Is online roulette fixed? Understandably, some people have reservations and want to know they’re not being ripped off when playing at popular casino sites.
Well, you’ll be pleased to know we can categorically say that online roulette games are not fixed. They are perfectly safe, just like the rest of the games available at casinos, regardless of whether you choose to play a video version of roulette or a live dealer title.
How can we be so confident? It’s simply because of strict gambling laws in this country, which are set out and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
Before we go into more detail, here are the sites we recommend for playing roulette in complete confidence.
100 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza
when you wager £25 on slots. Use promo nrg100 when you make your first deposit.
100% bonus up to £100 & 50 free spins
on Diamonds of the Realm when you make your first deposit.
Features of online roulette games
The best way to assure you we know what we’re talking about when we examine “is online roulette rigged?” is to explain the features of online roulette games. We look at how they work and the various elements that go into ensuring game outcomes are entirely random.
First, we’ll look at the two types of online roulette games: video roulette and live dealer roulette.
Video roulette: random number generators
Video roulette and other online video table games are like online slots in that they use computer animations to bring the game to life and have random number generators (RNG) working in the background to determine game outcomes.
RNGs are computer systems that use mathematical algorithms to create random game outcomes that cannot be manipulated by casino operators or users. The RNG technology randomly assigns the winning number each time the wheel spins in an online roulette game.
Part of UKGC licensing requires that RNG games are vetted at random by independent auditors to ensure they are being used correctly, and games, providers, and casino operators are given certification to prove they have passed this scrutiny.
Live dealer roulette wheels
The alternative way to play roulette online is with live dealer games. These games are live-streamed to the platform from purpose-built live casino studios, where hosts spin physical roulette wheels. Or deal out cards in the case of online blackjack and other card games.
What makes live dealer games unique among online games is that you can watch the wheel and ball spin as the game is played, and see where the ball lands in real time.
This does wonders for allaying the fears of wary players, as you can use the live chat functionality in these games to converse with other players and your game host, so you know you’re getting the stream in real time.
Understanding how roulette works
Once you get to know the roulette rules and probabilities, you’re much less likely to think the game is rigged in some way.
Sure, the house always wins in the long run since, like with every other casino game, there is a house edge. If there wasn’t, and the chips were stacked in the players’ favour, every casino would go bust within days.
So, you must think about the house edge. In standard European roulette, the house edge is around 2.7%. This means that in theory, you will lose £2.70 for every £100 you wager.
But keep in mind, this is a theoretical figure worked out over millions of spins of the roulette wheel. You might lose more than that on any given short playing session, or you could even make a profit.
The different types of roulette bets have their own payouts. Higher-risk bets, like backing red or black, pay out more than lower-risk bets.
| Bet Type | Configuration | Numbers | Payout |
| Inside Bets | |||
| Straight Up | Covers one number | 1 | 35:1 |
| Split | Covers two adjacent numbers | 2 | 17:1 |
| Street | Covers three consecutive numbers in a horizontal line | 3 | 11:1 |
| Corner/Basket | Covers four numbers in a square | 4 | 8:1 |
| Line | Covers six consecutive numbers over two horizontal lines | 6 | 5:1 |
| Outside Bets | |||
| Column | Covers a column of 12 numbers | 12 | 2:1 |
| Dozen | Covers 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36) | 12 | 2:1 |
| Red/Black | Covers all red or all black numbers | Red or black | 1:1 |
| Even/Odd | Covers all odd or all even numbers | Even or odd | 1:1 |
| Low/High | Covers either the low (1-18) or high (19-36) numbers | Low or high | 1:1 |
How to play roulette
You place your bets on where a small ball will land on a spinning roulette wheel. The wheel has numbered pockets from 1 to 36, alternating red and black, plus a green 0 (and a 00 in the American roulette version).
You put your chips on the numbers or groups of numbers you wish to back, then the dealer spins the wheel and drops the ball. Now it’s time to hold your breath to see if the ball falls on your number when the wheel slows down.
Any winnings are paid based on the odds in the table above. You’ll note that the riskier bets pay more, but are less likely to win.
Play at trusted UK casinos
The key to keeping safe while playing online casino games and ensuring the titles you play are fair is to stick to playing at trusted UKGC-licensed online casino sites.
That’s why we at Smashing Life are here, to help you achieve just that. We’re committed to reviewing and recommending casinos vetted by our industry experts, who can confirm they are safe and trustworthy.
Is online roulette fixed?
Is online roulette rigged? No, just like blackjack is not rigged. Does that mean you can play at any site anywhere on the internet and expect fair gameplay? Also no.
Get the lowdown on the casinos you can trust, like All British Casino or Mr Jack Vegas from fellow casino enthusiasts at Smashing Life.
