Mini Roulette: A Beginner’s Guide
Mini roulette is a great game to start playing if you’re interested in playing roulette at an online casino. It’s a simple game with a smaller wheel, less numbers and fewer betting options.
Our easy-to-follow guide gives you all the information you need to get started. Discover the rules, how to play, and types of bets. We’ll give you tips and strategies to help improve your chances of winning and provide links to some alternative roulette games if you’re ready to play on a larger wheel.
So keep reading to find out how to play mini roulette…
Rules for Mini Roulette: Overview
The rules of mini roulette are similar to the European version of roulette but with a few subtle differences. Like other versions, it’s played with a wheel that features numbers arranged in coloured pockets. The wheel has 13 numbers, including zero, which is green. Numbers one to 12 are arranged in red and black pockets. Players bet on the outcome of where they think the ball will land after the dealer spins the wheel.
While you can place the same bets as the larger version of roulette, the smaller version does offer a special rule for players to access.
In mini roulette, when you place a wager on a single number and a zero comes up, you’re automatically given a refund worth 50% of your bet.
How to Play Mini Roulette: Step-by-Step
Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to play mini roulette:
- Check out the wheel: Even if you’ve played different versions of roulette previously, it’s worth taking a look over the table before you play to determine how you’re going to bet. There are some differences between mini roulette and other versions, such as European, American or French roulette. Assess whether you’ll bet on red or black, a straight or a corner.
- Hit Spin: Once you’ve laid down your bets, it’s time for you to spin the wheel. Like other forms of roulette at online casinos, this simplified version uses a Random Number Generator (known as an RNG). So it really comes down to luck when you’re playing roulette at an online casino.
- See if You’re a Winner: After the ball lands in a pocket, you’ll find out if you predicted right. If you’ve won your bet, congrats! You can collect your winnings or keep playing. If you haven’t won this time around, you can also choose to keep playing or try out other games offered at the casino.
- Plan Your Next Move: If you’re ready to play again, it’s time to think about your next bet. Don’t forget if you land on zero, you’ll get 50% back. Keep reading to find out more about player odds and determine the risk vs. reward. Good luck!
Mini Roulette Bets
Mini roulette bets are simpler than other forms of roulette. That’s because there are only 13 numbers on the wheel. So, there are fewer bets to make. Here are the bets you can place at an online casino playing this version of the game.
| Single Number/Straight Up: | This is when you place a bet on any one number on the roulette wheel. |
|---|---|
| Odds/Evens: | You can place a bet on the spin landing on an odd or even number. |
| Red/Black: | This bet covers all the numbers of the colour you choose on the wheel (either red or black). |
| Street: | When you place a bet on any row of three numbers, it’s known as a street bet. |
| Square/Corner: | This is when you place a bet on four numbers in a square pattern. |
| Split: | A wager where you bet on any two adjacent numbers on the wheel. |
| Column: | When you bet on a full column of four numbers on the wheel. |
| Half Dozen: | This covers one of three different ranges of six numbers: 1-6, 4-9, or 7-12. If any number in the range you choose wins it pays even money. |
Odds & Payouts for Mini Roulette
Just because you’re playing a mini version of roulette doesn’t mean your odds are smaller. Depending on the bet you place, the payouts can be generous. Here are the typical odds when you play this roulette game version.
| Bet Type | Odds | Payouts |
|---|---|---|
| Straight bet | 7.7% | 11:1 |
| Split bet | 15.3% | 5:1 |
| Street bet | 23.1% | 3:1 |
| Square bet | 30.7% | 3:1 |
| Column | 30.7% | 3:1 |
| Colour bet | 46.2% | 1:1 |
| Even/odd bet | 46.2% | 1:1 |
| Half dozen | 46.2% | 1:1 |
Most casinos let you bet from as little as 10 cents. Because the wheel is smaller, payouts are typically more likely for single numbers.
La Partage Rule
La Partage rule applies to even-money bets when the ball lands on zero. If you place a bet of equal money, you’ll get half of the bet back should the ball land on zero. This rule actually halves the house advantage.
Example:
If you bet $10 on high/low and the ball lands on zero, you’ll get $5 back.
Tips & Strategies for Mini Roulette
Here are some of our top tips for playing mini roulette. You can also check out our extensive roulette strategies guide if you’re looking for even more tips, no matter which version of the roulette game you’re interested in playing.
💡 Practice for Free
Before investing any of your own money it’s a great idea to do some free play! Many online casinos let you switch to practice mode before using real money. So, even experienced players of roulette can get to know how mini roulette works before placing their bets.
💡 Don’t Bet on Zero
In mini roulette, you can get half of your bet returned if the ball lands on zero. But only if you don’t bet on zero! Betting on zero has a high house edge and is best avoided.
💡 Learn About The House Edge
While mini roulette is an excellent option for many players, the house edge is actually three times higher than French roulette.
The house edge for most bets on mini roulette is 3.85%, which is less than American roulette but higher than European roulette. For any bets that involve a zero (such as a straight bet on a zero or combining it with other numbers), the house bet increases to almost 8%. Another reason to avoid betting on zero.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Mini Roulette
Like all games, there are perks and drawbacks to Mini Roulette.
Advantages
💚 Better odds than American Roulette: Mini Roulette actually features a 96.15% RTP (when using the la partage rule) compared to 94.74% in American Roulette.
💚 Great game for beginners: The sheer amount of bets on a standard roulette board can become a bit daunting to a novice. Mini Roulette manages to simplify the amount of available bets to an extent, which makes it an easier game to learn.
💚 Always great for a change-up: It’s always fun to try something different. So if you find you’re getting a small bit tired of standard roulette, mini roulette, with its simplicity and miniature wheel, is like a breath of fresh air. This version is also quick, so better for a casual game.
Disadvantages
💔 European Roulette has better odds: European Roulette has a low house edge of 2.70%.
💔Poor odds without La Partage: The house edge jumps from 3.85% to 7.89% without the La Partage rule. So before you start gambling on Mini Roulette make sure this rule is available.
💔It’s a bit of a gimmick: The only standout difference between standard roulette and mini roulette is the size of the wheel. While it may be fun to play for something different, you’ll realise it’s nothing more than a gimmick after a while.
Mobile Mini Roulette
Mini roulette is perfect if you’re playing via a mobile device. Given its size, it adapts more easily to smaller screens, and most casinos have optimised the game for mobiles. This means you’ll get a high-quality game that’s fully responsive.
Some sites have also developed apps to download for Android and iOS devices so you can play with the touch of a button. There are plenty of games available, so try out a few different mobile casino sites to see what works best on your device.
Alternative Versions of Roulette Games
There are a few different versions of roulette that you can play online at casinos. Here are some of the most common roulette casino games available:
- American roulette: American roulette comprises 38 numbered slots. The numbers range from 1 to 36 (coloured red and black), with a single and double zero (both green). Because of the two zeros, sometimes American roulette is referred to as double zero roulette. Like mini roulette, the objective of American roulette is to predict which pocket the ball will land in after the wheel has been spun. Learn how to play American Roulette in our dedicated guide.
- European roulette: The European version of roulette is one of the most popular casino games worldwide and offers lots of opportunities for big payouts. Unlike American roulette, the wheel features 37 numbered pockets, with only a single zero. Learn how to play the European version of roulette in our guide.
- French roulette: The French version of roulette is very similar to European roulette but with a few minor differences. The manner in which players call bets is different, as is the table layout. There is also a rule known as La Partage. This is when a player makes an even money bet (like odds/evens), and the ball lands on zero. Like mini roulette, you’ll only lose half your original bet. Discover how to play French Roulette in our comprehensive guide.
Comparing The Alternative Versions of Roulette
| Features | Mini | American | European | French |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 13 | 38 | 37 | 37 |
| Double 0 | No | Yes | No | No |
| Lowest payout | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Highest payout | 11:1 | 35:1 | 35:1 | 35:1 |
| En prison | No | No | Depends | Yes |
| La partage | No | No | Depends | Yes |
| House Edge | 3.85% | 5.26% | 2.7% | 1.35% |
The Bottom Line
Mini roulette can be a great game to play at online casinos, where you can start for free, access bonuses, and learn more before making a deposit. Because of its smaller size, it’s an excellent game to start playing if you’re new to roulette. And it’s perfect for new players.
If you’re ready to start playing for real money we’ve got you covered. Check out our list of the best roulette casino sites, discover other variants and start to spin 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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