How roulette is played
Roulette has a fairly straightforward gameplay: a small ball is tossed into a numbered spinning wheel after players have tried to predict where it will rest in the wheel.
Despite the absence of direct skill and strategy on the part of players, roulette has a rich history as a popular casino game. In fact, there have been many variations of the game to date, some modified, others reimagined.
The attractiveness of roulette is often down to the allowance that players are allowed during prediction. One can make all sorts of predictions to improve their chances. Ultimately, though, the game is one of pure chance.
How sweepstakes roulette works
The key part of sweepstakes roulette is where you register to play. When you find the right sweepstakes casino and sign up for an account, you will be given a welcome bonus of Gold Coins (GC) and Sweeps Coins (SC) — virtual tokens that remove the need for real money and make the games free-to-play.
When you play with GC, you can only win more GC. However, when you play with SC, you can win more SC that can be redeemed for gift cards and other prizes. And although the bonuses you get can last a good stretch, there’s the option to purchase more and keep going if you ever run low.
Pros and cons of social roulette
Here are some of the upsides and downsides of sweepstakes roulette that we found:
Social Roulette: Pros & Cons
- Amazing variety
- Huge playing margins
- Simple yet exciting gameplay
- Different variations to enjoy
- Completely left to chance
Types of free roulette games at sweepstakes casinos
Our research revealed the different kinds of free-to-play roulette games you can find at sweepstakes casinos. They include:
The original roulette game isn’t a common sight in sweepstakes casinos, but you might catch it from time to time. It’s easily one of the most preferred game versions, especially as it has a 98.65% return to player (RTP) rate.
This characteristic can be traced to the fact that there is only a single zero pocket in the french wheel and two special rules that can be enforced. “En prison” is used to freeze all even money entries that lose and make an additional spin. Players then have the option to push for a full refund if they succeed on the next spin.
On the other hand, “La partage” requires the house and house to split any lost entries down the middle. That way, the house and the player get 50-50 of the entry.
The American version of roulette is also called the Double-zero roulette, for its 0 and 00 pockets, its most defining features. The sequence of numbers 1 to 36 that frame the two zero pockets is also important to the game.
Much like the French version, European roulette has a single zero pocket. However, unlike the 38 pockets in the American version, it only has 37.
European Roulette is particularly favored in casinos because of its house edge, which is half of the American version, thus improving the RTP of the game.
This style of sweepstakes roulette can be found on some platforms. Although it’s inspired by American Roulette, complete with 38 pockets and two zero pockets, this game is unique in the number of bonuses players can claim.
For instance, for every winning roll, four dies are cast. Should all four produce matching numbers, the round’s winnings are doubled.
Besides these fairly established variations of roulettes, there are other gimmicky styles, such as the multiple balls roulette, additional zeroes roulette, and multiple wheel roulette. Understand that as intriguing as these variations may sound, they are less likely to provide an enjoyable playing experience similar to any of the more traditional roulette types. Why? Because they introduce more variables that could elongate the playing time unnecessarily and warrant new rules.
American Roulette vs. European Roulette
The history of roulette is incomplete without its European roots when it first earned its name in France at the turn of the 18th century. It was merely a game of spinning wheels and numbered spots at the time. A croupier would set things in motion by spinning the wheel and tossing in a ball while players predicted the ball’s final resting place.
One of the earlier developments in the game was the numbered pickets in the wheels, numbering 1 to 36, getting covered in red and black. Then, once the numbers were evenly colored, two spots remained: the zero and double-zero, which were given a green color to set them apart.
The numbers on the wheel also made it to the table, allowing players to make entries on single numbers or groups of numbers.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that roulette was imported to America. And while the European version developed over time and maintained close ties with its French predecessor, the American version adopted the famed double zero (00).
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Tips for playing social roulette
The rules of roulette are fairly straightforward. There’s a spinning wheel with black and red numbered pickets reading from 1 to 36 and one or two green pockets numbered 0 and 00, depending on which version you prefer.
After entering your predictions on the table, the croupier spins the wheel and tosses in a small ball to start the round. Wherever the ball comes to rest is automatically the winning number or pocket.
Although different versions of the game come with unique wheel and table layouts, much of the gameplay remains the same, and outcomes aren’t influenced that much.
That said, here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to play free roulette games for fun:
- Enter your predictions on the designated area of the roulette table.
- Ensure your entry doesn’t exceed the maximum entry amount but satisfies the minimum requirement.
- Place your entry before the round is closed off by the dealer.
- The dealer will only reward winning entries, while lost entries are forfeited.
Sweepstakes roulette limits
So, what are these table limits that we mentioned above? Well, sweepstakes roulettes have table limits baked into the game by operators. These rules vary across the different sections of the table but must all be adhered to. For instance, smaller prize odds tend to attract higher entry minimums.
So, if you enter a prediction into a section with a 2:1 prize, whether it’s black or red, low or high, even or odd, your entry must be substantially larger than those placed on a group of numbers or specific numbers. This rule applies to both GC and SC games.
Mini Reviews: Where to play sweepstakes roulette
When compiling a list of sweepstakes casinos that offer roulette games for free, we could only find this trusted operator:
Stake.us
Stake.us is a pioneer social casino with many games, bonuses, and promotion options. The beautiful design wraps together what is easily one of the best ultramodern casino experiences you’ll find online.
The operator carries a range of roulette games, which can be played solo for a more personal experience or live for a more casino-esque experience. Whichever one you go for, rest assured that the game is as aesthetically pleasing as its high quality.
That said, here are some of the games we tried at the casino:
- Roulette Live
- Roulette — Stake original
- Roulette — Pragmatic Play
- Gravity Roulette
- Love Roulette
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Conclusion
We have a mad scientist to thank for the idea of roulette, and the game could not be any cooler or more interesting. With a name that translates to “Little Wheel,” history is proof that the game has since grown beyond its humble origins and attained huge popularity.
You can check out similar content on our website, where we cover everything from operators to game developers to games themselves. In fact, recently, we have curated guides for sweepstakes bingo online, sweepstakes scratchers online, sweepstakes blackjack online, and sweepstakes craps online, among other favorite titles.
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Sweepstakes roulette FAQ
❓What is the most successful roulette strategy?
Unlike some casino games that require skill and strategy on the part of players, roulette takes a different route. This is one of the game’s peculiarities that set it apart from other older, surviving casino games. See our guides today to learn more about these antique games, their history, current popularity, and how to play them.
🤹 Is roulette a game of skill or luck?
Fans of the game understand that the way the game is played ultimately doesn’t require their inputs, bar the table entries. This has led to many enduring myths and strategies around the game. You can learn more about roulette and the operators that carry the game on our website.
🏆 Can roulette be beaten?
Casino games are regulated to ensure the house has no absolute edge. This is why technologies like RNG and RTP were developed and are currently in use. Read our reviews today about what these elements mean for games and players.
