Play Roulette Online: Learn to Win Big with Our Beginner's Guide
- Martin
- Aug 12
- 5 min read
Roulette 101: A Beginner's Guide to Playing Online in India
Ready to try your luck at one of the world's most iconic casino games? Roulette is a game of pure chance that has captivated players for centuries. It's easy to learn, incredibly thrilling, and offers the potential for big payouts on every single spin.
At Gamblegrounds.com, we're here to be your trusted guide to playing online roulette in India. We'll demystify the game, walk you through the different types of bets, and give you the confidence to place your first wager.
The Basics: How a Roulette Game Works
Understanding the core components of online roulette is the first step. You'll be dealing with two main parts: the roulette wheel and the roulette table.
The Roulette Wheel
The roulette wheel is the star of the show. It's a spinning wheel with numbered pockets—either 37 or 38, depending on the version.
European Roulette: This is the most common and player-friendly version. It has 37 pockets, numbered 1 to 36 (red and black) and a single green pocket for 0.
American Roulette: This version has 38 pockets. It includes the same 1 to 36 numbers, but has both a green 0 and a green 00 pocket. This extra pocket increases the house edge, so we always recommend playing European Roulette for better odds.
Types of Roulette Games
European Roulette
This is the most popular and player-friendly version of the game. The European roulette wheel has 37 pockets: numbers 1 through 36 and a single green "0" pocket. Because there's only one zero, the casino's advantage (known as the "house edge") is lower, at around 2.7%. This gives you a better chance of winning over time, which is why it's the version most players prefer.
American Roulette
This version is more common in the United States. The American roulette wheel has 38 pockets. It has the same 1 to 36 numbers, but it features both a single green "0" and a double green "00" pocket. That extra pocket almost doubles the house edge to around 5.26%. For this reason, you're better off sticking to European or French roulette if you want to improve your chances.
French Roulette
French roulette is very similar to the European version. It uses the same European roulette wheel with a single zero. However, it has two special rules that make it even more favorable to the player, especially on "even-money" bets (like betting on red/black or odd/even).
"La Partage" Rule: If the ball lands on the zero, you only lose half of your even-money bet. The other half is returned to you.
"En Prison" Rule: If the ball lands on the zero, your even-money bet is "imprisoned" for the next spin. If you win on that next spin, you get your full stake back.
These rules lower the house edge on even-money bets to a tiny 1.35%, making French Roulette a fantastic choice for smart players.
Live Roulette Variations
For an authentic experience, you can't beat live roulette. This is a version of the game where a real human dealer spins a physical wheel, and the action is streamed to your device in high-definition. Developers like Evolution Gaming have created amazing live variations with unique twists:
Lightning Roulette: A super-charged version where lucky numbers are randomly struck by lightning on each spin, applying multipliers of up to 500x to your winnings!
Speed Roulette: Perfect for players who love fast-paced action. Rounds are sped up, allowing you to get more spins in a shorter amount of time.

The Roulette Table
The roulette table is where you place your bets. It's a large grid with all the numbers and betting categories laid out. You'll place your virtual chips on this grid to predict where the ball will land. The dealer (or the game's software) spins the wheel and drops the ball. When the ball lands in a pocket, all winning bets are paid out.
Roulette Bets: Inside vs. Outside
This is where the strategy—and the fun—comes in. All roulette bets are split into two main categories: Inside Bets and Outside Bets.
Inside Bets
These are bets placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers on the inside section of the roulette table. They have higher payouts but lower odds of winning.
Straight Up: A bet on a single number (e.g., 7). This offers the highest payout (35:1).
Split Bet: A bet on two adjacent numbers, placed on the line between them. The payout is 17:1.
Street Bet: A bet on a row of three numbers, placed on the outer edge of the row. The payout is 11:1.
Corner Bet: A bet on four numbers that meet at a corner, placed on the corner itself. The payout is 8:1.
Six Line: A bet on two adjacent rows of three numbers, placed on the line that separates the rows. The payout is 5:1.
Outside Bets
These are bets placed on the larger categories outside the numbered grid. They cover a bigger range of numbers, giving them much higher odds of winning but lower payouts.
Red or Black: A bet on whether the winning number will be red or black. This pays 1:1 (even money).
Odd or Even: A bet on whether the winning number will be odd or even. This also pays 1:1.
High or Low: A bet on whether the winning number will be in the low range (1-18) or the high range (19-36). This pays 1:1.
Column Bet: A bet on one of the three columns of numbers on the grid. This pays 2:1.
Dozen Bet: A bet on one of the three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36). This pays 2:1.
How to Play Online Roulette: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to get started? Playing online roulette is incredibly easy.
Choose a Casino: Select a reputable online casino like the ones we recommend at Gamblegrounds.com.
Open the Game: Navigate to the roulette section and choose a game. We recommend starting with European Roulette. Many sites also offer a roulette demo mode where you can play for free to practice.
Place Your Bets: Use your cursor to click on the chips and then place them on the bets you want to make on the roulette table. You can place as many bets as you like on a single spin.
Spin the Wheel: Once you've placed your bets, click the "Spin" button. The roulette wheel will start spinning, and the ball will drop.
Watch the Result: The wheel will come to a stop, and the winning number will be announced. Winning bets are paid out automatically.
Explore More: Beyond the Basics
Once you're comfortable with the fundamentals, the world of online roulette opens up even further.
Live Roulette
For an authentic, immersive experience, you have to try live roulette. This is a live casino roulette game where a real human dealer spins a physical wheel, all streamed to you in high definition. You can chat with the dealer and other players, making it feel just like a land-based casino. Some popular variants include Lightning Roulette from Evolution Gaming, which adds exciting multipliers for massive payouts.
Roulette Strategy and Odds
There are no guaranteed roulette winning strategy charts that will help you beat the house. The game is based on chance, so every spin is independent. However, understanding the roulette odds and roulette payouts is key. The odds of winning an even-money bet (like red/black) are just under 50% (due to the green 0 pocket). The odds of a single-number bet are much lower, but the payout is much higher.