How to Play Roulette

🎡 The Roulette Wheel and Table

Roulette is played on a spinning wheel divided into numbered pockets and a betting table where players place their chips. The wheel is spun in one direction while a small ball is spun in the opposite direction around a track. When the ball loses momentum, it falls into one of the numbered pockets, determining the winning number and colour.

The European roulette wheel has 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36. The American roulette wheel has 38 pockets with an additional 00 (double zero). Numbers are arranged in a specific sequence, alternating between red and black pockets — except for the green zero (and double zero on American wheels). The pockets are not in numerical order; instead, they are carefully balanced so that low and high numbers, odd and even numbers, and reds and blacks alternate as much as possible around the wheel.

The betting table mirrors the wheel layout with a grid of numbers 1-36 arranged in three columns of twelve rows, plus a zero (and double zero) at the head of the grid. Around the number grid, you will find boxes for outside bets: red/black, odd/even, high/low (1-18 and 19-36), dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36), and columns.

🎯 How to Place Bets

Before each spin, you place chips on the betting table to predict where the ball will land. You can make multiple bets on a single spin, covering different numbers and combinations. Chips are colour-coded to distinguish each player's bets at the table. Once all bets are placed, the croupier (or the software in online roulette) spins the wheel. No more bets are accepted once the ball is in motion.

🎲 Inside Bets (Higher Risk, Higher Payout)

Straight Up — Bet on a single number. Payout: 35:1. The highest paying bet in roulette, covering just one of the 37 or 38 pockets.

Split Bet — Bet on two adjacent numbers by placing chips on the line between them. Payout: 17:1.

Street Bet — Bet on three numbers in a horizontal row. Place chips at the end of the row. Payout: 11:1.

Corner Bet — Bet on four numbers that form a square. Place chips at the intersection of the four numbers. Payout: 8:1.

Six Line Bet — Bet on two adjacent rows covering six numbers. Place chips at the intersection where the two rows meet the outside betting area. Payout: 5:1.

🔴⚫ Outside Bets (Lower Risk, Lower Payout)

Red or Black — Bet on the colour of the winning pocket. Covers 18 numbers. Payout: 1:1. Note that zero (and double zero) are green and are not covered by either red or black bets.

Odd or Even — Bet on whether the winning number is odd or even. Covers 18 numbers. Payout: 1:1. Zero is not counted as odd or even.

High or Low — Bet on whether the number falls in the low range (1-18) or high range (19-36). Covers 18 numbers. Payout: 1:1.

Dozens — Bet on one of three groups of twelve numbers: 1-12 (first dozen), 13-24 (second dozen), or 25-36 (third dozen). Payout: 2:1.

Columns — Bet on one of three vertical columns of twelve numbers on the betting table. Payout: 2:1.

Outside bets are ideal for beginners as they offer near 50/50 odds (slightly reduced by the zero pockets) and allow you to stay in the game longer while learning the mechanics.

🌍 European vs American Roulette

European Roulette — 37 pockets (0-36). House edge: 2.7% on all bets. RTP: 97.3%. Many European tables also offer the En Prison or La Partage rule: if the ball lands on zero, even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low) are either locked for the next spin (En Prison) or returned half your stake (La Partage). With La Partage, the house edge on even-money bets drops to just 1.35% — the best odds you will find in any casino.

American Roulette — 38 pockets (0, 00, 1-36). House edge: 5.26% on all bets. RTP: 94.74%. The double zero nearly doubles the house edge compared to European roulette. American tables rarely offer En Prison or La Partage rules.

Which should you play? Always choose European roulette when available. The 2.7% house edge vs 5.26% is a massive difference over time. A $10 bet on European roulette loses an average of $0.27 per spin; the same bet on American roulette loses $0.53 per spin. Over hundreds of spins, this difference adds up significantly. See our roulette guide for a detailed comparison and our strategy guide for betting systems.

📊 Understanding Roulette Odds and RTP

Every roulette bet has a fixed house edge determined by the zero pockets. The payout odds reflect the probability of winning as if the zero(s) didn't exist. For example, a straight-up bet pays 35:1, but the true odds are 36:1 (European) or 37:1 (American). The difference is the house edge.

European Roulette RTP: 97.3% — For every $100 wagered, the mathematical expectation is to receive $97.30 back over the long term. This applies to all standard bets equally.

American Roulette RTP: 94.74% — The double zero reduces the RTP significantly. For every $100 wagered, you can expect $94.74 back over the long term.

The house edge means that no strategy or betting system can guarantee profits in the long run. Roulette is a game of chance designed for entertainment. Always set a budget before you play and stick to it.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions