Guide to Video Roulette in Canada

Guide to Online Roulette in Canada

Roulette is a classic casino game that originated in 17th-century France. In modern online casinos, roulette continues to be one of the most popular online casino games that players enjoy. The rules are simple, and that's what makes this game so attractive to bettors. It's now one of the most popular games at online casinos in Canada.

Our guide below will give you all the details on how roulette works. Once you've got all the basics, you can go out and enjoy the game for yourself. Read on to learn more about the game that you'll find at every online casino in Canada.

The Fundamentals of Roulette

Roulette features a spinning wheel with numbered pockets and alternating red and black colors. In European roulette, there are 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36, while American roulette adds an extra green pocket labeled "00."

Playing roulette is surprisingly straightforward. You'll first need to choose your chip value, which represents the amount you're willing to wager. Then, place your chips on the betting layout, a felt surface adjacent to the wheel. This layout displays various betting options, from single numbers to groups of numbers and colors.

Once all players have placed their bets, the croupier (the casino employee who manages the game) spins the roulette wheel in one direction and throws a small white ball in the opposite direction. The ball bounces around the wheel's outer rim before eventually settling into a numbered pocket.

If your bet matches the winning number (or group of numbers) determined by the ball's final resting place, you win. The payout depends on the specific bet you placed, with riskier bets offering higher potential rewards.

The croupier then collects losing bets and pays out winnings based on the winning number and the corresponding payout table.

Understanding Roulette Bets

Roulette offers a variety of betting options. You can choose to go for a safer bet with lower payouts or a riskier bet with higher rewards. Find out more about the different types of roulette bets below.

Inside Bets

These bets target specific numbers or small groups on the roulette wheel and offer higher payouts but come with lower odds of winning. Here are some common inside bets:

• Straight up - Placing a chip directly on a single number. This offers the highest payout (typically 35:1) but requires an exact match for a win.
• Split - Placing a chip on the line between two adjoining numbers. You win if the ball lands on either of those numbers (pays out at 17:1).
• Street - Placing a chip on the line at the end of a row of three numbers. A win occurs if the ball lands on any of those three numbers (pays out at 11:1).
• Corner (or Carre) - Placing a chip on the corner where four numbers meet. You win if the ball lands on any of those four numbers (pays out at 8:1).
• Six line - Placing a chip on the line that borders two rows of three numbers. A win occurs if the ball lands on any of those six numbers (pays out at 5:1).

Outside Bets

These bets cover larger sections of the wheel and offer lower payouts but have a higher chance of winning.

• Red/black - Betting on all the red or all the black numbered pockets (pays out at 1:1).
• Odd/even - Betting on all the odd or all the even-numbered pockets (pays out at 1:1).
• High/low - Betting on numbers 1-18 (high) or 19-36 (low) (pays out at 1:1).
• Dozens - Betting on one of three groups of twelve consecutive numbers (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36) (pays out at 2:1).
• Columns - Betting on one of the three vertical columns of twelve numbers (pays out at 2:1).
• Call bets - In some roulette variations, especially French roulette, players can place call bets that are announced verbally to the croupier. These bets cover specific sections of the wheel based on their name (e.g., Voisins du Zero - Neighbors of Zero).

Chance and Strategy in Roulette

Roulette, like most online casino games, is ultimately a game of chance. The outcome of each spin is entirely random, determined by the independent movement of the ball and the wheel.

Every casino game is designed to give the house (casino) a long-term advantage. In roulette, this advantage is known as the house edge. It represents the difference between the payout for a winning bet and the true odds of that bet winning. The house edge of roulette is:

• 2.7% in European roulette
• 5.26% in American roulette

Inside bets generally have a higher house edge due to their tempting payouts. Straight-up bets, while offering the highest potential reward (35:1), have a much lower chance of winning (around 2.7% for European roulette).

Outside bets, on the other hand, have a lower house edge because they cover larger sections of the wheel. Betting on red/black, for instance, offers a 1:1 payout but has a much higher chance of winning (almost 49% for European roulette).

Variations of Roulette

Several popular variations of roulette offer unique twists and betting options. Each of these variations is slightly different, so make sure to understand them before you start playing.

European Roulette (Single Zero)

This is the classic version featuring a single green zero pocket (0) and 37 numbered pockets. It offers a considerably lower house edge compared to American roulette due to the absence of the double zero.

American Roulette (Double Zero)

This variation adds an extra green pocket labeled "00" alongside the single zero, increasing the house edge. The betting layout remains largely similar to European roulette.

French Roulette (La Partage Rule)

This variation features the single zero wheel and offers a unique rule called "La Partage." In case of a losing even-money bet (red/black, odd/even, high/low), when the ball lands on zero, players receive half their wager back. This rule reduces the house edge slightly.