- Roulette has been a popular gambling game since the late 18th century.
- Online and offline roulette play slightly differently.
- There are many reasons why people love to play roulette, including the range of games, its simplicity, and more.
Roulette is a mainstay of casinos around the world, and online roulette is likewise one of the most popular online casino table games among players across Canada. But what is it about this centuries-old game that keeps people coming back for more?
Read on to learn about the history of roulette, the pros and cons of playing online and why roulette remains such a popular gambling experience.
A Brief History of Roulette
According to Britannica’s article on roulette, the game came about as a combination of two other games: hoca and portique. The name “roulette” first appeared in 1716 in Bordeaux, but it wasn’t until around 1790 that the game acquired its iconic wheel and table layout. After this, the game exploded in popularity in Europe.
As a result of increased competition between European casinos in the 19th century, the game’s wheel underwent its first change. Francois and Louis Blanc, two French entrepreneurs, got rid of the double zero pocket, reducing the house edge for their version of the game. This change helped to draw gamblers to their casinos, with this new wheel eventually becoming the most popular way to play in Europe. Of course, the game’s growth didn’t stop there. Its popularity grew and grew until it became a central part of the casino experience all over the world.
The roulette table’s popularity at traditional casinos also led to it becoming one of the first games to be adapted for online play in the late 1990s. As computing and other online technologies continued to advance, so did the online roulette experience.
The Basic Rules of Roulette
While the sight of a roulette table might be intimidating to newer players, roulette is actually a very simple game to play. All players need to do is choose from one of the roulette wagers: single numbers, small and large groups of numbers, or red and black bets.
Once they’ve made their choice, the game starts with the spinning of the roulette wheel. The roulette ball will spin around the wheel until it eventually comes to a stop in one of the numbered pockets that are green, black, or red.
If the winning number matches a player’s bet, they’ll be awarded a prize. This payout will vary depending on the odds of their chosen bet. However, if luck isn’t on their side, they’ll forfeit their wager and will need to try again.
New players who need a closer look at roulette’s rules can learn more with a guide to roulette rules for beginners.
The Similarities and Differences Between Roulette and Online Roulette
While roulette fans may enjoy offline and online roulette in equal measure, this doesn’t mean that they offer identical experiences. There are some key differences between these two games:
| Offline Roulette | Online Roulette |
| Features a physical wheel with 37 or 38 pockets; there are 18 red and 18 black pockets. The wheel typically includes either one or two green zero pockets. | Features a virtual wheel with 37 or 38 pockets; there are 18 red and 18 black pockets. Single and double zero variants are common, but virtual no-zero wheels also exist. |
| Rounds of play proceed at a steady pace, with players choosing to participate or spectate from round to round. | Offers solo RNG titles where a round starts only when the player is ready, or multiplayer live titles with continuous gameplay for participants and spectators. |
| Tends to have a higher minimum bet to play. | Tends to have a wider range of bets. |
| Fewer roulette games are available. | More roulette games are available. |
Reasons Why People Love Online Roulette
While gamblers could visit their favourite brick-and-mortar casino to enjoy some in-person roulette, many choose to play at a casino online instead. Here are the reasons why so many people love to play roulette online.
1. A Huge Range of Online Roulette Games
Part of the appeal of online roulette is the sheer volume of roulette games players can find online. There isn’t just a choice between the traditional variants like American roulette and European roulette. There are many other exciting variants, each with its own unique twist on the game, for example:
- Auto Mega roulette: Enjoy non-stop roulette action with a roulette wheel that spins automatically and offers multiplier bonuses with its Mega Round.
- Double Ball roulette: All the excitement of regular roulette but with two roulette balls.
- Roulette X: Players select their own volatility and bonus multiplier, and could win 1,000x their original wager.
2. It’s Easy To Pick up and Play
Even though roulette has a large range of betting options, the game is still easy to pick up and play. The range of roulette bets may appear overwhelming at first, but the simpler roulette bets are very straightforward, and players can quickly learn how the slightly more advanced roulette wagers work.
Some casino games have an element of skill that players need to master if they want to improve their chances of winning. When players wager on roulette, no skill is required to win. All players need to do is place their roulette bet, wait for the dealer to spin the wheel, and see where the roulette ball lands to find out whether they placed a winning wager.
3. Play Solo or Multiplayer
Online roulette comes in two major forms: solo RNG roulette and live roulette.
The former lets players bet and spin at their own pace, with immersive first-person graphics. No need to wait for a spot at the table; just jump straight in.
Live dealer roulette can be a great social experience. Players gather around the roulette wheel to find out whether they’ve won or lost, giving them the opportunity to share their glory or misery with other players. A live chat allows for conversation, and playing alongside other humans can help new players learn the rules from observation.
4. Choose an Online Roulette Game That Suits Player’s Bankroll
The range of betting options in a physical casino will always be smaller because of the sheer number of roulette games gamblers can play online. This incredible variety of online roulette games means that players can almost always find the right range of bets to suit their bankroll when they play online.
5. Unmatched Convenience
The main reason why so many people play online roulette for real money is its convenience. Gamblers can play online roulette from the comfort of their own home, on their way to work, during their lunch break, or even while they’re travelling on holiday.
No matter where players are, as long as they have a stable broadband internet connection and they’re physically located in a regulated province, they can enjoy playing at online gambling establishments like BetMGM Casino.
And despite how complex the graphics and sound effects of online roulette have become, gamblers don’t have to have the latest gaming hardware to enjoy the cutting-edge visuals and audio. Most modern mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, have enough power to run these games smoothly, making them accessible to the majority of people.
Some Popular Online Roulette Titles
These are some of the popular online roulette titles that players can experience:
