The Rules of Roulette & Types of Bets
Roulette is one of the oldest casino table games and remains one of the easiest to understand. Because its basic mechanics are straightforward, you can learn the rules of roulette quickly and begin exploring this traditional casino game within minutes. Read our roulette rules & bets guide to understand the table, the wheels, the available wagers, and what happens when the ball settles in a pocket.
What is Roulette?
At a land-based casino, head for the table drawing the biggest crowd; the 80% figure is an unverified estimate, not a measured statistic or prediction. Roulette is among the most familiar games in physical casinos and is also one of the most popular online. Its central idea is to wager on the pocket where the ball may come to rest. The layout supports several choices, including a single number, split, or column wager, as well as even-money selections such as odd or even, red or black, and high or low.
How to Play Roulette?
To begin, place your chips on the bets you want before the dealer spins the roulette wheel and releases the ball. The winning number, its colour, its range, and whether it is odd or even determine which wagers pay and whether your round produces a winning result.
The rules are simple, but learning how to play roulette properly means understanding its key foundations. Familiarise yourself with the wheel, the roulette table layout or online betting overlay, and the different wagers, odds, and payouts available.
The Roulette Wheel
The roulette wheel is the game's most recognisable feature. It contains numbered pockets in different colours, and the pocket where the ball comes to rest determines which players have won and which bets have lost.
New players may not realise that roulette is available in three different variations. A quick inspection of the Roulette wheel and the roulette table layout will usually show which version is being played.
The main variations are European, French, and American Roulette. European and French Roulette share many features, whereas the American version differs more substantially. We cover each version in greater detail below, but the wheels can be summarised as follows:
- French/European Roulette Wheel: Both variations use 37 numbered pockets, ranging from 0 to 36. Numbers from 1 to 36 alternate between black and red, while the single zero is green.
- American Roulette Wheel: The American wheel contains 38 pockets. Numbers from 0 to 36 are again coloured red or black, but this wheel includes a double zero as well as the single zero.
The Roulette Table and Betting Rules
Once the wheel variations are clear, the next part of learning roulette rules is understanding the table layout and its wagering positions. Every table has minimum and maximum bet limits, which set the least and most you may wager in each round.
At a land-based casino, the betting layout is printed on the felt directly in front of you. Online casinos present the same arrangement as an overlay on screen. In either format, it shows the different positions available for placing chips.
You will see a central grid of numbers with separate betting sections around its edges. The grid is used for 'inside bets', while the surrounding sections are used for 'outside bets'. We will keep the individual explanations brief here; our roulette odds, bets, and payouts guide provides a fuller breakdown.
Roulette Inside Bets
Inside bets cover single numbers or compact groups of numbers. The options include a single number bet, split bet, line bet, street bet, corner bet, basket bet, or combinations of these. When made individually, inside bets generally have longer odds and higher payouts than outside bets. In return, they win less often, although a successful wager pays more.
Here is the full list of inside bets available in roulette:
- Straight Up: This wager selects a single number. A winning bet pays 35:1.
- Split: This wager covers two adjacent numbers and pays 17:1 when successful.
- Street: This bet covers a row of three numbers and pays 11:1.
- Corner (Square): A Corner Bet covers a group of four numbers forming a square. Its payout is 8:1.
- Six Line: This wager covers two adjacent rows, or six numbers in total. A winning bet pays 5:1.
Roulette Outside Bets
By contrast, 'Outside Bets' generally provide lower odds and payouts. They include even-money wagers on black or red, odd or even, and low or high. As BetMGM Canada explains, 50/50 is shorthand for an even-money roulette category rather than exact roulette odds: the green zero pocket tilts those bets against the player, and they pay 1:1. Dozen wagers are another choice and pay 2:1. Their smaller returns do not guarantee that a bankroll will last longer or grow, and they will not deliver large payouts after every win.
These are the outside bets available when playing roulette:
- Red or Black: The wager asks whether the ball will land on a red or black number. A successful bet pays 1:1.
- Odd or Even: This wager predicts whether the ball will land on an odd or even number. As an essentially 50/50 bet, it also pays 1:1.
- Low (1-18) or High (19-36): The selection concerns whether the ball lands on a low or high number. A winning wager pays 1;!.
- Dozen Bet: This covers one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36). A Dozen bet pays 2:1.
- Column Bet: This wager selects one of the three vertical number columns. Since it covers one-third of the roulette wheel, the payout is 2:1.
Which are the best roulette bets to use? The beauty of roulette is that there is no correct answer to which bets are the best. The bets you choose will depend on your playstyle, bankroll, and roulette strategy. If you prefer a safer playstyle or have a smaller bankroll, outside bets are probably your best bet.
Note: Find further details in our "How to Play and Win at Roulette" guide.
Racetrack Betting Rules
European and French Roulette may also show a racetrack betting section. It lays out the numbers in the sequence in which they appear around the wheel, allowing wagers on defined wheel sections. The following are some of the racetrack bets players most commonly use.
- Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero): This wager covers numbers near zero on the roulette wheel. Altogether, it covers 17 numbers through a combination of split bets and several straight-up bets.
- Tiers du Cylindre (Thirds of the Wheel): This bet covers a third of the wheel, beginning at the 27 and ending at the 33. It uses 6 split bets and offers a 45.9% chance of winning.
- Orphelins (Orphans): This wager covers the numbers left outside the previous two bets, which explains the Orphans name. The covered numbers are 1-20-14-31-9 in one wheel section and 17-34-6 in another.
- Neighbors Bets: A Neighbors bet can be placed on any racetrack section and covers a selected number together with its closest neighbours. For example, you could select 5, 10, 23, 24, and 16.
A Glossary of Terms When Playing Roulette
Knowing roulette rules is only part of learning the game; you also need to recognise its terminology. The glossary below explains many of the terms you may encounter while playing roulette:
- Inside Bets: Wagers on individual numbers or small number groups within the roulette layout.
- Outside Bets: Wagers on broader categories, including colours, odd or even numbers, and high or low numbers.
- Straight Bet: A wager on a single number; a winning number gives the highest payout but the lowest chance of winning.
- Split Bet: A wager covering two adjacent layout numbers, with slightly better odds than a straight bet.
- Street Bet: The term for a wager on a row of three numbers.
- Corner Bet: A wager on four layout numbers arranged as a square.
- Six Line Bet: A wager on two adjacent rows covering six numbers altogether.
- Column Bet: A wager on one of the three vertical number columns shown on the layout.
- Dozen Bet: A wager on a group of 12 numbers: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36.
- Red/Black Bet: A wager on either the red or the black numbers.
- Even/Odd Bet: A wager on either all even or all odd numbers.
- High/Low Bet: A wager on numbers from 1-18 (low) or 19-36 (high).
- Croupier: The dealer who spins the roulette wheel and oversees the game.
- Wheel: The circular device containing numbered pockets into which the ball can land.
- Ball: The small white sphere that travels around the wheel before settling in a numbered pocket.
- House Edge: The statistical advantage held by the casino over players over the long run.
- En Prison: The En Prison rule applies to even-money bets. If the ball lands on zero, the player's wager stays "in prison" for the next spin. A win on that subsequent spin returns the bet; another loss forfeits it.
- La Partage: Like En Prison, this rule concerns even-money bets, but it returns half of the wager if the ball lands on zero. It offers no protection for other losing bets.
- Voisins du Zéro: The French phrase for "neighbors of zero", describing a group of wheel numbers close to zero.
- Orphelins: The French word for "orphans", used for numbers not included in the Voisins du Zéro or Tiers du Cylindre bet.
- Tiers du Cylindre: A wager on a third of the wheel, approximately opposite the numbers covered by Voisins du Zéro.
How to Play Online Roulette - A Quick Step-by-Step Guide
In most respects, an online roulette table works much like a land-based casino table. When you choose a standard roulette variation, the rules, house edge, and payouts should be the same as those for the corresponding table game.
Note: Online roulette also comes in non-standard forms. Some games add random multipliers to straight-up bets (single number), others include bonus rounds, and some introduce features such as a second ball. Always read the specific game's roulette rules because its house edge, payouts, and other conditions can differ.
Follow this step-by-step guide to playing roulette online:
- Read our online casino reviews to compare sites that offer a selection of roulette games.
- Complete the registration process with your chosen online casino. It should take no more than a few minutes. Review any welcome bonus offered by the platform before making your first deposit.
- Browse the table-game and live-casino lobbies to find a roulette game to play. Before risking real money, consider using a demo version to practise. When you are ready, choose whether to play for real money at your selected roulette table.
- Choose how much you want to stake on a wager and place your chips on the appropriate betting overlay. You may wish to begin with outside bets before trying inside bets sparingly.
- Watch for the ball to settle in a pocket that produces a winning bet. You can then place further wagers for the next spin and repeat the process.
Using Roulette Strategies - Can They Help You to Beat the House Edge?
Our roulette strategy guide examines this subject in more detail, so this section only introduces the main approaches. Many systems provide a structured way to bet, including progressive methods for even-money wagers that adjust the stake after the previous result. Under the Martingale roulette strategy, for example, a loss is followed by a bet double the initial stake for the next spin. The process continues until a winning bet appears, but no system removes the house edge or guarantees a profit.
Other widely discussed roulette approaches include the James Bond strategy, Fibonacci, Reverse Martingale, Labouchere, and Paroli.
The Different Roulette Game Variations
Land-based casinos commonly offer several roulette variations, but online play opens up many more formats. Some add extra balls, multipliers, bonus rounds, or other features. The following section outlines different roulette options you may encounter online.
American Roulette
American Roulette is widely available, although many players consider it the least attractive standard variation because its wheel gives the house a larger advantage. Alongside the single zero (0) pocket, it includes a double zero (00). When the ball lands on either zero, many player bets are cancelled because those outcomes are neither odd nor even, red nor black, and are not included in many other layout wagers. With two zeros, the house has two built-in sections of advantage. The house edge of American Roulette is therefore 5.25%.
European Roulette
Because European Roulette uses a single zero, its RTP is 2.70%, almost half that of American Roulette. Together with French roulette, it has the lowest house edge among the main roulette variations. Players may also use call bets, or announced bets, which can support quicker and more engaging gameplay.
French Roulette
French Roulette has the same standard house edge as European Roulette, but additional rules can improve the position on qualifying bets. When En Prison and La Partage apply, they provide insurance on even money bets and effectively reduce the house edge to 1.35%. Apart from these roulette rules, French Roulette is the same as European Roulette.
Online Roulette Variations
Online casinos offer the broadest selection of roulette variants. Digital technology lets developers create formats that are difficult to reproduce at a land-based casino. The following are examples to look for when browsing an internet casino:
- Multiplier Roulette: Multiplier roulette has become a popular genre in recent years. Often supplied through live casino platforms, these games randomly attach multipliers of up to 500x and 1,000x to single numbers. The multipliers apply only to straight-up bets, so a number wager that wins may qualify for a substantial payout.
- Mini Roulette: Mini Roulette is a smaller version of the game. Its wheel and betting overlay contain fewer numbers, usually 12, on which to place wagers. Because there are fewer numbers, its rules, odds, and payouts differ from standard roulette, so check them before playing.
- Double Ball Roulette: Double Ball Roulette uses two balls rather than one. That feature changes how the game operates and has a major effect on its rules, so review them before placing a wager.
- Auto Roulette: This automated roulette format has no dealer. The faster rounds can allow players to place more bets per hour.
- Speed Roulette: Speed Roulette shortens the betting period and accelerates the game. You must place wagers more quickly, which can allow more bets per hour.
Ready to Play Roulette?
Once you understand the roulette rules and bet types, you can begin comparing variations without looking far. Earlier GCCans casino review coverage can help you explore online casino options that offer roulette, including the Best Online Casinos for roulette, but it does not guarantee suitability, authorization, or a winning result. A winning number may arrive within minutes and lead to a payout under the table's rules, but neither timing nor result is guaranteed, whether you place a column bet, line bet, street bet, corner bet, or a 50/50 bet.
