California Gambling Roulette

Roulette is one of the more unique types of games that can be played in an online casino. This game simply places a ball into a wheel and spins it while players bet on where the ball will land.

The following information provides information about playing the game of roulette online, including where to find top-rated online roulette games, what features are available, and what advantages free play mode offers you.

This guide will empower players to make informed decisions about how they will engage in California online roulette games, and what options will best suit their gaming preferences and needs. It answers questions about the fairness of online versions of the game and makes it easy to see why online roulette has become such a popular California online casino game.

Roulette is one of the most popular table games in Las Vegas. It is spread by any casino with more than a handful of tables. There are four types of roulette spread by Las Vegas casinos. They are European Roulette, single zero, double zero and triple zero. Double zero is the most common Las Vegas roulette version. California Casino Guide California, otherwise known as the Golden State, has over 60 casinos operated by multiple Indian Tribes. Since CA was founded back in the 1850s, gambling has been around. Despite this, online casinos have still not been legalized in the state. Brick and mortar casinos built in the state are also considered to be illegal.

We've actually provided this type of information about all of the most popular casino games found in California online casinos, including California online video poker, slots, blackjack and baccarat.

Bovada Casino is our number one USA friendly online casino and they offer several variations of online roulette games for California players to choose from, as well as these favorable attributes:

• A nice welcome bonus for new players that is worth up to $3000
• They accept players from almost all US states, including California
• They were launched by the trusted Bodog brand
• Their mobile casino features several roulette games that perform beautifully on your smartphone or tablet

Top Online California Casinos For Playing Real Money Roulette

Types of Online Roulette Available to California Players

Residents in CA that wish to play California online roulette will discover that there are a number of different roulette varieties for players to choose from when playing online. Overall, you will find that there are two specific variations of online roulette for California players, known as American Roulette and European Roulette, with specialty versions also available, varying by casino brand.

Basic gaming principles are the same among all roulette games, with small details making each version unique. The objective of American Roulette is to place a bet on either a color or a number, click the spin button and watch as a ball is placed into the wheel and it is spinning to see where it lands. If you guessed correctly, you will win the bet.

The only difference between the two types of roulette is the number of pockets available. The specialty versions have a few additional varying details that make the games unique. You can read the rules section of the games to learn the differences.

Features Offered by Online Roulette

In the act of determining the winning color and number, you will spin the wheel in one direction and the ball will spin in the opposite direction once you have placed all of your bets. The ball will eventually slow down and come to a full stop once in lands in one of the available slots on the game surface.

Online roulette provides players with realistic graphics and an interface that is easy to read and use. Most of the user interfaces enlarge the roulette wheel when it is spinning so you can see the results. You will also find a results area to view the numbers and colors that have appeared thus far.

Placing your bets and watching as the wheel spins has never been easier, as the game board is just as it is in real life. This is even usually a section on either the bottom or side of the page that allows you to click and read the rules of the game if you ever feel the need to train or retrain yourself on how to play.

Mobile Roulette At Online California Casinos

Roulette, whether you prefer the American or European variant, is available at all the top CA casino sites. However, you don't have to be sitting at your computer to bet on red, as you can put your money down wherever you go thanks to the mobile options available to you. The best online California casino operators have spun the proverbial wheel while reinventing it, bringing you on-the-go roulette action via your iPhone or Android web browser. You don't need any app downloads or updates, either. Simply visit your site of choice on your mobile device, log in, and let it ride, wherever the ride takes you!

Live Dealer Roulette Online

Roulette is available at all the best CA online live dealer casinos, and it's one of the most immersive ways to play the legendary classic. While the RNG options are great in the standard casino at your favorite Internet gambling house, nothing beats live roulette. And now, you don't have to go to Vegas to enjoy it! Whether you're on your home computer or mobile device, you can participate in real-dealer roulette for real money, 24-7. If you thought your head was spinning before, just wait until you experience the sights and sounds of live roulette over the Internet!

Free Online Roulette

As with all of the other casino games that are offered by each and every one of the online casinos in our guide, online roulette can also be played for free. While this may shock you if you've only ever played at land based casinos in California, Nevada or another state during your lifetime, online casinos come with the added advantage of allowing you to play and practice as long as you want without having to spend a single bit of your money.

For slightly trickier games like roulette, this is a fantastic feature to have, as it gives you the opportunity to get a feel for all of the rules and the interface before you decide to jump into the actual game and bet your real money. There is no downside to this feature. Whenever you want to use it, you can.

The rules are the same and you can bet chips as you would in a real money game, just without actually placing your money into the pot. This will also give you the time to brush up on all of the terms with roulette, which will prove more than useful.

Is Online Roulette Fair?

Online roulette is basically a guessing game. When the ball goes into the wheel, there's no telling which color or number that it will land on. As such, there are times when you can go on long losing streaks and feel as though the game is deliberately taking your money.

While it might feel this way, particularly as you're playing online and can't actually see the wheel in front of you, it's important to note that each of the casinos that we have added to our resource guide have ensured that their online roulette games are completely fair. This is done in a number of ways.

For instance, once you have pressed the spin button, the Random Number Generator that is equipped within the software kicks into gear and tells the ball where it is going to land. It does this immediately and doesn't take any other factors into account. As such, the number that it generates is always entirely random and independent of any previous or future spins, and the placement of the ball once the wheel stops spinning is completely fair.

The casinos in our guide are all licensed and regulated, and are audited regularly for fair gaming practices, which means that their RNG technology is consistently checked or fairness. At this time, all California online casinos are located outside of the United States, so California gambling laws do not provide regulatory oversight for fair gaming practices, but the jurisdiction in which they are licensed does indeed provide this type of oversight. All brands represented in this guide are verified to be subject to legitimate regulation and licensing requirements.

Many different roulette variations have been invented over the years. Some variants offer mini wheels while others put multiple balls in play (online).

But as radical as these games sound, none of them are as different from the classic version as California roulette. The latter uses completely different equipment in some respects.

You can keep reading to find out more on California roulette’s odd features and if it’s worth playing. But first, you can check out why the Golden State offers a different version of roulette in the first place.

California’s Take on Roulette and Other Casino Games

If California tribal casinos and cardrooms could have their way, they’d just offer normal roulette games.

However, they can’t due to the state’s gambling laws. Games of skill are approved while anything that involves balls or dice aren’t.

Obviously roulette doesn’t make the cut. All of its outcomes are decided by a ball landing in a numbered pocket.

Here’s a full list of games that are banned in California:

• Fan tan
• Faro
• Hokey-pokey
• Lansquenet
• Monte
• Rondo
• Rouge et noire
• Roulette
• Seven-and-a-half
• Tan
• Twenty-one
• House-banked*

*Games with dice or cards.

If you’re wondering what some of these games are, then don’t feel bad. I’ve been writing about casino gambling for years have no idea how hokey-poker, lansquenet, and some of these other banned games work.

But if you can look past the games that probably died along with the Gold Rush, you’ll notice that roulette is the most-relevant exclusion.

Luckily, roulette aficionados caught a break in 2004. The state legislature ruled that a game called California roulette was illegal.

How Does California Roulette Work?

This roulette variation loosely resembles the classic version that’s offered in casinos. It features a normal roulette table and board.

However, the key difference is that the traditional wheel is replaced with a spinning deck of cards. Here are the characteristics of this setup:

• A spinning wooden wheel with slots that hold playing cards.
• 38 slots/cards on the wheel (meant to represent the American wheel).
• The cards alternate between black and red suits (like black/red pockets on regular wheel).
• Cards are also numbered 1-36, 0, and 00.

Other than the cards and funky looking wheel, California plays much like standard roulette. Each round starts with players putting their chips on the board.

The dealer will eventually spin the wheel and call out “no more bets.” When the wheel stops, a pointer will indicate the winning card.

The croupier takes this card out of the slot and shows the table. Winning cards feature both a number and a color (red/black).

What Are Your Chances of Winning with California Roulette?

Given that this game is based on American roulette, it has a 5.26% house edge. This figure comes from the wheel’s two house-friendly pockets, including zero and double zero. Here’s the math:

• 2 pockets that favor the house
• 38 total numbers
• 2 / 38 = 5.26%

You’ll be facing a 5.26% house advantage with almost every bet on the board. The only exception is the “basket” wager, which carries a 7.69% house edge.

This bet is made on 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3. You obviously want to keep your chips out of this area due to the high house advantage.

But even if you make regular wagers, a 5.26% casino edge is nothing to get excited about. Most games give you a much better chance to win than this.

However, you can improve your odds by choosing a game with the la partage rule. This rule allows you to get half of your money back (even-money wagers only) when the ball lands on zero or double zero.

Assuming la partage is in play, then the house edge is cut down to 2.63%. The catch is that you must place even-money wagers to take advantage.

By and large, though, most California roulette games feature an American wheel. The same is true of standard roulette games found in Vegas and Atlantic City.

Is Roulette Treated Unfairly in California?

Roulette did get some favoritism when the card-based version was approved in 2004. However, it’s still far from the darling among state politicians.

The list of approved and excluded games is somewhat confusing. Baccarat, a game that involves no more skill than roulette, is somehow approved.

The only real skill in baccarat is choosing the banker hand to win. As long as you do this, then you’re guaranteed to achieve the lowest house edge of 1.06%.

Roulette involves fairly similar strategy. If you choose the European or French version, then you’ll lower the house advantage to 2.70% and 1.35%, respectively.

I can understand how blackjack and Texas hold’em make the cut as skill games. However, baccarat is a perfect example of why roulette is treated unfairly.

The only solace is that politicians at least approve of California roulette. Otherwise, there’d be no way to legally enjoy this casino classic.

Pros of California Roulette

Since being introduced to tribal casinos, California roulette has been a pretty popular game. Here are some key reasons why it holds players’ attention.

Interesting Roulette Variation

If you’re a big roulette fan, you may feel like you’ve tried every variant. However, the California version brings something totally fresh to the table.

Rather than dealing with the same type of wheel that’s been used for centuries, you get to watch a spinning card holder. Results are determined by numbered cards, rather than numbered pockets.

No other roulette variation in the world has a setup that’s this different from the norm. Assuming you’re looking for something new, then you should appreciate this game.

Offers a Way for Californians to Enjoy Roulette

Roulette falls under the category of being a house-banked game with a ball. Therefore, it’s technically illegal in the Golden State.

However, California roulette was concocted as a means of getting around this law. It’s just different enough to qualify as a legal casino game.

State residents don’t have to travel to Nevada just to enjoy roulette. Instead, they can play something similar right in their backyard.

Sometimes Offers Favorable Odds

Some California roulette games feature the la partage rule. La partage allows you to get half of your even-money bets back if the ball stops on zero.

This rule lowers the house edge to 2.63%. While this isn’t the lowest house advantage in the casino, it still gives you a much stronger than to win than American roulette.

Cons of California Roulette

This game has a lot going for it. However, California also has some notable downsides that must be considered before you jump into the matter.

Doesn’t Satisfy Fans of Classic Roulette

Part of roulette’s charm is its classic feel. This game debuted in Paris in the late eighteenth century and has remained largely unchanged ever since.

Everything from the wheel’s polished wood to the sound of the rattling ball create something that’s totally unique from other games.

California roulette doesn’t have quite this same charm. In fact, the slotted piece of spinning wood looks downright ugly.

High House Edge in Most Cases

Some tribal casinos offer the la partage rule to draw true gamblers who want better odds. However, the average gambling establishment knows that they can draw players without this rule.

Most California roulette tables are based on the American wheel. As a result, they carry a high 5.26% house edge.

Only Available in California

California roulette is aptly named after the state where it was founded. This variation is still only available in the Golden State. Are you prepared to visit California just to play this game?

California Gambling Roulette Games

Odds are that you aren’t so infatuated with it to make a special trip. Realistically, you’ll only play this version if you live in or near the state.

Conclusion

California has strange gambling laws that only allow specific casino games. Roulette, unfortunately, isn’t one of the approved games.

California Gambling Roulette Rules

However, it does exist in some legal form within the state. The legislature approved California roulette in 2004.

The California version offers a nice mix of the familiar and something new. Its board and rules are mostly the same as traditional roulette.

But the main difference is that it uses a slotted piece of wood as the wheel. Each slot represents a number and color.

The mechanics of California roulette hardly differ form the regular game. Only the equipment and look of the wheel differ.

You may really appreciate the chance to try a really unique roulette variant like this. You’ll especially feel this way if you’re tired of the classic version.

California Casino Roulette

I certainly don’t recommend that you travel far just for this game. But you might consider trying it if you either live in/near California or will be vacationing there.

With any luck, you’ll find a version that features the la partage rule. This is preferable to playing the American version (5.26% house edge), because it only features a 2.63% house advantage.

California Gambling Roulette Poker