Roulette Guides: Rules, Odds & Strategy
Everything you need to play roulette with confidence – the rules, every bet with its payout and odds, the differences between European, American and French wheels, and an honest look at popular betting systems. Start with the guides below or read our complete overview.
How to Play Roulette
Roulette is a game of pure chance. A croupier (or random number generator online) spins a wheel in one direction and a ball in the other. You bet on where the ball will land:
Choose your chip value and place chips on the table layout.
Wait for the spin. Online, you press Spin; at live tables, betting closes when the croupier calls "no more bets".
The ball lands in a pocket and decides the winning number and colour.
Winning bets are paid according to the payout table; losing bets are cleared.
Roulette Bets, Payouts and Odds
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout | Chance (European wheel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% |
| Column or dozen | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% |
| Red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36 | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
American roulette adds a "basket" or "top line" bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 that pays 6:1. It has the worst house edge on the table – 7.89% – so it is best avoided.
European vs American vs French Roulette
| Variant | Pockets | House edge | Special rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 37 (single 0) | 2.70% | – |
| French | 37 (single 0) | 1.35% on even-money bets | La Partage or En Prison returns half of even-money bets when 0 hits |
| American | 38 (0 and 00) | 5.26% | Extra double zero |
The lesson is simple: always choose a single-zero wheel, and pick French roulette if you mainly bet on red/black or odd/even. See our European roulette guide or try free roulette.
Roulette Betting Systems: Do They Work?
Many players use betting systems. They can make sessions more structured, but none of them changes the house edge – every spin is independent.
| System | How it works | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Martingale | Double your bet after every loss on even-money bets | Losing streaks quickly hit table limits or your bankroll |
| Reverse Martingale / Paroli | Double your bet after a win | One loss wipes out the run |
| D'Alembert | Increase by one unit after a loss, decrease after a win | Slower losses, but still negative expectation |
| Fibonacci | Follow the Fibonacci sequence after losses | Bets grow fast in long losing runs |
| Labouchère | Cross off numbers from a sequence as you win | Complex, and long losing streaks are costly |
Read more in our roulette strategy guide. The best "strategy" is to choose a single-zero wheel, set a budget and stick to it.
Types of Online Roulette
RNG roulette – fast games with low minimum stakes, often available in demo mode.
Live dealer roulette – a real wheel and croupier streamed in HD. See our live dealer guides.
Multiplier roulette – random multipliers on straight-up numbers, usually with a reduced standard payout.
Mini roulette – 13 pockets for quick sessions, with a higher house edge.
Multi-wheel roulette – one bet across several wheels at once.
Roulette Tips
Play European or French roulette rather than American.
Learn the table with free play before using real money.
Set a loss limit and a win target for each session.
Avoid the American basket bet.
Remember that roulette usually counts little towards bonus wagering.
Ready to play? Compare the top online roulette casinos or start with our roulette guide for beginners.
Roulette Wheel Layout
The numbers on a roulette wheel are not in numerical order. They alternate between red and black and are arranged so that high, low, odd and even numbers are spread as evenly as possible. The green zero (and double zero on American wheels) sits between them. Call bets such as Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre and Orphelins cover sections of the wheel rather than the table layout – they are combinations of normal bets and carry the same house edge.
Live Roulette
Live dealer roulette streams a real wheel and croupier to your screen. You can watch the ball in close-up, check previous results and chat with the dealer. Live tables offer European, French and American wheels, plus speed and multiplier variants. Read our live dealer guides to learn more.
Roulette Bankroll Tips
| Approach | How it works |
|---|---|
| Flat betting | Bet the same amount every spin – the simplest way to control spending |
| Session budget | Decide how much you can afford to lose before you start |
| Win target | Stop when you are a set amount ahead |
| Time limit | Fast RNG roulette can play hundreds of spins an hour |
All bets on a European wheel have the same 2.70% house edge. On French roulette, even-money bets are best thanks to La Partage (1.35%). Avoid the American five-number basket bet (7.89%).
A European or French wheel has 37 pockets (1–36 and a single 0). An American wheel has 38 pockets, adding a double zero.
No betting system can overcome the house edge, because every spin is independent. Systems can change how wins and losses are spread, but not the long-term result.
Licensed casinos use certified random number generators for RNG roulette and real wheels for live roulette, both tested for fairness.
French roulette with La Partage has the best odds on even-money bets. Otherwise, European roulette beats American roulette.
Inside bets cover single numbers or small groups and pay up to 35:1. Outside bets cover large groups such as red/black or dozens and win more often with smaller payouts.