The roulette wheel has been a fixture at the world’s greatest casinos since it appeared in Monte Carlo in the 1860s.
You can now enjoy roulette at your leisure by playing at online casinos in Michigan, such as BetMGM, Caesars Palace, and FanDuel.
This guide explains how to play roulette, discusses the different versions, and breaks down the best roulette betting strategies.
How roulette works
A small white ball is dropped onto a spinning wheel. The wheel features a series of equal-sized pockets numbered 1-36. Half the pockets are red, and the other half are black.
There is also a green zero pocket, and that gives the casino its house edge. Some games also feature a double zero, which significantly increases the house edge.
You simply need to bet on which pocket the ball will nestle into when the wheel stops spinning. Some players like to bet on individual numbers, but you can also place simple side bets, such as red/black or odd/even.
How to play roulette
Roulette is one of the simplest online casino games. Follow these steps to get started.
1. Select a game
Visit the roulette section of an online casino and choose one of the games. These are the three main variants.
- European roulette | This roulette wheel has a single zero, which results in a house edge of 2.7%.
- American roulette | The American version has a single zero and a double zero, which increases the house edge to 5.26%.
- French roulette | This game has a single zero. However, you get a 50% rebate on some French roulette games if the ball lands on that zero pocket. On other French roulette games, you get the chance to win your bet back on the next spin. Either way, it reduces the house edge to just 1.35%.
If possible, you should always choose French roulette. If it is unavailable, European roulette is preferable to American roulette.
At Michigan online casinos, you’ll also find roulette iterations such as Space Invaders Roulette, Double Bonus Spin Roulette, Lightning Roulette, and 100/1 Roulette. The most attractive of those options is Double Bonus Spin Roulette, which has a house edge of 1.94%.
2. Choose your bet
When you enter the game, you will see the betting options laid out on a table alongside the roulette wheel. These are the main options to consider.
| Bet | Description | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Individual number | Bet on the ball landing on a specific number. You can place your chips on as many individual numbers as you like. | 35:1 |
| Split bet | Lay your chips over two numbers located next to one another on the table. The ball must land on one of them for the bet to succeed. | 17:1 |
| Street | Put your chips at the intersection of three numbers, and you will be paid if the ball lands on one of them. | 11:1 |
| Corner | Place your chips on the corners of four numbers positioned in a cluster in the grid, and your bet will win if the ball lands on one of those numbers. | 8:1 |
| Column | Bet on the ball landing on one of the 12 numbers within a particular column on the grid. For example, you could go for the column featuring the numbers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31 and 34. | 2:1 |
| Dozen | Here’s a similar bet to a column wager, but it divides the numbers into 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36 instead. | 2:1 |
| Red/black | This is a simple wager on the ball landing on a red pocket or a black pocket. | 1:1 |
| High/low | Bet on the ball landing on the numbers 1-17 or 18-36. | 1:1 |
| Odd/even | Wager on the ball landing on a pocket with an even number or an odd number. | 1:1 |
Individual number bets, split bets, streets, and corners are known as inside bets, as you lay your chips down inside the grid. Bets like red/black and columns are outside bets, as you place your chips on the outside of the main grid. There are some additional outside bets, but the most popular options are described above.
3. Place your chips
Your virtual chips will be available at the side of the table. Select your preferred denomination and click on the table to lay the chips.
You can put down as many chips as you like, provided you have enough money in your account balance. When you have put your chips in place, click the play button, and the wheel will start spinning.
4. Await the result
The wheel will spin for a few seconds, and the ball will then come to a stop in one of the sections. If your bet pays off, the funds will be added to your balance right away. You can then repeat the process or exit the game at any time.
Roulette betting strategies
Some roulette players like to follow betting strategies, which tell you how much to wager on each spin of the wheel. These strategies are primarily used on even money (1:1) bets, such as red/black or high/low.
Start by setting a base unit, which is a percentage of your bankroll. For example, you might have a $500 bankroll and decide to make 2% of it your base unit, meaning you start by placing a $10 bet.
The betting strategies are split into two distinct groups: positive progression systems and negative progression systems.
Positive progression strategies
Positive progression strategies require you to increase your bet size after winning. They are designed to capitalize on winning streaks. These are the most popular options.
- Paroli | Start by betting 1 unit and double your bet size after each win. If you win three in a row, return to betting 1 unit again.
- 1-3-2-6 | Begin by betting 1 unit. If you win, bet 3 units, then 2 units, and finally 6 units before returning to the start of the sequence.
- Reverse Martingale | Double the size of your bet after each win. Unlike the Paroli, you do not stop after three wins. However, you will need to stop at some point, or one loss will wipe out all of your previous wins.
Negative progression strategies
Negative progression systems require you to ramp up the size of your bets after losing. The idea is to wipe out previous losses with a big win while trying to grind out lots of small wins. These are the most popular negative progression strategies.
- Martingale | Begin by wagering 1 unit and double your bet size after each loss. When you finally win, you will eradicate all previous losses, and you can return to betting 1 unit again. In theory, this system always works, but in practice, it is guaranteed to succeed only if you have unlimited funds, infinite time, and no table limits.
- D’Alembert | Increase the size of your bet by 1 unit after you lose and decrease it by 1 unit after you win.
- Fibonacci | Write out the Fibonacci sequence: 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21-34-55-89-144-233-377-610, and so on. Start by betting 1 unit and advance by one step after each loss. When you win, go back two steps.
There are lots of other systems, including Labouchere and Oscar’s Grind. None of them can remove the inherent house edge on a roulette wheel or impact the odds of the game, but they do give you greater control over your bankroll.
Virtual roulette vs. live dealer roulette
You can play virtual roulette at the best online casinos in Michigan. The results are dictated by random number generators, which are independently tested for accuracy and fairness.
Alternatively, you can play live dealer roulette. In that case, you watch a croupier spinning a real roulette wheel via video stream, and you can bet on the action. A chat box allows you to interact with the dealer.
Roulette betting tips
- Play French roulette if possible, as it has the lowest house edge. If it is unavailable, opt for European roulette or Double Bonus Spin Roulette.
- Avoid American roulette, as the double zero hands the house a large advantage.
- If you want to follow a positive or negative progression system, try it out for free in demo mode before risking your own money.
- Set a budget and stick to it. Take regular breaks from playing online roulette.
- Claim bonuses and rack up loyalty points at online casinos, as they can effectively reduce the house edge on a roulette wheel.
Where to play roulette for free
The best Michigan online casinos allow you to play virtual roulette for free. You cannot normally play live dealer roulette in demo mode, but virtual roulette games allow you to learn the ropes without risking your money.
These are the best online casinos for roulette players in Michigan:
- BetMGM | Discover a huge variety of roulette games at BetMGM. You can see which ones you enjoy playing before risking your own money.
- Caesars Palace | This online casino has a solid range of roulette options with broad betting limits.
- FanDuel | The top-rated casino app in Michigan makes it easy for you to play roulette games in demo mode on your iPhone or Android phone.