Double Ball Roulette: A Beginner’s Guide
Double ball roulette is a popular version of roulette that uses two balls instead of one. To help you learn more, we’ve compiled an easy-to-follow guide that provides all the information you need to get started. Learn the rules, how to play, and the different bets available, including a double ball jackpot bet.
Discover some tips and strategies and explore some of the other versions of roulette available to play online or in a physical casino.
Let’s start with some of the basic rules to learn more about double ball roulette…
Basic Rules of the Double Ball Roulette
If you’re interested in double ball roulette, the first step is to learn the game’s rules. The main differences between your standard version of roulette and double-ball roulette relate to the payouts and how to win when playing with two balls.
Your aim is to bet on the outcome of the wheel spin successfully by predicting the two balls’ landing position!
Aim of the Game
Double ball roulette has the same rules as a standard roulette game, including the game’s goal. Your aim is to bet on the outcome of the wheel spin successfully by predicting the two balls’ landing position. If you’re familiar with the way a game of roulette works, then you’ll have no trouble playing double ball roulette.
The Wheel
In double roulette, an ordinary roulette wheel is used. While sometimes this version uses a single zero wheel, usually it’s based on an American roulette wheel, which is a standard double zero roulette wheel. There are typically 38 pockets on the wheel, with black and red pockets alternating. Because there are two zeros, the numbers featured are 1 through 36.
The Balls
As the name suggests, in double roulette, you play with two balls instead of one. When you’re placing bets, it’s important to know that both balls must be successful to win an ‘outside’ bet. For example, if you bet on Black, both balls must land on a black pocket to win your wager.
For an ‘inside’ bet, either ball can be successful for your bet to win. However, if both balls are successful, then your payout is doubled! This is called a double-ball jackpot at many online casinos.
Spinning the Wheel
If you’re playing double roulette in a physical casino, each player will be given a remote-controlled button to spin the wheel. This button triggers a compressed air gun that launches the two balls. Unlike conventional roulette, there’s no dealer.
How to Play Double Ball Roulette?
Here are the basic steps to follow to play double-ball roulette:
- Take a Look at the Wheel: Although the betting layout for most double ball roulette games uses a double zero wheel, some casinos may play on a single zero wheel. Take a moment to check the table to see which type of wheel you’re playing to help you determine how you will bet. Consider whether you’ll make an inside or outside bet, whether you’ll choose red or black, or if a corner bet or a split bet is the best option before spinning the wheel.
- Spin the Wheel: If you’re playing online, you can hit spin once you’ve laid your bets. Like other roulette variant games, online casinos will use a Random Number Generator (RNG) in double ball roulette. When playing on mobile devices or via desktop computers, players typically have to click a button to spin the wheel.
- Collect your Winnings: After the wheel has spun, you can check where each ball lands to see if you’ve predicted successfully. If your balls land on the winning numbers, you can collect your bet winnings or continue playing.
Layout and Bet Types in Double Ball Roulette
Although the bet types are similar to traditional roulette, the rules for each type of bet can be slightly different when playing double ball roulette.
Outside bets
In double ball roulette, outside bets are played slightly differently than when using only a single ball. The outside bets are highlighted in gold on the wheel, so you can’t miss them.
You’ll need both balls to land on your chosen wager to win outside bets.
Inside bets
Like outside bets, inside bets operate differently when you’re playing double ball roulette. Usually, in single ball roulette, you bet on a single number, split or street. This only gives you one chance to win with the bet. But in double ball roulette, you’ll get double the chances of winning.
If one of your balls lands in the correct pocket, you win. If both balls land in the pocket, your winnings will be doubled. Giving you double ball jackpot!
Called bets
Call bets are also referred to as French bets. They’re a special type of roulette wager, typically accepted at high-stake tables in physical casinos. Players can make a called bet during live double ball roulette by calling out their bet rather than placing any chips on the table.
Double Ball Roulette Odds
The odds of double ball roulette can vary depending on the type of wheel you use. Here are the odds if you’re using a double-zero wheel.
Outside bets
Here are the odds when you place outside bets.
- When you choose red or black, odd or even, or numbers between 1-18 or 19-36 your odds are 3:1. Remember to win, you need both balls to land on your chosen bet.
- You can also bet on one ball landing on red and the other on black. This bet offers an even money payout.
- When you choose for the balls to land between a group of 12 numbers, either 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36, you’ll get odds of 8:1.
Inside bets
Here are your odds for inside bets, which differ depending on whether one or both balls land in the same pocket.
- Single number: 17:1 when one ball lands, 34:1 for both balls hitting
- Two numbers: 8:1 for one ball hitting, 16:1 for both balls
- Three numbers: 5:1 when one ball lands, 10:1 when both balls land
- Four numbers: 3:1 when one ball lands, 6:1 if both balls land
- Five numbers: 5:2 for one ball hitting, 5:1 if both balls land
- Six numbers: 2:1 when one ball lands, 4:1 for two balls landing
Strategy and How to Win at Double Ball Roulette
If you’re looking for the best double ball roulette strategy, here are some tips we recommend that may help improve your chances of a successful outcome.
💡 Learn by Playing for Free
Before you spend any of your own cash, practice for free to understand the game better. Lots of online casinos allow you to play in practice mode so you can get comfortable playing. Letting you learn the rules and get used to placing inside bets and outside bets before making your first deposit.
💡 Focus on the Highest Expected Return
If you’re looking to win, go for bets that offer the highest expected return. In double ball roulette, your best option is an inside bet on a single number, which offers a low house edge.
💡 Consider Martingale Strategy
This betting strategy is a widely used roulette strategy that some players use to help recover their losses. It involves doubling your bet after each loss until you win. When you do win, you revert to your initial wager amount for future bets. It’s a risky option that requires you to have enough cash to cover your increasing bets.
Some players also use specific systems if they’re using this strategy. For example, placing an even money bet, like a red/black bet, or sticking to an inside bet.
💡 Consider Your Risk Appetite
When you’re playing any form of roulette, consider the type of bets you want to make. For example, do you prefer more volatile bets with a bigger payoff or something less risky with a lower payout? This will determine how you play any online casino game.
💡 Don’t Spend More Than You Can Afford
When you play any online casino game, only gamble with money that you can afford to lose. While betting systems and strategies can be useful, they don’t guarantee a win. Stop playing when you’ve reached your budget or no longer enjoy playing.
💡 Remember, It’s a Game of Luck
Roulette comes down to the luck of the draw. Unlike some other casino games that rely on strategy, roulette relies on the numbers generated with each spin or where the balls settle on a physical roulette wheel.
House Edge of Double Ball Roulette
House edge refers to the advantage the casino has, and it exists in every casino game. It represents the average total profit the casino expects to make from the game, whether it’s roulette, slots or card games. The house edge varies depending on the game type you’re playing. For example, Blackjack typically has the lowest house edge, while Keno has the highest.
The house edge stays the same when you’re playing a standard roulette game, regardless of your bets. On a double zero wheel, the house edge is always 5.26%. On a single zero wheel, the house edge is always 2.70%.
The house edge does vary in double ball roulette depending on your betting strategy, such as how many numbers you’re wagering on. Let’s take a look at a typical double ball roulette game using a double zero wheel.
Outside bets:
When you bet on a group of 12 or 18 numbers, the house edge is always 10.25%.
Inside bets:
- A single number: 5.33%
- Two numbers: 5.54%
- Three numbers: 5.89%
- Four numbers: 16.9%
- Five numbers: 9.63%
- Six numbers: 7.76%
The house edge for a Double Jackpot bet is 16.83%.
Other types of Roulette
You can play a few versions of online roulette games at New Zealand online casinos. While they are similar, each has different nuances and rules, and it can be fun to try out a few different versions to discover which one you enjoy playing most.
American Roulette
American roulette is popular worldwide and uses only one ball. The spinning wheel in this version consists of 38 numbered slots. The wheel features numbers 1 to 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00). The numbered slots are either red or black, and the zeros (located at opposite ends of the wheel) are green.
If you’re interested in learning more about American roulette, check out our American roulette guide, which outlines everything you need to know about this version of the game.
European Roulette
This traditional roulette version features only one single zero pocket on the wheel. The betting layout means the house edge is less than in American roulette, helping to boost your chances of winning. This version of the game began in the 19th century when two brothers from France introduced the game to Germany.
Read our helpful European roulette guide to find out more.
French Roulette
The French version of roulette is a classic casino game. Like other forms, players place their bets on where they predict the ball will land. It’s divided into 37 pockets numbered 1 to 36, with a single zero pocket.
Discover more in our French roulette guide.
Mini Roulette
Mini roulette has similar rules to European roulette, with a few minor differences. Because the wheel is smaller, it only features 13 numbers, including zero, which is green. All the numbers from one to 12 are either red or black.
Learn more about the other differences in this game version, including special rules, with our mini roulette guide.
The Bottom Line
Double ball roulette is a fun version of the game that’s available at plenty of NZ online casinos. Playing with two balls can offer lots of excitement, with the chance of winning a double ball jackpot! There are different ways to bet to keep the game interesting, with decent odds available for many bet types.
Check out some of the best online casinos for playing online roulette, and start playing today!
Noah is the senior content editor at CasinoCrawlers and a writer with many iGaming articles under his portfolio. Therefore, he is skilled at writing bonus guidelines, gambling strategies, and casino reviews. During his spare time, he enjoys playing Call of Duty and is a huge rugby fan.
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