Roulette basics
Roulette is one of THE most popular casino table games. I’ve visited many real-world casinos and you can generally find roulette tables packed with eager players laying their chips down - it’s just a fun and exciting game. Online roulette real money gameplay is essentially exactly the same, but instead of a physical roulette table, you are playing a digital version of the game!
If you’ve never played roulette before or need a refresher, this game revolves around the roulette wheel and roulette table. On the wheel there is a series of colored numbers usually ranging from 1 to 36. The wheel is spun, and then a ball is dropped onto it and it eventually lands on one of the numbers. You can get prizes based on a variety of outcomes such as choosing the right number color, choosing the right number, or choosing the right number grouping.
Live vs single player roulette
If you’re looking for a
roulette app, whether it’s real money or a sweepstakes casino, you need to understand the distinction between live and single player roulette as the two game types can give you a very different gaming experience.
| Roulette Game Type |
Description |
| Single Player Roulette |
This is essentially a video game version of roulette where you are playing on your own with a virtual dealer. The game has 3D graphics and the spin results are determined by complex Random Number Generator algorithms. |
| Live Dealer Roulette |
With live roulette, you connect via a live streaming video feed to a studio setup. Within this setup there is a real roulette table, and a human dealer who controls the rounds. You can usually chat to the dealer and other players and it’s essentially the same experience as being in a real casino. |
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Roulette inside picks
When looking at
how to play roulette, it’s vital that you understand the two general pick categories and these are inside and outside picks. Inside picks are generally the higher-risk picks as they have a much smaller chance of occurring. However, the benefit here is that the potential prizes you can get are also much larger. I’ve listed the different inside picks below:
| Inside pick type |
Description |
Prize |
| Straight |
One number selection |
35:1 |
| Split |
Two adjacent numbers |
17:1 |
| Street |
Three numbers in a row |
11:1 |
| Corner |
Four numbers in a four-block segment |
8:1 |
| Six Line |
Two adjacent rows of 3 numbers |
5:1 |
| Top Line |
0, 00, 1, 2, or 3 |
6:1 |
These are incredibly fun picks to make, but you have to be realistic about their chances of occurring, as compared to the outside picks, they have a relatively low percentage chance of happening. Many people use a balanced strategy for roulette where they make a mix of outside and inside picks to minimize the risk factor.
Roulette outside picks
A good portion of online roulette real money and sweepstakes casino roulette gameplay is composed of outside picks. These are the mainstay of roulette games as they have the best chance of occurring - they give you stability, but this is offset by the fact that the prizes are much less glamorous than the inside picks:
| Outside pick type |
Description |
Prize |
| Red or Black |
You’re picking the color of the number slot |
1:1 |
| Odd or Even |
Odd or even number value |
1:1 |
| High or Low |
1-18 or 18-36 |
1:1 |
| Dozen |
1-12, 13-24, 25-36 |
2:1 |
| Column |
1st, 2nd, or 3rd column of 12 numbers |
2:1 |
I recommend starting with outside picks when you play
roulette with no download
at a sweepstakes casino. They are relatively easy to understand, and have the highest chance of happening. For example, in American roulette, you have a 47.40% chance of picking correctly if you make a red/black selection.
The perfect online roulette real money alternative - sweepstakes casinos
Online roulette real money gameplay can be fun, but I want to open your eyes to the best alternative. I am talking about sweepstakes casinos. At these sites, you use virtual currencies instead of real money to play roulette with. The virtual currencies are typically Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, although they can be called something else.
Gold Coins are a fun virtual currency and they have no real value. You can’t do anything with them except play games. I use my Gold Coins to try out my roulette strategies, or just to sample the different games. Sweeps Coins are the premium virtual currency and you can also use them to play games with. Whichever virtual currency you use to play roulette with, you have the chance to get prizes in that same virtual currency.
Sweeps Coins can also potentially be redeemed for cash prizes. The conversion rate is normally 1:1 USD, but there are stipulations before you can make a redemption request. Usually, you need a minimum SC balance (often 75+ SC), you also normally have to play with your bonus SC at least once. Lastly, ID verification is required before SC redemptions are available.
I’ve been exclusively playing at sweepstakes casinos for ages now, and I wouldn’t go back. Compared to their real money counterparts, I think they offer numerous benefits. Obviously the main point is that you don’t have to spend money - you can play using your Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins which you get for free! Additionally, I’ve always found a brilliant collection of games, and in many instances, sweepstakes casinos use roulette games from the same developers who provide titles for real money sites.
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Pros and cons of roulette at online casinos
Free roulette
is my favorite option and I now play this exclusively at sweepstakes casinos as opposed to real money roulette. Although I love this version, It’s not perfect and there are some drawbacks to think about.
Pros and Cons
- You can play without spending real money
- Both single player and live dealer versions are available
- Widely available across the US at sweepstakes casinos
- Easy to access different versions like American and European
The best alternatives to online roulette real money gameplay
If you have been looking for a real money online roulette alternative, I’ve done the hard work for you. Below, I’ve given you mini reviews of 5 super sweepstakes casinos where you can enjoy this game and others for free.
RealPrize - great collection of live roulette games
RealPrize: Pros & Cons
- Over 500 games
- Slots from top developers
- Table games and live dealers
- Inclusive rewards program
- No mobile app for Android
When you sign up with a RealPrize casino account, you’ll get a hefty welcome bonus of 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins. Make sure you then login at least once every 24 hours as you can get a daily login bonus of 5,000 Gold Coins and 0.30 Sweeps Coins. There’s other promos to be found too such as the referral scheme and VIP club. For games, this sweepstakes casino has 500+ titles and it’s always expanding on this. I love playing Gravity Roulette here which is a fun live dealer version and has some insane potential random prize multipliers on your roulette picks.
Stake.us - Stake Originals roulette
Stake.us: Pros & Cons
- Modern social casino
- Legit and trustworthy
- Excellent game selection
- Cool promo offers
- No Stake.us app for Android
Enter the STFSOCIAL promo code when you register at Stake.us and you’ll get an immense total welcome bonus of 560,000 Gold Coins, 56 Stake Cash, and a 5% rakeback on your SC gameplay. This is followed by a mega daily login bonus of 10,000 GC and 1 SC! For games, the Stake Originals roulette version is amazing, but they also feature live dealer variants from ICONIC21. I also love the other Stake Originals arcade games like Mines, Dice, and Limbo and I urge you to give them a try.
McLuck - exclusive McLuck live dealer games
McLuck: Pros & Cons
- Slots from top providers
- Progressive jackpots available
- Loyalty Club with exclusive rewards
- Mobile apps for Android and iOS
McLuck has been around forever and its reputation is impeccable as a online roulette real money alternative. This is one of my favorite sweepstakes casinos and it features a range of exclusive live dealer games with the McLuck branding including roulette and blackjack. When you complete the registration process and verify your ID you will receive 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins to get you started. This site also has plenty of other promos like a referral scheme, daily login bonus, and mail-in bonus.
MegaBonanza - awesome referral scheme
Megabonanza: Pros & Cons
- 800+ games from 15+ providers
- Easy-to-use website
- Email and phone customer support
- Hefty Refer a Friend offer
- Daily login offers
I’ve been a MegaBonanza customer for a long time and it remains one of my top social casinos. Roulette is featured here including both single player and live versions, and it’s got loads of slots from developers like Pragmatic Play too. For bonuses, you get 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins after you create an account. This operator also has a fantastic referral scheme where you can get up to 130,000 Gold Coins and 65 Sweeps Coins depending on the GC purchases your friend makes.
Jackpota -1,000+ casino-style games to explore
Jackpota.com: Pros & Cons
- More than 700 casino games
- Full mobile optimization
- 24/7 customer services
- Daily Jackpota.com login bonus
- Great loyalty club
Jackpota excels at variety and it has a massive game library of 1,000+ titles. I often play the Megaways slots here, but they also have live dealer roulette from ICONIC21 among other games. I recommend giving Gravity Blackjack a try too and I think together with Gravity Roulette, these are two of the best sweepstakes live games available. New customers to Jackpota get a welcome bonus of 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins, and they also have a solid range of optional discounted Gold Coin packages.
Try an alternative to online roulette real money sites today
Online roulette real money sites can be fun, but I prefer to go with the sweepstakes casino alternative. I find these sites much more refreshing and you still get most of the same games to play, including both single player and live dealer roulette variants. If you want to give this game a try, remember to learn the basics of the inside and outside picks, and think about your bankroll management strategy.
All that’s left is to take a look at the online roulette real money alternatives I’ve listed. Sweepstakes casinos like Stake.us, McLuck, RealPrize, and MegaBonanza are insanely fun to play at, all feature this game, and give you a wave of free Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins via promos like the welcome bonus and daily login bonus.
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Online roulette FAQs
🎰 What is the best online roulette real money alternative?
I rate Stake.us as the best real money online roulette alternative. This superb sweepstakes casino has it all - hundreds of games, huge promotions, and of course, several varieties of single player and live dealer roulette.
💵 Can you play online roulette for real money at sweepstakes casinos?
No. Sweepstakes casinos provide a viable alternative to online roulette real money sites if you prefer to just have fun and play responsibly. Sites like Stake.us and McLuck do give you the chance to make cash prize redemptions with your Sweeps Coins though if you meet their eligibility requirements.
🔄 How does roulette work at sweepstakes casinos?
You play roulette in exactly the same way you would at a real money casino. The only difference is that instead of playing using USD, you use virtual currencies which are usually Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. These have no value, but Sweeps Coins have the potential to be redeemed for cash prizes if you have the required minimum balance and have met any playthrough requirements for bonus SC.
⚖️ Is real money roulette rigged?
Not from reputable online casinos no. Always make sure you check who produces the roulette game at both real money casinos and sweepstakes casinos. I always try to play games from top developers like Playtech, Hacksaw Gaming, Pragmatic Play, and ICONIC21.
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