If you fancy a break from the online poker machines, or even just some good old fashioned casino action, then roulette may well be the right game for you. It is considered by many to be the king of casino games as it has always had something of a reputation for sophistication, and appealed to a wide range of players from casual beginners to high rollers around the country. Naturally, every land based casino in Australia offers some form of roulette at the tables, but limited floor space means that online casinos, such as those from Microgaming, open up a whole new world of roulette opportunities for players.

For the uninitiated, Microgaming is the largest online casino software provider in the world, and much of their solid reputation is built on the vast selection of games available at every one of their partner casinos. Aussie players may well already be familiar with the company for their range of online pokies, which numbers well into the hundreds and continues to grow on a monthly basis. However, such casinos have much more to offer and players can expect to find one of the most comprehensive roulette selections in the world.

Whether you are a brand new roulette player or a seasoned veteran, in this post we aim to cover the most popular forms of roulette, each of which can be enjoyed at any of our recommended Microgaming casinos for Aussie players, including All Slots and Casino Mate. Different games have different house edges and optimal betting patterns while all being based on the familiar roulette style, giving players a multitude of options when deciding how best to spend their bankroll on the spinning wheel.

American Roulette

While the game of roulette originated in France, one of the typical American stereotypes is to make everything bigger and in this case that means adding an extra pocket to the wheel in the form of the double zero. In practical terms, this increases the house edge over more traditional roulette games, as players continue to be paid out at 35 to 1 for correctly selecting a number. Players can also place a split bet on both zeros, which again improves the house’s odds by paying out at 17 to 1. However, the game continues to be popular among players that are looking for the authentic Vegas experience as it is the game that they will be familiar with from all of the biggest hotels and casinos in the city.

European Roulette

European Roulette is a fairly standard version of the game that many players in Australia will already be familiar with. Unlike the American version, the wheel dispenses with the double zero, leaving 37 pockets on the wheel itself, including a single zero and the numbers 1 through 36. Players are still paid out at odds of 35 to 1, just like on American Roulette, meaning that they get the same odds with one less possibility, something that contributes massively to European Roulette’s popularity online. As noted previously, many casinos in Australia and beyond utilise only a single format of roulette, meaning that players have to accept what the casino has decided to use, but online casinos such as All Slots allow players the choice of where they use their chips for the best value, and European Roulette almost always comes out on top. Players can also enjoy European Roulette Gold at the likes of All Slots and Royal Vegas, which adds in enhanced graphics and the ability to place call bets in addition to the neighbour bets found in the original.

French Roulette

The game of roulette originated in France and so it is no surprise to see that French Roulette remains a popular choice at online casinos in Australia to this day. The immediate differences between French and European Roulette are subtle, with the numbers on the table being green rather than red or black. Players can of course still bet on red or black, as the numbers continue to be denoted as such on the wheel itself. The table itself is also in French, although all Microgaming online casinos helpfully provide translations in the form of subtitles.

The major difference between French and European Roulette comes in the betting and is known as the La Partage rule, which translates into ‘share it’. This rule alone continues to make French Roulette the popular choice at online casinos in Australia, as it means that any even money bet on the table when the ball lands on zero only loses half of the staked amount. This means that any bet on red or black, odd or even or anything similar has a chance of recouping some of the cost in the unfortunate event of the ball landing on zero, which is often an occurrence that players do not bet on.

As with European Roulette, All Slots Casino and Casino Mate offer players the chance to try French Roulette Gold, where the rules remain the same but the graphics and sounds are considerably more realistic and atmospheric than the original.

Roulette Royale

Now we’re talking. Roulette Royale is another major favourite among Aussie players as not only can they enjoy a standard game of European Roulette, but can also have a crack at pokie style progressive jackpot as they play. The progressive prize often reaches hundreds of thousands of dollars and is won based on a specific event rather than pure luck.

To be in with a shot at the massive prize, players must stake an additional one credit bet as a jackpot side bet, completely independent of their standard wagers on the roulette table. If the ball lands on the same number twice in a row then the player scoops fifteen credits, followed by 200 for three in a row and an impressive 3,000 for four in a row. If the player has staked the side bet on five spins in a row where the ball lands on the same number, then they scoop the whole progressive jackpot – all while hopefully scooping major prizes on the table itself.

Premier Roulette

Premier Roulette is similar to European Roulette, but is the biggest graphical overhaul Microgaming has ever applied to the basic game and offers players a range of additional options, even down to the colour of the table and the felt used. Among the other adjustable functions are win details, video zoom, game speed and statistics, which are all perfect for fans that want a highly authentic online roulette experience.

Multi-Wheel European Roulette Gold

This one is particularly easy to explain. If you are tired of waiting for the spins to happen on an individual basis, then you can take advantage of up to eight roulette wheels at a time using the Multi-Wheel version of European Roulette Gold. All bets are placed on the same betting table and apply to every single wheel in use, giving multiple opportunities to win without hanging around for separate spins.

Multiplayer Roulette

Again using the typical European Roulette format, Multiplayer Roulette gives players the chance to play at a table with friends. All players place their bets on the same table, meaning that others can get an insight into your strategy, and players can even communicate within the chat box. Of course, roulette is a game that is played against the house, so players are not looking to outdo each other, making it slightly easier to share tried and tested betting patterns with others.

Each of these games offers something different for players in Australia. Whether you want the real Vegas experience on American Roulette or want to play like you are in Monte Carlo at French Roulette, All Slots and Casino Mate have you covered. You can find out more about both operators in our dedicated review section. Rest assured that they are both ideal for Aussie players for all manner of reasons.