How to Play and Win at Roulette
Roulette is an easy-to-learn casino game, even if you have never played before. To understand how to play well and make informed decisions, begin with the basic rules. The casino generally has the mathematical advantage over the long term, so no system removes the underlying risk. Knowing the rules can still help you make more considered choices. This guide is for first-time players and anyone looking for practical information about roulette. It covers the essential rules, main variations, bet types and online formats, with realistic expectations about how to play.
Roulette Basics
Roulette uses a wheel, a ball and a betting layout. The wheel has numbered pockets in different colours. The table repeats those numbers and colours, with additional areas for the available wagers.
Players choose where to bet based on where they think the ball will land, placing virtual casino chips on the relevant betting areas in an online game. Options range from higher-risk inside bets to outside wagers, including even-money bets and bets paying 2:1. The dealer spins the wheel and sends the ball around it.
The pocket where the ball stops determines which wagers win and lose. You can place several wagers and cover as many selections as you like. Betting stays open until the dealer calls no more bets, which can happen after the ball has already been sent around the wheel.
Risk and payout go hand in hand. A bet on one number pays more if it wins, but is also more likely to lose.
How to Play Roulette: A Quick Step-by-Step Guide
Before getting into roulette rules, variations, strategies and other details, it helps to understand the order of play in a typical round.
- Choose your roulette wagers on the table or the betting overlay in an online game. Place casino chips on the positions you want to cover. You can make one wager or several, choosing as many selections as you wish.
- When the croupier calls time and announces “no more bets”, they spin the roulette wheel and send the ball around its rim in the opposite direction.
- As the wheel slows, the ball falls into a pocket, revealing the winning number. Any covered selection wins, whether it was a straight bet, split bet, odd or even wager, black or red wager, or another bet type.
- The croupier pays winning wagers according to the stated payout, including those belonging to other players. Chips on losing wagers are then collected from the roulette table.
- The dealer announces that betting is open again, so players can place chips for the next roulette round.
Roulette is easy to follow: choose your wagers and wait for the ball to settle. This straightforward format helps make it one of the most popular casino games; even a first-time casino visitor can quickly grasp the basics.
Roulette Variations, Wheels and House Edge
Roulette tables look similar in casinos and online, but there are three main variations. Their basic rules are alike, though key differences affect the wheel and house edge. American Roulette has the biggest disadvantage, so if you have the choice, French or European tables are generally preferable.
European Roulette
The popular European roulette wheel has 37 pockets, numbered 0 through 36. As in other variations, the pockets alternate between black and red, while the single zero is green. The pattern continues around the wheel, with green as the only other colour.
European roulette uses a familiar betting layout. Inside bets include straight, split, street and corner wagers; outside options include odd or even, red or black, and dozens.
European Roulette House Edge / RTP: 2.7% / 97.3%
European Roulette Inside Bets Bet Type Description Payout Winning Probability Straight-Up (Single Number) Bet on one number. 35:1 1/37 or 2.70% Split Two Numbers Bet on two adjacent numbers, either vertically or horizontally. 17:1 2/37 or 5.41% Street (Three Numbers) Bet on three numbers in a horizontal row. 11:1 3/37 or 8.11% Corner (Four Numbers) Bet on four numbers that meet at a corner. 8:1 4/37 or 10.81% Six Line (or Double Street) Bet on two adjacent streets. 5:1 6/37 or 16.22% Trio Bet on the intersection covering 0, 1 and 2, or 0, 2 and 3. 11:1 3/37 or 8.11% Basket Wager on 0, 1, 2 and 3 (a combination of a Trio and a Split). 8:1 4/37 or 10.81%
Note: The probabilities shown do not add up to 100% because players can also make outside bets, and the house edge slightly shifts the mathematical odds in the casino’s favour.
European Roulette Outside Bets Bet Type Description Payout Winning Probability Red or Black Bet on all 18 red numbers or all 18 black numbers. 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Even or Odd Bet on all 18 even numbers or all 18 odd numbers. 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Low (1-18) or High (19-36) Bet on the lower half or upper half of the numbers. 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Dozens Choose one of three groups: 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36. 2:1 12/37 or 32.43% Columns Bet on one of the table’s three vertical columns, each containing 12 numbers. 2:1 12/37 or 32.43%
Note: If the ball lands on 0, all outside bets lose. This is what creates the house edge.
French Roulette
French Roulette is much like European Roulette, with a single-zero wheel containing 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36. The layout, bet types, odds and payouts are also broadly similar. Its La Partage and en prison rules can lower the casino’s advantage on qualifying even-money bets, bringing the approximate house edge to 1.35%.
When an even-money bet is placed and the ball lands on the green zero, La Partage may return half the original wager to the player. Alternatively, under the En Prison rule, the wager can remain in play for the next spin.
French Roulette House Edge / RTP: 1.35% (when La Partage applies) or 2.70% (when it does not) / 98.65% or 97.3%
French Roulette Inside Bets Bet Type Description (French Term) Payout Winning Probability Straight Up Bet on one number (En Plein). 35:1 1/37 or 2.70% Split Bet on two adjacent numbers, vertically or horizontally (Cheval). 17:1 2/37 or 5.41% Street Bet on three numbers in a horizontal row (Transversale Pleine). 11:1 3/37 or 8.11% Corner (or Square) Bet on four numbers meeting at a corner (Carré). 8:1 4/37 or 10.81% Six Line (or Double Street) Bet on two adjoining streets (Sixaine or Transversale Simple). 5:1 6/37 or 16.22% Trio Bet on the junction of 0, 1 and 2, or 0, 2 and 3. This wager is similar in both versions. 11:1 3/37 or 8.11% Basket Wager on 0, 1, 2 and 3 (a combination of a Trio and a Split). 8:1 4/37 or 10.81%
French Roulette Outside Bets Bet Type Description (French Term) Payout Winning Probability Red or Black Bet on all 18 red numbers or all 18 black numbers (Rouge or Noir). 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Even or Odd Bet on all 18 even numbers or all 18 odd numbers (Pair or Impair). 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Low (1-18) or High (19-36) Bet on the lower half or upper half of the numbers (Manque or Passe). 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Dozens Choose one of three groups: 1-12 (Première douzaine), 13-24 (Moyenne douzaine) or 25-36 (Dernière douzaine). 2:1 12/37 or 32.43% Columns Bet on one of the table’s three vertical columns, each containing 12 numbers (Colonne). 2:1 12/37 or 32.43%
American Roulette
As the name suggests, American Roulette is commonly associated with land-based casinos in America. After roulette arrived in the country, casinos sought a bigger advantage than the original game offered. Wheel changes raised the casino’s mathematical edge.
American Roulette differs from French and European versions by having 38 pockets—1 more than the other wheel types. Its additional pocket is green and marked double zero; the other wheels have one green single-zero pocket. These green pockets create the house edge. If the ball lands on 0 or double 0, most wagers lose. Zero is not odd or even, red or black, high or low, and is excluded from standard bets unless a wager specifically covers the zero pocket or pockets.
With two “levellers” on an American Roulette wheel, the house edge rises from 2.7% on a European single-zero wheel to 5.26%.
American Roulette House Edge / RTP: 5.26% / 94.74%
American Roulette Inside Bets Bet Type Description Payout Winning Probability Straight Up Bet on one number. 35:1 1/38 or 2.63% Split Bet on two adjacent numbers, either vertically or horizontally. 17:1 2/38 or 5.26% Street Bet on three numbers in a horizontal row. 11:1 3/38 or 7.89% Corner (or Square) Bet on four numbers that meet at a corner. 8:1 4/38 or 10.53% Five Number (Top Line) Bet specifically on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. 6:1 5/38 or 13.16% Six Line (or Double Street) Bet on two adjacent streets. 5:1 6/38 or 15.79%
Note: The extra “Five Number” or “Top Line” bet is unique to American Roulette and is often discouraged because it has a higher house edge than other bets.
American Roulette Outside Bets Bet Type Description Payout Winning Probability Red or Black Bet on all 18 red numbers or all 18 black numbers. 1:1 18/38 or 47.37% Even or Odd Bet on all 18 even numbers or all 18 odd numbers. 1:1 18/38 or 47.37% Low (1-18) or High (19-36) Bet on the lower half or upper half of the numbers. 1:1 18/38 or 47.37% Dozens Choose one of three groups: 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36. 2:1 12/38 or 31.58% Columns Bet on one of the table’s three vertical columns, each containing 12 numbers. 2:1 12/38 or 31.58%
Roulette Variants at a Glance
The figures above help explain why many experienced roulette players prefer European and French Roulette to the American version. The American double-zero wheel increases the house edge, making it a less appealing option for long-term play. French Roulette may be preferable when La Partage and En Prison apply; if it is not available, European Roulette is generally the next option. No version guarantees a win, though choosing a wheel with a lower edge reduces the mathematical disadvantage.
How Roulette Betting Works
Roulette tables offer a variety of wagers on single numbers and groups of numbers. The basic trade-off is straightforward: bets that are less likely to win generally pay more. For instance, a winning single-number bet pays more than an even-money wager.
Roulette bets fit into three broad categories: inside bets, outside bets and announced bets. Inside and outside are the standard categories. Announced bets are generally associated with European and/or French Roulette and may not be available at every casino.
Here are some of the most common bets available at roulette tables:
Inside Bets on a Roulette Table
Inside bets are placed directly on numbers in the central area of the table. They are called inside bets because the chosen numbers are within the main betting layout, surrounded by the other betting sections.
There are several types of inside bet:
- The Straight-Up Bet: Also called a number bet, this covers one number only. It has the game’s highest payout at 36x your bet.
- The Split Bet: Cover two adjacent numbers on the table by placing your chip on the line between them. The payout is 18x.
- The Street Bet: Cover a row of three numbers, placing your chip on the row’s outer border. It pays 12x.
- The Corner Bet: Cover a block of four numbers by placing your chip at the point where their corners meet. This bet pays 9x.
- The Six Line Bet: This wager covers six numbers across two adjacent horizontal rows. Place your chip where the rows’ outer borders meet; the payout is 6x.
- The Trio Bet: Cover 0, 1 and 2, or 0, 2 and 3, by placing your chip at the numbers’ junction. This bet is available only in European/French Roulette and pays 12x.
- The Basket Bet: This covers 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. Place your chip where 0 meets the outer edge of the first row of numbers. This bet is available only in European/French Roulette and pays 9x.
- The Top Line Bet: Cover 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 by placing your chip on the outer border where the two rows meet. This bet is exclusive to American Roulette and pays 7x.
Outside Bets on a Roulette Table
Outside bets use areas around the numbered grid rather than individual number spaces. These sections cover broader groups that cannot be selected by placing a chip directly on a single number.
Since they cover larger groups, outside bets pay less than inside bets but have a better chance of winning. In European/French Roulette, these bets do not include 0; in American Roulette, they exclude 0 and 00. If the ball lands in one of those pockets, the casino wins the wager.
The main outside bets include:
- Red or Black Bet: Choose either red or black. The payout is 2x.
- Odd or Even Bet: Predict whether the winning number will be odd or even. The payout is 2x.
- High or Low Bet: Choose a number from 1 to 18 or 19 to 36. The payout is 2x.
- The Dozen Bet: Bet on one of three groups of twelve numbers: 1 to 12, 13 to 24, or 25 to 36. It pays 3x.
- Column Bet: Choose one of the table’s three columns. The payout is 3x.
Announced Bets
Announced bets cover sections of the wheel. Since the wheel’s number arrangement cannot be marked directly on a standard table layout, the player tells the dealer which wager they want to make.
Some tables have a racetrack: a special diagram of the wheel where these selections can be placed visually. Announced bets are chiefly associated with European/French Roulette and are not offered at every casino.
Popular Online Roulette Games
Roulette can be played at land-based venues and online casinos. Its simple rules and relatively appealing house edge—except in American Roulette—help explain its enduring popularity. Online technology also offers more formats, including RNG roulette, where an RNG determines the result, and live casino roulette streamed from a studio or venue.
Online casinos may feature these formats:
- Regular French, American, and European Roulette Games: Standard French, American and European Roulette are the most familiar online table options. Each follows the rules of its land-based counterpart. Minimum and maximum wagers vary by table, so choose limits that fit your planned bankroll.
- Auto Roulette Games: This automated format, also available in live-casino settings, may allow more bets per hour because a machine runs the wheel and there is no dealer pausing the game.
- Speed Roulette Games: Speed Roulette is designed for a faster pace and more rounds per hour. Betting periods are typically shorter, giving players more frequent chances to place wagers.
- Unique Roulette Games: Some online casinos also offer unusual formats. Evolution’s Double Ball Roulette uses two balls on the wheel. Multi-Wheel Roulette features several wheels, Mini Roulette is a smaller version of the game, and Pinball Roulette uses a pinball machine to determine the winning number.
- Roulette Tables Streamed from Land-Based Casinos: Some online casinos stream roulette directly from a land-based venue, allowing online players to join people seated at the physical table. Evolution, Ezugi and Authentic Gaming are examples of live casino suppliers that offer this format.
Many online casinos offer a wide selection. If you are new to the game, starting with a standard version can make it easier to learn before exploring less familiar formats.
Random Multiplier Roulette Games
Random-multiplier roulette is especially popular in live-casino settings because it adds variable prizes to a round. Evolution’s award-winning Lightning Roulette was the first game of this kind, with multipliers ranging from 50x to 500x the bet. Multipliers are assigned to randomly chosen numbers and pay only if a player has placed a number bet, or straight-up bet, on a selected number.
Other multiplier games include Mega Roulette (Pragmatic Play Live), Quantum Roulette (Playtech Live) and XXXtreme Lightning Roulette (Evolution). Their higher potential payouts come with a trade-off: to account for the multiplier feature, these games use a lower RTP, which means a higher house edge.
Progressive Jackpot Roulette Games
Some online roulette games offer the chance to win a progressive jackpot. Like video slots with a progressive jackpot, they may provide a shot at a very large prize. Progressive jackpots start from a seeded amount, such as £1 million on Mega Moolah, then grow as players wager. A small portion of each wager goes into the pooled jackpot, which keeps increasing until it is randomly awarded to one player.
Ezugi offers Jackpot Roulette, Playtech offers Age of the Gods Roulette, and Microgaming/Games Global offers Mega Moolah Roulette. The latter is described as having a progressive jackpot that pays out £7.5 million on average.
A Brief Guide to Popular Roulette Strategies
A separate guide to roulette strategies explores these systems in more detail, so this section is a short overview. The summaries below describe approaches commonly used by professional and recreational roulette players.
- Martingale Strategy: One of roulette’s oldest and simplest betting systems, based on even-money bets.
- Labouchere Strategy: Also called the “Cancellation” or “Split Martingale” strategy, this system is more complex and involves greater risk.
- Fibonacci Strategy: This system follows a betting sequence, doubling the wager after a loss and reducing it after a win.
- D'Alembert Strategy: Created by French mathematician Jean le Rond d'Alembert, this strategy resembles the Fibonacci approach: players double after a loss and return to their original bet after a win.
- Paroli Strategy: Also known as the “Anti” or “Reverse” Martingale strategy, Paroli aims to make the most of winning streaks.
- James Bond Strategy: Named after one of fiction’s best-known spies, this system places bets that cover a large part of the roulette wheel.
No roulette strategy can guarantee a win, as outcomes still depend on chance. These systems can, however, give a session structure and provide a plan for placing bets.
Tips for Playing Roulette
You now have an overview of roulette rules, variants and betting options, and may be ready to try a game. If you are not near a land-based casino, an online casino roulette game may be more convenient. Before you begin, consider these practical tips.
- Practise with a free roulette demo: New players can practise without risking real money. A demo helps you get used to the interface, placing wagers, roulette odds and the flow of a round. Free live-casino games are uncommon, but online casinos often have demo modes for RNG roulette.
- Learn the rules of roulette: Do not risk money until you understand how the game works. Learn the available bets, what each one needs to win, its odds and its payout. Once you understand the game, decide how much of your roulette bankroll you are willing to use.
- Avoid American Roulette tables: As noted in this guide, American Roulette has twice the house edge of single-zero European Roulette because it includes the extra green double-zero pocket, “00”. When choosing a table, a French or European-style wheel has the lower mathematical disadvantage.
- Check the table’s minimum and maximum bets: Find out the limits before joining a table. They vary, so choose one that suits the bankroll you have set aside for roulette.
- Start with even-money bets: While you are gaining experience, you may prefer bets with a higher chance of winning. Even-money options such as red/black and odd/even pay less, but win more often than higher-risk wagers. Later, you could try an odd-number or split bet, as long as you understand that these win less frequently despite their larger payouts.
- Consider a roulette strategy: The systems outlined above can provide a structured plan, but none guarantees a winning bet or a profitable session. They generally aim to take advantage of winning streaks or limit wagers during an unfavourable run; neither changes the underlying odds.
- Manage your bankroll carefully: This is important for every online casino game. Set a bankroll that can cover many rounds instead of spending it all at once. As a cautious guideline, aim to wager no more than 5% of your bankroll per round. This leaves room to keep playing after a losing streak rather than quickly exhausting your funds.
- Expect that you are more likely to lose: Do not start a roulette session expecting to make a profit. The house edge gives the casino the mathematical advantage. Winning sessions do happen, but over the long term the expected result is a loss against the house. Before playing, treat the money you set aside as money you may lose.
- Do not play while intoxicated: If you drink while playing, keep your judgement in mind. Intoxication can increase the likelihood of mistakes, chasing losses and impulsive decisions. Complimentary drinks at many land-based casinos are one reason to take extra care to stay in control.
These habits can make a roulette session more organised and enjoyable, but they cannot overcome the house edge. Remember that losing over the long term is more likely, even if a particular session ends in profit.
Conclusion
Roulette is easy to learn and can be entertaining. Its odds are not among the best in the casino, though individual bets can still win. Players can choose from a range of wager types, table limits and formats with random multipliers. As with any casino game, set a limit and know when to stop, especially when results are going against you.
