to being a high roller. For one, you get preferential treatment from the staff and better comps.

If you wager enough, you could get your room comped, receive free meals, enjoy limousine transportation, and drink champagne/liquor on the house.

You’ll also receive the services of a VIP host. The latter works with you to tailor comps to your liking. If you’d rather have limousine transportation over a steak dinner, for example, then the host can make this happen.

5 – Social Casino

Social casinos provide one more way to play roulette. These are online casinos that see you play for accolades and bragging rights rather than real money.

Many social gaming apps feature roulette. However, they present this game in a unique manner compared to the average internet casino.

Normally, online roulette features an authentic virtual setup. Developers go for a classic table and polished wooden wheel in these cases.

Social casinos, on the other hand, present a cartoonish version of the game. The wheel, chips, and betting boxes all feature abstract graphics.

These sites offer you a certain amount of free chips upfront. However, you’ll most likely run out of chips at some point and need to buy more.

The concept of buying chips when you can’t win money might seem silly. However, these casinos do give you the chance to share your accomplishments with social-media friends.

For example, you can brag to your Facebook friends after reaching a new level. You’re also able to invite them to join the same casino.

Tips for Deciding Where to Play Roulette

Considering that there are five different ways to enjoy roulette, you may have trouble choosing just one for a given session. Here’s some advice to help you make this choice.

Decide How Important the Convenience Factor Is to You

Among the options covered above, three are available online. Live roulette, social casinos, and traditional online casinos all let you play through a smartphone or tablet.

You don’t need to leave the house when playing through any of these methods. Instead, you can just grab your phone and start spinning the wheel right away.

Land-based casinos, on the other hand, require you to travel somewhere. Depending upon where the nearest casino is, you may have a long drive ahead of you. But you might not care about the traveling involved if you just want to enjoy roulette in a live atmosphere.

Check Your Bankroll

If you have high-roller dreams, then you’ll definitely need to consider your bankroll before risking serious money. After all, the high-roller tables require hefty wagers.

Here’s an example on doing the math to decide if high stakes are right for you:

• You have a $3,000 bankroll.
• You want to place wagers with $50 at a high-roller table.
• The average roulette table has 50 spins per hour.
• 50 x 50 = $2,500 wagered per hour
• You only place one wager per round.
• The edge for the house is 2.7% (European roulette).
• 2,500 x 0.027 = 67.50
• 3,000 / 67.50 = 44.4
• Your bankroll will theoretically last for 44.4 hours.

You can plug your own numbers into the equation above to see how long your funds will last. Assuming you don’t like the result, you can always play for lower stakes.

Consider What Bonuses & Rewards You Want

Both brick-and-mortar and online/live casinos offer VIP rewards. However, they differ in terms of exactly what they provide.

Here’s what you can look forward to receiving in each setting:

Land-Based Casinos

• Bottle service at nightclubs
• Cashback
• Champagne
• Drinks
• Free bet
• Limousine transportation
• Liquor
• Meals
• Shopping credits
• Show tickets
• VIP host

Online and Live Casinos

• Birthday gift
• Cashback
• Deposit bonuses
• Free bet (live casino)
• Free slots spins
• Merchandise
• VIP host

Think About What Kind of Wins You Want to Chase

Roulette can be thrilling in any capacity. However, you might not truly feel alive until you have serious money on the line and can win big.

Assuming this is the case, I sincerely hope that you also have the bankroll to match your ambitions. If so, then you should consider the high-stakes tables.

On the other hand, you might be the type of player who doesn’t need to win big to have fun. Low stakes should suit you just fine in this situation.

Conclusion

Roulette has come a long way since it was introduced in the late eighteenth century. Nowadays, you can play this game through multiple formats.

Land-based casinos offer the most-classic way to enjoy roulette. You can play at brick-and-mortar venues for either low or high stakes.

Internet casinos, live casinos, and social gaming sites offer online avenues for playing roulette. The live version is especially fun due to its land-based atmosphere.

In summary, roulette is available in plenty of forms. You can mix and match these variations to find your favorite way to enjoy roulette.