Online roulette

The history of online roulette

Roulette as we know it was first mentioned in a French novel of 1796 called La Roulette. The zero pocket was invented by Louis Blanc in 1842, which gave the house a 2.7 per cent edge and made roulette a big earner for casinos across Europe. In the late 1800s, many countries outlawed gambling; the very same Louis Blanc established one of the last legal casinos on the continent in the city of Monte Carlo, which then became the gambling capital of the world. Ever since, roulette has had connotations of glamour and class.

With the birth of the internet and online roulette, the game has seen a resurgence in popularity. This is down to two benefits: the ability to play from your own home, and the possibility of bonuses and innovations within the classic game format. No zero roulette is a classic example of this, as Louis Blanc's zero pocket has been removed, obliterating the house edge and giving players a better chance of winning.

Online roulette game guide

Step-by-step guide to online roulette:

  1. Decide on the value of the chip you want to place, then click on its desired location on the board. You can do this several times.
  2. Even-money bets you can place include red or black, odds or evens, manque (1-18) or passé (19-36), all of which have a return of 1:1.
  3. Other bets include numbers in a dozen, column, line, six, four, pair, or just one single number if you're feeling brave. Some boards also incorporate special 'voisins' or 'snake' bets, so check the instructions to your individual game.
  4. You may need to click 'confirm' or 'ok' when you're done, although some games have a time limit like real-life roulette. Now, just watch the ball clattering around the spinning wheel, and wait with baited breath as it comes to a stop...
  5. The amount you have won will show on the screen and be transferred to your account. Some versions of online roulette even include a chat room, so you can congratulate or swap banter with your fellow players.
  6. Some online roulette fans swear by a betting strategy, such as the Martingale or D'Alembic techniques. However, our online roulette tips are to spread your bets, keep your fingers crossed, and remember it's all down to luck!