Best Online Roulette Sites In The UK 2024

Best Roulette Sites Online UK by Category

How to Play Roulette Online?

Playing online roulette is no different than spinning the wheel in land-based casinos. Typically, it involves placing a bet on the table and hitting the spin button. The layout and design of the wheel are the same across all variants. In general, most developers keep the wheel on the left while the bets are on the right side. This is the case with most roulette games, but it can vary. The good thing about playing roulette in an online casino is that you can try it for free. In that way, you get to practise a bit and learn the mechanics of roulette. You can also play for fun to try out a roulette strategy and tips which can prove essential when you switch to real money gameplay.

The action begins when you place a bet on the wheel. This is usually done by selecting any of the chips on the screen or using + and – signs to adjust your bets. Some roulette games will have you drag the chips to a bet on the table so you can place bets on inside or outside roulette bets.

Depending on the variant, you can expect a single 0 – which is the European or French wheel – or a double 00 wheel, which is the American variant. They both have the same numbers alternating between the red and black pockets. The 0s are coloured green. You can bet on any number on the wheel or several of them or bet on the unique types of bets on the layout to try and predict what happens when you spin the wheel.

There are other types of bets as well depending on the variant. What you should know before you play online roulette is that the games are 100% fair as they’re controlled by an RNG. It stands for Random Number Generator and works as a device and software which controls the outcome of every spin.

Random Number Generators (RNG)

There are plenty of people who prefer a more solitary, or shall we say, personalised experience when they’re playing Roulette. Roulette tables can be overwhelming for some, and to those people, an ‘offline’ variant of their favourite British casino game brings welcome respite.  When software is involved, how can it be fair? Who’s to say that it isn’t rigged in favour of the Casino?

All of the points in terms of licencing apply here too, but RNG is another variable. How does it work exactly? Well, Random Number Generator software is a software algorithm that generates and outputs a number from a limited or unlimited pool of numbers and outputs it.

The computer will simply pick a game outcome within the parameters allowed for Roulette and show the result to the player via a video animation.

Roulette Bet Types Explained

In roulette, there are various types of bets you can place, ranging from simple to more complex. From straight bets on single numbers to outside bets like red or black, each offers different odds and potential payouts. Let’s delve into these different types to understand how they work and their respective strategies.

Roulette Inside Bets

The inside bets are made on the inside of the roulette wheel. These cover the numbers from 0 to 36 as well as several number combinations that can make you a winner. Inside bets are much riskier than outside bets, but they pay much better.

• Straight Up: This is the most straightforward bet when you play roulette and involves betting on a single number. It can be any number on the board including the 0 and pays 35:1.
• Split bet: A split bet means you’re splitting your bet between two numbers. They must be adjacent on the board. You place your virtual chips on the line between two numbers, such as 8 and 9 or 10/11. This makes your bet twice likelier to win, with the payout adjusted to 17:1.
• Street bet: You’ll often find the street bet referred to as a row. It covers 3 consecutive numbers in any given row. You place your chips on the line located to the right side of the numbers you want to bet on. Since you’re betting on 3 numbers instead of 1 or 2, the payout is adjusted to 11:1.
• Corner (square) bet: A corner bet involves a cluster of four numbers. The chip should be placed on the centre of the cluster, where their lines cross. A winning square or corner of numbers pays 8:1.
• Six line: As the name suggests, the six-line bet covers 6 numbers across 2 adjacent rows. The chips should be placed on the line that divides them at the bottom of the rows. Online casino players that prefer this bet can expect a payout of 5:1.
• Five number bet: The five-number bet is also known as a sucker. Unfortunately, it’s only available to American roulette players as it involves the 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. If the ball lands in any of these pockets, the payout is 5:1.
• Snake bet: The snake bet covers a dozen numbers in an online roulette game and pays 2:1. It’s named Snake due to the zigzag pattern the numbers in question create across the board. It has the highest success rate and best winning probability among Inside roulette bets, but it also has the lowest payout.

Roulette Outside Bets

Outside bets are the opposite of inside roulette bets. There are no different roulette games with these bets – they’re available on any wheel. They sit on the outside of the wheel – hence the name. Outside bets on roulette games pay much less than the inside bets, with most of them covering groups of numbers. They’re fun for beginners, though, and are a perfect way to start if you want to play online roulette.

• High/Low: This bet allows you to bet on high (19-36) or low (1-18) numbers. If the ball lands on a number in your chosen range (either 1-18 or 19-36), you win even money (which is 1:1 payout). If the ball lands on the 0, which isn’t covered by these numbers, you will lose your bet.
• Odd/Even: Odd and even is a variant of the high/low bet. This time, you’re choosing if the winning number will be odd or even. It doesn’t matter which number the ball lands in as long as you’ve chosen odd or even correctly. Just like other outside bets, this one pays even money too.
• Red/Black: Betting on red or black pockets is probably the most popular online roulette bet. You simply choose if the pocket the ball lands on is red or black – the number doesn’t play a part. It pays 1:1 as well and is a great starting point for new roulette players.
• Dozen bet: The dozen bet covers 12 numbers on the layout. Those include 3 options: 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36. If you predict where the ball lands in these strings of numbers, you get paid 1:1.
• Column bet: The column bet covers 12 numbers in total on a vertical column. Your bet will win if the ball lands on any of these numbers at the end of the spin. Just like other outside bets, it pays even money too.

Different Types of Roulette Games

There are several different roulette games with their own characteristics. While the wheel and roulette table don’t change a lot, there are still differences between the main type of roulette, which is the European wheel as well as the American with a higher house edge. You’ll find all the main variants available at the best online casinos. Roulette casino software by different providers may change slightly too, altering the visuals and the basics of the game to allow for more exciting gameplay.

The main type of roulette is the European wheel. There are slight differences on the French wheel as well as the American wheel which introduces a double zero (00) pocket which drastically increases the house edge. We’ll cover more of each type below.

European Roulette

This is the standard type of roulette game ever since the beginning. It’s the default type you’ll find at the best roulette casino sites. This is the wheel with a single zero green pocket and 36 numbers. The casino edge of the European wheel is around 2.70%, making it the most favourable type of the bunch. This is the standard for most RNG variants of roulette and live dealer games as well. Playing European roulette is very easy as it has all the standard inside and outside bets. Live casino roulette games based on European roulette might feature faster gameplay or boosted payouts thanks to multipliers. But, overall, they all play the same. Nearly all studios have their own RNG or live roulette games. They mostly follow the same aesthetics, although there will be slight visual differences which have no impact on the general gameplay. If you ask most experts, this is the type of of roulette everyone should be playing.

American Roulette

American roulette is the more challenging type of roulette thanks to the addition of the double zero pocket. Due to the zero representing the casino’s house edge, the double zero pocket greatly increases the house edge. It stands at 5.26% for this roulette variant, which is higher than the original 2.60%. It makes it highly unfavourable among roulette players, although some relish the challenge. Despite the higher house edge, American roulette is a major favourite at standard and live roulette casino sites. Many players prefer the challenge, but it’s safe to say that it’s much harder to win on this type of roulette table. Despite the higher house edge and the double 0 pocket, all the inside and outside bets in this variant are the same. You can play the game for free, with real money, or bonus funds that allow spending on table games.

American Roulette Odds & European Roulette Odds

There’s a great discrepancy between the odds of European and American roulette. The original European roulette table has a house edge of 2.70%. This house edge is constant, which means regardless if you’re playing RNG or live dealer games based on the European wheel, the figure is always the same. The house edge is represented by the green 0 pocket.

In American roulette, the house edge is 5.26%. This is because of the addition of the double zero pocket. This means you’re almost twice as likely to lose, making it the least favourable variant for players. Still, it’s a big hit at the best casino roulette sites, so the higher house edge doesn’t make it any less popular.

You can play RNG and live roulette variants based on both wheels at the best roulette sites recommended on our pages. They’re largely similar except for the different odds, so you shouldn’t have a lot of trouble learning the rules of both.

French Roulette

French roulette is essentially European roulette with two different bets that cut down the house edge to 1.35% on even money bets. Those are La Partage and En Prison which give you a second chance to win. If you bet on En Prison, the ball will remain on the table, imprisoned on the spot, until the next spin. If you win on that spin, you get your stake back. It’s similar with La Partage, where losing an even money bet is split 50/50 between the player and the online casino. In this way, you lose only half your stake, which isn’t the case with regular European roulette.

Other than that, French roulette is nearly identical to European roulette. You get the same number of pockets, the green single zero pocket which represents the house edge, and the same inside and outside bets.

Bonus Roulette

Bonus roulette games are simply any type of roulette games which can be played with bonus cash. While the number of specific roulette bonuses is not as high as slot bonus offers, there are still deposit bonuses that allow you to play roulette with the extra cash. But, before claiming the best online casino bonuses for UK players that allow roulette gameplay, you should check out the terms. The bonus contribution on roulette games is typically much lower than the slot contribution, meaning you’ll need more time to complete the wagering on roulette games.

Which doesn’t mean you should just skip these bonuses. If you find one available on RNG or live roulette games, you should take up the chance and play your favourite wheels. Playing roulette online with bonus cash is great because you don’t get to reach inside your pocket and you can still win real money at the top regular and live casino sites.

Multi Wheel Roulette

Multi wheel roulette is a newer invention in online casinos. The basics of it are simple as the name suggests. It’s a roulette game with several wheels instead of one, which makes it much more challenging to play. The rules are still the same, except you bet on several wheels at the beginning of each. There’s no change to the house edge, and each wheel features the same inside and outside bets. Since you’re playing several wheels at once, it’s a bit more complex roulette variant that’s best left to veterans. Still, if you’re feeling adventurous or relishing the challenge, this is one of the top roulette variations to try.

Mini Roulette

While roulette isn’t a complex game, beginners might be overwhelmed by all the numbers and bets. The good news is that there’s a less complex variant called mini-roulette. If you want to play roulette online for beginners, this is the variant we can recommend. What it does is cut back on the numbers, with only 13 in play. That’s 0 and 1-12, so you can make bets much easier. Mini European roulette games offer a few even money bets, including high/low and red/black. Since there are fewer numbers in play, the payout is adjusted too. The Straight Up bet pays 1:1. There’s no difference in the even money bets which keep their usual odds.

Live Dealer Roulette

Playing live roulette is the closest thing you get to spinning the wheel in a land-based casino. If you prefer the atmosphere of brick-and-mortar casinos and playing in real time, you’ll love what live casino roulette has to offer. In short, these games are based on already existing variants, but they’re played and streamed in real time and with a human croupier. The best live casino roulette variants are streamed from studios or land-based casinos and perfectly capture the atmosphere of playing roulette in Las Vegas, for example. The best live roulette casinos will offer a variety of classic and exotic live roulette games. Some of the top developers such as Evolution Gaming have introduced faster gameplay in some variants as well as multiplier-boosted payouts for a more rewarding experience. We strongly recommend learning the basics with RNG roulette games before moving on to live roulette games. You will need to make a deposit to play live roulette since the real-time nature of the game doesn’t allow for free gameplay.