No casino is complete without a roulette table. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that it’s one of the first games to go digital when the online casino revolution started in the 90’s. Thanks to major advancements in technology, online roulette games can now deliver an extremely authentic experience with realistic graphical images that look and move exactly like the real thing.
A classic favourite all over the world, online roulette has also become very much sought-after amongst Malaysian players. This page will tell you all you need to know to start playing one of the most exciting casino games online. If you’re looking for a game that’s easy to learn, offers nail-biting suspense, and gives you the potential to win big, then head over to any of the best Malaysian online casinos for roulette games below:
[The best Malaysian casinos to play online roulette]
How to play roulette online
Before you learn the rules, you first need to know what are the components that make up a roulette game. There’s a wheel with pockets which are labelled with different colours and numbers, a metal ball that gets fired into the wheel, and a table where you can place your bets.
Once all chips are set on the betting table, the wheel starts turning and the ball is fired into it. Even with online roulette, you can see the ball bounce between the pockets of the wheel while it gradually loses momentum and slows down, finally settling into one of the pockets. The number and colour of the pocket which the ball lands in is the winning pocket.
The objective of the game is very simple – correctly guess the number or colour that the ball lands on and you win!
Online roulette variations
You might have noticed that there are different types of roulette games offered at your favourite online casino. While the general rules of the game are the same, each variation has its own distinctive characteristics. Here are the three most commonly found roulette variations:
- European roulette: The European roulette wheel consists of one green “0” and 36 other numbered pockets in red or black. The labels on the table are in English and the house edge is just 2.7%.
- French roulette: French roulette games use the European wheel with a single zero so it also has a house edge of 2.7%. The labels of the betting table are in French but reputable online casinos let you easily translate the words into English with just a click of a button. French roulette often implements the “La Partage” or “En Prison” rule which gives players the advantage of not losing all outside bets when a zero comes.
- American roulette: The American roulette wheel has 38 pockets in total with a “0” and “00” pocket. Because of the additional “00”, the house edge of this variation is significantly less favourable to players at 5.3%.
Play roulette live
Live-dealer roulette brings the experience of playing at a real casino to you, wherever you are. Professional croupiers run the game at a studio and you can watch the wheel and ball move in real time via live streaming in full HD.
Live-dealer roulette gives you the social element that normal RNG roulette games lack where you can interact with other players. Furthermore, you can even place your bets after the wheel has started spinning which is a very popular feature with seasoned players.
Bet options and payout odds
Now that you know the rules and variations of roulette, it’s time to learn how to place your bets. The beauty of the game is that there are many bet options available and it’s completely up to you how you want to use your bankroll. Although the number of choices you have might sound overwhelming to beginners, there are only two main types of bets – inside and outside bets.
Inside bets are bets which involve a specific number and have a lower probability of winning but with higher payout odds. Here are the different inside bet options you can choose from:
| Bet | Description | Payout Odds | Odds of Hitting (European & French) | Odds of Hitting (American) |
| Straight Up | Betting on a single number | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Split | Betting on two numbers | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
| Street | Betting on three numbers | 11:1 | 8.11% | 7.89% |
| Corner/ Square | Betting on four numbers | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| Six Line | Betting on six numbers | 5:1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
On the other hand, winning an outside bet doesn’t involve a specific number but rather, fulfilling a certain criterion. These bets are easier to win but the payouts are relatively smaller. The different outside bet options are:
| Bet | Description | Payout Odds | Odds of Hitting (European & French) | Odds of Hitting (American) |
| Colours | Betting on whether the winning pocket is red or black | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Odd/ even | Betting on whether the winning number is even or odd | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Dozen | Betting on the winning number being in one of the three dozen groups of numbers: “First 12”, “Second 12”, or “Third 12” | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Column | Betting on any of the three columns of numbers available | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| High/ low | Betting “low” means you place your bets on numbers 1 to 18 while a high bet means you bet on numbers 19 to 36 | 2:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
Tips and tricks to maximise your winning potential
Roulette is a game of chance but it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do to increase your probability of winning. Here are some tips and tricks that our experts would like to share with you:
- Choose a variation wisely: Try to avoid playing American roulette because of its low house edge. If possible, play with a roulette variation that has either the “La Parge” or “En Prison” rule so not all outside bets are lost if the ball lands in the zero-number pocket.
- Stick to a set bankroll: Before you even begin to play, set aside a fixed amount of money which you can afford to lose completely and this is your bankroll. If you ever finish the bankroll, you stop playing until you can afford another bankroll. Never chase a bad bet even if you have a “feeling” that a big win will come in the next game.
- Know your playstyle: Understand that different bets carry different probabilities of winning and payout odds. Place outside bets if you prefer frequent but smaller wins and stick to inside bets if you’re aiming to win big.
- Practise for free: If you’re still trying to learn the ropes, there are many free online roulette games you can play at zero financial risk. Once you’re confident enough, you can start playing with real money.
- Take advantage of casino bonuses: Perhaps the best thing about playing roulette online is that you can reap the benefits of casino bonuses to enhance your bankroll. Check out our recommendation of the best bonuses for Malaysian players to set off on a strong head start.
Discover a whole new world of thrills and wins
Now that you’re ready to begin your exciting journey of playing roulette, remember to only play at reputable casinos so you don’t end up being cheated. Better yet, only play at our trusted casino sites which we have hand-picked especially for players from Malaysia.