What is sweepstakes roulette? A brief rundown of the basic rules…
Roulette, as we all know it and love it, is a wheel-based game in which a ball is dropped into a rotating red and black wheel dotted with numbers ranging from 0 to 36. But did you guys know that you can play free roulette games with no upfront purchase requirement in the US?
Well, now you do. And here’s how it works.
“Sweepstakes” or “social” roulette is pretty much identical to regular roulette, except for the following simple facts:
- You can play for free without having to make any upfront purchases.
- No cash gameplay is permitted – instead, all games are powered entirely by either Gold Coins (GC) or Sweeps Coins (SC).
- GC exist for entertainment purposes only, while SC can be redeemed for real world prizes, including cash ones, once you’ve collected enough SC to request a redemption.
Now, the above facts mean that the best sweeps roulette sites are generally available in most US states, with the exception of Washington, Idaho, or any other states deemed “off limits” by your preferred provider in their own T&Cs.
To play sweepstakes roulette, then, you’ll make predictions as to where you think a ball will land on the multicolored wheel ahead of each round – except your plays will go down in GC or SC rather than cash.
Depending on which version of the game you’re playing, there are 37-38 possibilities each round, and your social roulette predictions can take many different forms, including:
- Backing the ball to land on a red or black “pocket”.
- Predicting that it’ll hit an odd or even number.
- Guessing that it’ll land on a “high” (19-36) or a “low” (1-18) number.
- Selecting one or more individual numbers.
- Singling out a square of four numbers.
- Splitting your play by placing your GC/SC chip on the lines between numbers.
- Picking out one of three groups of 12 (1-12, 13-24 or 25-36).
Of course, plenty of other play options are also up for grabs. While top games at the best social roulette sites routinely run tournaments, bonus rounds and special promotions that you can take advantage of from time to time, too.
Let’s look at how most versions of the game are played, one step at a time.
How to play sweepstakes roulette, step by step
Playing roulette at a sweepstakes casino is remarkably straightforward.
This is especially true if you’ve played before in the “real money” gaming world, or are already familiar with some of the play options I mentioned in the last section.
Most sweepstakes casinos will even let you play free roulette with no download requirement, as the vast majority of sweeps brands run on mobile-friendly websites rather than offering downloadable apps.
Anyhow, to actually play sweepstakes roulette, all you need to do, is:
- Find a sweepstakes casino that offers roulette games – you’ll see many such sites highlighted in my banners on this page.
- Create a new player account if you don’t already have one – this will usually help you unlock a free GC/SC bonus that you’ll be able to hit the tables with.
- Head to your sweeps site’s “Table games” section and pick out a roulette game – some sites might even offer “live dealer” versions if you want a more authentic, Vegas-style experience.
- Load it up, then choose whether you’d prefer to play using just for fun GC, or prize-redeemable SC.
- Select how many GC/SC you’d like to put down, then make your plays – you can back red or black, odds or evens, individual numbers or any of the other play options I ran through previously.
- Wait for the “Croupier” (the real or virtual dealer overseeing the game) to drop the ball.
- Carefully watch the ball dart its way around the roulette wheel until it settles.
- When the ball stops, you’ll know immediately whether your prediction was a winner.
At this point, I feel it’s important to remind you guys that you can’t
play roulette for free and win real money
directly with sweepstakes casinos.
As I’ve mentioned already, all social roulette games offered by these sites are powered entirely by GC and SC, which means you can only ever win GC or SC, respectively, when you play.
The way it works is simple enough. GC exist purely for fun and have no cash or prize redeemable value – think of them as allowing you to play in demo mode. Conversely, SC can be redeemed for real world prizes, usually at a rate of 1 SC = $1USD, once you’ve satisfied certain T&Cs, such as:
- Winning enough SC to meet your sweeps casino’s minimum prize redemption requirement – which may range anywhere from 50 to 100 SC.
- Playing through any SC you’ve collected at least once to grant them “redeemable” status.
Next, let’s look at the ins and outs of selecting a sweepstakes casino or
free roulette
app for your next online roulette experience.
After that, I’ll break down the different kinds of roulette games you can expect to find on these ever popular sites.
What are the pros and cons of playing sweepstakes roulette?
- Play for free, with no upfront purchase requirement.
- Multiple roulette games are usually offered.
- Several strategies to try out.
- Roulette-friendly bonuses are available.
- No real money gameplay is permitted.
What different types of social roulette games do sweepstakes casinos offer?
The kinds of roulette games you’ll find up for grabs among popular sweepstakes casinos vary. But the best social roulette sites tend to offer a decent mix of different roulette game options to keep things fun and interesting for returning players. Many brands even add new games to their lineups on a weekly basis.
At the time of writing, the following versions of the game reign supreme:
| Type of roulette game |
How it works |
| European roulette |
Generally considered the “original” version of the game, European roulette is broadly the type of roulette I’ve been talking about throughout today’s guide – it has 37 “pockets” with just a single zero on the wheel. |
| American roulette |
American roulette is much the same as European roulette, except there are 38 rather than 37 pockets. Put simply, there are two zeroes on the wheel – a single zero (0) and a double zero (00). |
| French roulette |
French roulette is a 37-pocket variant of the game, which doesn’t have a double zero. However, it introduces a new game rule known as “La Partage”, which makes it possible for you to get back half your plays if the ball hits zero. |
| “Auto” or “Speed” roulette |
Auto and speed roulette are essentially faster paced versions of the game, where you’ll need to make split second decisions between shorter spins.
“Speed” games tend to use traditional croupiers, while “auto” games are often powered digitally, using Random Number Generators (RNGs) instead. |
| Live dealer roulette |
Some sweepstakes roulette sites offer “live” versions of European, American, French and Speed roulette that are manned by actual, real-world croupiers. These games tend to feature HD live streams and, occasionally, social chat features too. |
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Top tips to keep in mind when playing social roulette in the US
Roulette is, theoretically speaking, a game of chance. But there are still a ton of different strategies and approaches that remain popular among both sweepstakes and “real money” gamers.
Here are some tips from yours truly on how to enjoy sweepstakes roulette to the max every single time you play:
Don’t forget about zero 🎱
It’s worth noting that if you back a number, or an “outside bet” like red, black, odd or even, you’ll lose if the ball hits zero or double zero – which are usually both denoted in green.
As such, it’s smart to consider covering zero when making your plays at the beginning of each game.
Pick French or European style games over American ones 🇫🇷
One little talked about aspect of roulette is that European style games actually have slightly better odds than American ones, as there are 37 rather than 38 pockets in play, and there’s only one zero on the wheel.
It’s also worth remembering that if you opt for French roulette, you’ll be able to take advantage of the “La Partage” rule I mentioned earlier, too.
Dabble with “Martingale” and “Fibonacci” strategies 📈
There are several age old roulette strategies out there that are real fun to try out. The “Martingale” method, for example, involves doubling your play after each loss, while the “Fibonacci” approach requires you to increase each play in a GC/SC sequence of 1, 2, 3, 5, 8… GC/SC and so on.
Reading up on a few of these and giving them a go can really ramp up the fun and excitement of playing. Just remember that even though you’re using virtual chips instead of cash, playing responsibly remains as important as ever.
As mentioned earlier, in the world of social roulette, using GC coins is kind of like playing in demo mode, as GC chips have no prize redeemable value.
So, why not practice a roulette strategy or two in GC mode before switching to playing with SC later, once you better understand how the game works? Many sweepstakes casinos will grant you more GC than SC as part of their sign up bonus, making this real easy to do.
Opt for live dealer games for a more authentic experience 🎥
Many of the best sweepstakes roulette sites offer plenty of live dealer games covering all different kinds of roulette niches.
Sitting across from a real world dealer adds a whole new dimension to your gaming experience, and often combines gameplay with player to player chat and other fun social features, too - which are well worth checking out.
How to register with sweepstakes roulette sites and grab a bonus on sign up
Signing up with a sweepstakes casino is a cinch. And many of the best brands, such as Stake.us and McLuck, to name just a couple, offer a cool combo of RNG powered and live dealer roulette games.
My banner links on this page will help you quickly find trusted social roulette sites available in your state. You can then register an account and claim a bonus with any one of them, by:
- Clicking the appropriate sweepstakes casino link here to reach the right URL for your state.
- Tapping “Sign Up” and entering your details.
- Verifying your email address and ID.
- Logging in for the first time to unlock a free GC/SC bonus.
Conclusion –social roulette is a hoot. But is it right for you?
Roulette games come in several shapes and sizes – all of which are easy to play, fun to engage with, and accessible for free with no upfront purchase requirement if you’re playing at a sweepstakes casino that offers GC and SC-powered games.
Of course, these sites don’t accept real money plays and are sometimes off limits in a few US states, such as Washington and Idaho, for example. But generally speaking, sweepstakes casinos are up for grabs in most parts of the US, offer two fun gameplay modes on all their roulette games, and generous bonuses you can claim on sign up.
If you’re interested in playing roulette at a sweepstakes casino today, you’ll see plenty of top sweeps sites promoted in my banners on this page. Just remember to shape up on roulette’s rules and how various versions of the game differ from one another before you play, yeah?
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2.
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Sweepstakes roulette FAQ
🎰 How do sweepstakes roulette and “real money” roulette differ?
Put simply, sweepstakes casino games never accept real money plays and are always powered entirely by GC and SC rather than cash. That said, if you play sweeps roulette games using prize redeemable SC, you can redeem your SC for real world prizes once certain conditions have been met.
🏆 Which sweepstakes casinos are best for roulette games?
Not all sweeps sites specialize in roulette games, but you’ll find a ton of exciting roulette options at Stake.us, McLuck and MegaBonanza right now. Just be aware that each site has different state by state restrictions in the US.
🎲 What is the house edge in social roulette games?
This obviously varies depending on which version of the game you’re playing, and at which sweepstakes casino. Generally speaking though, European roulette offers a house edge of 2.7%, while American roulette’s “double zero” effectively ups the house edge to 5.25%.
Daily picks from betting experts on odds boosts and casino promos
