Best Free Online Roulette Games in 2017

The beauty of online Roulette is that there are no real rules or strategies to master, it's easy to pick up and play from the very first spin. Without having to get to grips with complex betting patterns or tactics.

If you're new to Roulette, or you just prefer playing casino games for fun rather than real money, free roulette games online are the ideal way to get in on the action without having to cough up any cash.

Because they don't require any deposit on your part free games allow you to experience the thrill of online roulette entirely risk free. Plus if at any point you decide you want to advance to playing for real money there are plenty of online casinos out there offering classic and alternative roulette variations.

In this guide to the best instant roulette games you can enjoy for free we'll show you:

• How to decide on a free play online roulette game to suit you
• The rules of wagering & types of betting
• The main variations of casino roulette you'll find online

Getting to Grips with the Rules

As online casino games go, roulette is one of the easiest to learn, and amongst the most fun for both new and experienced players to play. So it's a great game to sink your teeth into if you're new to online casinos, or to gambling entirely.

The gameplay is controlled by a dealer, sometimes referred to in roulette as a croupier, who basically keeps the action moving, announces bets and outcomes, and prompts players when its time for them to act. The action centers around a numbered spinning wheel and a tiny ball. The dealer spins the wheel and drops the ball into the wheel as it's spinning at the start each new round. The objective for players is to correctly guess where on the wheel the ball will come to ultimately rest.

From here it’s just a case of placing your bets and looking on in anticipation to see if you correctly predicted the right result.

Finding a Wager That Suits You

Roulette offers you several ways to place bets and players have absolutely no influence over where the ball will land after each spin. So your success or failure depends entirely on luck alone.

Unlike online video poker or blackjack, where skill and strategy can help increase your odds of coming out on top, the only way you can gain an advantage is through the variation you choose. More on that later. For now, let’s look at the two types of bet you can make:

Inside bet

In roulette an inside bet is where you bet on one or more numbers inside the roulette grid. Numbers consist of even and odd numbers from 0 (plus an additional 00 slot in American roulette) to 36.

Outside bet

Outside bets are made by placing your bet on options outside of the numbered grid. They offer you “blanket” bets that increase your chances of winning on each spin.

You can choose to bet on a grouping of numbers, such as the first 12, second 12, or third 12, or even 1-18 or 19-36. You can also choose to bet on an all red or all black number outcome.

Making multiple outside bets gives you the advantage of being in a position to win back at least part of your total overall bet. For example, if you bet on all odd numbers and all black numbers, and the ball lands on black 10, you lose the odds portion of your bet, but win the black portion. However if the ball lands on black 13 you win both parts of the bet for a payoff on each bet.

In roulette there are really no limitations to how many bets you place. Plus, if you're playing for free then you don't have to worry about making, and potentially losing multiple stakes, as it's not real cash anyway. It's all for fun!

Online Roulette Variations

Aside from the immediacy and convenience, one of the great things about playing free online roulette at home or on mobile is the variety of different games on offer. Unlike the classic version you'll find throughout land casinos in 2017, playing in an online casino opens up a whole world of exclusive roulette variations unavailable elsewhere.

Some make use of unique rules that favor players, while others have fewer numbers on the wheel that positively change the odds in the game. Even if you only ever play roulette online for free, it can still be rewarding to try out a few different variations and find the one you enjoy playing for fun the most.

European Roulette

One of the key things about European roulette is that it offers players better odds than you'll find in other versions, including American. This is due to the fact that the American version has an extra double “0” that isn't present on the European wheel.

This might not seem significant but the addition of the "00" tile actually gives the casino a better advantage as the house always wins when the ball lands on 0 or 00. This advantage is therefore automatically reduced when one zero's is taken away, as is the case with European roulette.

French Roulette

French roulette also only has one "0" on the wheel. But in addition, this roulette version also features two important rules that have a knock-on effect on betting outcomes. A rule known as La Partage means a player will only lose half of his/her bet if the ball lands on zero on all outside bets placed. The rule doesn't apply to inside bets.

In addition, the En Prison Rule in French roulette effectively puts inside bets "in prison" whenever the ball lands on zero. Which means instead of getting half the bet back as in the La Partage rule, the bet stands for the next spin. If then on the next spin players win their bet they get out of jail free. Should they lose then they forfeit their entire wager.

American Roulette

American roulette is one of the mostly widely available and played variations, both on and offline in casinos today. Although records show it isn't as old as its European and French variations, American roulette is still considered by many to be the standard version of this classic casino game.

In American roulette the numbered wheel features an additional "00" square as well as the standard "0" found in French and European roulette. The inclusion of this "00" isn't a positive for players though. It actually increases the house edge and drags the player odds down. So it's unsurprising that online and land casinos overtly favor this roulette version the most.

Mini Roulette

As the name suggests, the wheel is smaller than a standard 0-36 numbered wheel. In fact, mini roulette wheels only go up to 12 and, like the European version, only feature a single "0" square.

If the ball happens to land on the "0" tile, half of the stake of all bets are returned to players. Other than that exception, and the miniature wheel size, bets can be placed in just the same way as with standard roulette versions, and no additional rules apply.

Multi Ball Roulette

In multi ball roulette up to 10 balls can be in play at any one time. The number of balls in use has a direct effect on the odds and players can select and deselect balls until they reach a total they're happy with.

The odds in multi ball roulette also increase because no two balls can land in the same pocket. Giving you more chances to correctly guess the outcome.

Bets are taken just the same way as in traditional one ball roulette and as well as inside and outside bets, additional call bets can be made on top too.

Multi Wheel Roulette

Multi wheel roulette online features up to 8 wheels spinning simultaneously. The bets you make will extend across all 8 wheels, though it is possible to reduce the amount of wheels in play at any one time by deselecting them until you get to your desired number.

The wheels follow the single "0" European roulette version and winning bets either remain on the table for the next round, or can be taken back and added to your bankroll. Every wheel in play spins independently, giving you up to 8 individual chances to win, and markers will help to illuminate winning outcomes.

Live Dealer Roulette

Live dealer roulette gives you the ease and thrill of online gaming but with the fun and interaction of a real life croupier. Players use online streaming through their Wi-Fi connection to link up to a live game happening in real time.

You can view all of the action through your computer or mobile devices screen, and even interact with the human dealer who will be able to hear you and respond back. It's a great option if you play online roulette at home in isolation but still crave the social interaction of being in a land casino.

Finding The Best Free Roulette For You

No matter which variation of online roulette you play the common denominator is that it's always fun, exciting, and a thrilling game to participate in. Whether you're playing for real money or for free.

As we’ve highlighted, there are so many unique varieties you can find in online casinos today, not to mention a breadth of bets you can place. All of which ensure that when it comes to online roulette the enjoyment factor never has to end.

Free play games are a great place to begin with online roulette, even if you have some experience of playing in land casinos. Without having to risk any of your own money, or make a real cash deposit upfront, you're completely unrestricted to bet without any consequences. So even if your eventual intention is to take part in real money roulette online, playing for free will help prepare you for the reality of the real cash experience.

So don’t miss out on the opportunity to play at the best online roulette casinos in 2017, all for fun. Give our recommended free play games a chance and see just how much fun you can have, and how successful you can be, spinning that iconic roulette wheel in today's top online casinos.