How to Play Roulette: Rules, Bets and Odds
Roulette is one of the simplest casino games to learn and one of the most exciting to watch. You bet on where a ball will land on a spinning wheel – a single number, a colour, a group of numbers – and the payout depends on how likely your bet is to win.
This guide covers the rules, the bets and the odds. Once you know the basics, read our guide to roulette strategies to see which betting systems work and which do not.
The Wheel and the Table
A roulette wheel has numbered pockets from 1 to 36, coloured red and black, plus one or two green zero pockets. The table layout shows the same numbers in a grid of three columns, with outside betting areas around it.
A round works like this:
- Players place chips on the table.
- The dealer – or the game, online – spins the wheel and releases the ball.
- Betting closes shortly before the ball settles.
- The ball lands in a pocket, winning bets are paid and the rest are collected.
European, French and American Roulette
| Version | Pockets | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| European | 37 (single zero) | 2.70% |
| French (with La Partage) | 37 (single zero) | 1.35% on even-money bets |
| American | 38 (zero and double zero) | 5.26% |
The extra double zero almost doubles the house edge, so always choose European or French roulette when you can. Under the French La Partage rule, you get half of an even-money bet back if the ball lands on zero.
Roulette Bets and Payouts
Inside bets
| Bet | Covers | Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 number | 35 to 1 |
| Split | 2 numbers | 17 to 1 |
| Street | 3 numbers | 11 to 1 |
| Corner | 4 numbers | 8 to 1 |
| Six line | 6 numbers | 5 to 1 |
Outside bets
| Bet | Covers | Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Red or black | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 |
| Odd or even | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 |
| 1–18 or 19–36 | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 |
| Dozen (1–12, 13–24, 25–36) | 12 numbers | 2 to 1 |
| Column | 12 numbers | 2 to 1 |
The zero is not red, black, odd or even, so outside bets lose when it comes up. That is where the house edge comes from. On a European wheel, every bet has the same 2.70% edge – no bet is “better” than another in the long run. On an American wheel, avoid the five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3), which has an edge of 7.89%.
Online, Live and Variant Games
- RNG roulette – a digital wheel run by a random number generator. Fast, with low minimum bets, and often available in demo mode.
- Live roulette – a real dealer and wheel streamed from a studio. Slower, but closer to a casino experience.
- Variants – games like Lightning Roulette add random multipliers on some numbers, but usually pay less on straight bets. Check the RTP of each version.
Most casino bonuses count only 10–20% of roulette bets towards wagering, or exclude roulette entirely, so read the terms before using bonus money.
Tips for New Players
- Choose European or French roulette over American.
- Start with outside bets – they win almost half the time, so your money lasts longer.
- Set a budget and a stake size before you start.
- Do not trust “hot” or “cold” numbers – the wheel has no memory.
- Practise for free in demo mode, then compare online roulette casinos.