Roulette guide
How to play roulette, explained.
Roulette is one of the simplest casino games to learn: pick a number, a colour or a group of numbers, and wait for the ball to land. This guide covers the wheel and table, every common bet and what it pays, the difference between the main versions, and why no betting system beats the maths.
The basics
How a round works
Every roulette game, live or digital, follows the same four steps.
Place your chips
Put chips on the table layout to choose your bets. You can place several bets on the same spin.
No more bets
The dealer spins the wheel one way and the ball the other. Betting closes before the ball drops.
The ball lands
The ball settles in one numbered pocket. In digital games, a random number generator (RNG) picks the result instead.
Bets are paid
Winning bets are paid at fixed odds and losing chips are cleared. Then the next round opens.
What's on the table
The wheel and the layout
The numbers
The wheel has the numbers 1 to 36, alternating red and black, plus one green zero. American roulette adds a second green pocket, the double zero.
The wheel order
Numbers aren't in order around the wheel. They're spread out so high and low, odd and even, and red and black mix evenly. Neighbouring pockets have nothing to do with neighbouring numbers on the table.
The table layout
The betting layout shows the numbers in a grid of three columns and twelve rows, with the zero (or zeros) at the top. Outside bets sit around the edge.
Why the zero matters
The zero is how the house makes its money. Bets pay as if there were only 36 numbers, but there are 37 or 38 pockets. When the ball lands on zero, outside bets lose.
Racetrack bets
Many tables add an oval "racetrack" showing the wheel order. It lets you bet on sections of the wheel, such as a number and its neighbours, in one go.
Table limits
Each table has a minimum and maximum, often different for inside and outside bets. They're shown on the table or in the help screen.
Bets and payouts
Inside and outside bets
Inside bets go on specific numbers on the grid. They win less often but pay more. Outside bets cover big groups of numbers, win more often and pay less.
| Bet | Type | Covers | Pays | A 10-unit win returns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | Inside | 1 number | 35:1 | 350 plus your stake |
| Split | Inside | 2 neighbouring numbers on the grid | 17:1 | 170 plus your stake |
| Street | Inside | 3 numbers in a row | 11:1 | 110 plus your stake |
| Corner | Inside | 4 numbers in a square | 8:1 | 80 plus your stake |
| Six line | Inside | 6 numbers (two rows) | 5:1 | 50 plus your stake |
| Dozen | Outside | 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36 | 2:1 | 20 plus your stake |
| Column | Outside | 12 numbers in a column | 2:1 | 20 plus your stake |
| Red or black | Outside | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 10 plus your stake |
| Odd or even | Outside | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 10 plus your stake |
| Low (1–18) or high (19–36) | Outside | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 10 plus your stake |
Payouts are the same on every standard version. What changes between versions is the number of zeros, which sets the house edge. American tables also offer a five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2 and 3) that pays 6:1 and has a higher edge of about 7.89%.
The numbers that matter
European, American and French roulette
The house edge is the share of each bet the casino expects to keep over the long run. It's set by the wheel and the rules, not by which bets you choose (with a couple of exceptions below).
| Version | Pockets | Special rules | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 37 (single zero) | None | 2.70% on all bets |
| American | 38 (zero and double zero) | None | 5.26% on most bets, 7.89% on the five-number bet |
| French | 37 (single zero) | La Partage or En Prison on even-money bets | 1.35% on even-money bets, 2.70% on the rest |
La Partage returns half your even-money stake if the ball lands on zero. En Prison holds the stake for the next spin instead, and returns it if that spin wins. Either rule halves the edge on red/black, odd/even and high/low bets. The bet names on a French table are often in French, but the bets are the same.
What 2.70% means
Over a very long run, about 2.70 units of every 100 staked are kept by the house on a single-zero wheel. In a short session, anything can happen.
Why the double zero costs more
The extra pocket nearly doubles the edge, from 2.70% to 5.26%, while the payouts stay the same. Where both are offered, single-zero tables give you better odds.
Check the help screen
Online tables don't always say which version they are in the name. The help screen lists the number of zeros, any La Partage or En Prison rule, and the return to player.
Myths and systems
What doesn't change your odds
Every spin is independent. The wheel has no memory, and no pattern of bets can change the edge built into each one. Systems only change how your wins and losses are spread out.
| Myth or system | Reality |
|---|---|
| Martingale: "double your bet after each loss and one win gets it all back." | It wins small amounts often, then a losing run hits the table maximum or your budget and wipes out the lot. The edge on every bet is unchanged. |
| Fibonacci: "raise bets along the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8..." | A slower version of chasing losses. Long losing runs still build large bets, and the edge is the same. |
| D'Alembert: "add one unit after a loss, take one off after a win." | Gentler swings, but it relies on wins and losses "evening out", which random results don't have to do. |
| "Red has come up eight times, so black is due." | Each spin has the same chance of red or black. Past results don't affect the next one. |
| "Hot and cold numbers show what's coming." | The history board shows what happened, not what will. Streaks are normal in random results. |
| "Covering most of the table guarantees a win." | You'll win more often, but the winning bet usually pays less than the total you staked. The edge applies to every chip. |
Online roulette
Live roulette and variants
RNG roulette
Played against software. Rounds are fast and you control the pace, so the amount you stake in an hour can climb quickly.
Live roulette
A real wheel and dealer, streamed from a studio or casino floor. Rounds take longer because betting time is built in. Our live casino guide explains how these games work.
Multiplier games
Some variants add random multipliers to a few numbers each round. To pay for them, a normal straight-up win usually pays less than 35:1. The edge is often similar to or higher than standard European roulette, so check the help screen.
Speed and auto roulette
Faster rounds or an automatic wheel with no dealer. The odds are the same as the standard game, but more spins an hour means more staked.
Bonuses and roulette
Casino bonuses often count roulette at a reduced rate towards wagering, or exclude it. Read the terms first, and see our guide to wagering requirements.
Before you play
Playing sensibly
Roulette is pure chance. The house edge applies to every bet, so the longer you play, the closer your results tend to get to it.
- Set a budget before you start and treat it as the cost of entertainment. Only use money you can afford to lose.
- Choose single-zero tables where you have the choice, and look for La Partage or En Prison if you play even-money bets.
- Count your total stake per spin, not just one chip. Ten chips of 1 unit on different numbers is a 10-unit bet.
- Don't follow a system to win back losses. Raising your stake after a loss is chasing, whatever it's called.
- Use deposit limits, session reminders and time-outs. Most sites offer them in your account settings.
- Check bonus terms for game weighting and maximum bet rules before playing with a bonus.
- Stop when you planned to, win or lose.
Good to know
Roulette FAQ
Which roulette has the best odds?
French roulette with La Partage or En Prison has the lowest house edge, 1.35% on even-money bets. European single-zero roulette is 2.70% on all bets. American double-zero roulette is 5.26% on most bets.
Does the Martingale system work?
No. Doubling after each loss wins small amounts most of the time, but a losing run eventually hits the table limit or your budget and causes a big loss. It doesn't change the house edge on any bet.
What is the best bet in roulette?
On a single-zero wheel, every bet has the same 2.70% edge, so no bet is better in the long run. They only differ in how often they win and how much they pay. Even-money bets on a French table with La Partage or En Prison have a lower edge of 1.35%.
Is online roulette fair?
Digital roulette from established developers uses RNGs tested by independent labs, and live roulette uses a real wheel. The house edge comes from the zero, not from the game being unfair, and it's shown in the help screen.
What happens to my bets when zero comes up?
Bets on zero win and pay 35:1. Most other bets lose, including all outside bets. On French tables with La Partage, you get half your even-money stakes back, and with En Prison they're held for the next spin.
Check the rules where you live. Whether online roulette and other casino games are legal, and which sites you can use, depends on local laws and each operator's own terms. This guide is general information only and isn't a recommendation. 18+ only. If gambling stops being fun, see our responsible gambling page.