Roulette is a game of chance where players place bets on potential outcomes of each spin of the wheel. This guide will teach you the basics needed to play the game, and you'll also find links to continue exploring each topic covered in this article more in-depth by following the "Learn more"-links.
The basics of playing Roulette
Before a round of Roulette starts, players must place their bets.
- The Croupier spins the roulette wheel and releases the ball, during which players may continue placing bets.
- At one point, the Croupier will announce "No more bets," and players can no longer place any further bets.
- Once the ball loses enough momentum, it drops into the wheel and settles in one of the pockets.
- The Croupier settles bets and distributes winnings based on the odds associated with each type of bet.
Types of roulette bets
Roulette offers a variety of betting options, with specific types varying based on whether you are playing European, American, or other casino-specific versions. The different types of bets belong to two main categories: inside bets and outside bets.
Learn more: Find an explanation of all types of Roulette bets here
Outside bets
You place outside bets on the outside of the rectangle of the Roulette table layout.
The outside bets available are:
- Red/Black
- Odd/Even
- High/Low
- Columns
- Dozens
- Imprisonment bet or La Partage
Inside bets
You place inside bets inside of the rectangle of the Roulette table layout.
The inside bets available are:
- Straight up
- Split
- Street
- Corner
- Line
- Five-number
- Basket
- Snake bet
Call bets
Call bets are grouped with inside bets as betting on these is done within the same rectangle on the Roulette table layout. They're only available on European and French Roulette tables, not American ones.
The call bets available are:
- Voisins du Zero
- Jeu Zero
- Tiers du Cylindre
- Orphelins
- Neighbors
- Final Bet
- Full Complete or Max bet
The game layout of Roulette
While Roulette has three standard variations, all versions include a wheel and a designated betting area.
Wheel layouts
There are two Roulette wheel types; American and European. Their only difference is the number of zeros on the wheel.
- European Roulette has 37 pockets (0-36 numbered and one zero).
- American Roulette has 38 pockets (0-36 numbered and two zeros).
Table layouts
The Roulette table layout is standardized, making it instantly recognizable regardless of whether you're playing American, European, or French Roulette. There are, however, minor differences depending on what variant you're playing.
- European Roulette has 37 "straight up" bet fields.
- American Roulette has 38 "straight up" bet fields.
- French Roulette has 37 (same as European), but the names of each area you can place a bet on are in French.
Roulette rules
Besides the basic flow of the game, as covered at the beginning of this article, there aren't many other rules to consider when you're playing online. The exception is that each Roulette table played online might have different rules that cover payout structures, special bonuses, minimum and maximum wagering limits, and what happens if there's a technical error or a voided game.
Roulette house edge
The term "house edge" refers to the casino's mathematical advantage over players playing their games. In the case of Roulette, the house edge is 2.60% for European Roulette and 5.25% for American Roulette.
Over time, the house edge ensures the casino retains 2.60% to 5.25% of the total wagers on Roulette tables.
Learn more: Roulette house edge explained
Roulette variations
There are three distinct, standard variations of Roulette available to players; European, American, and Roulette. The difference between these is minuscule, yet many sub-variations of the standard ones are available.
Roulette systems and strategies
Numerous Roulette betting systems and strategies have been proposed over time. It is important to understand that no betting system can consistently overcome the house edge in Roulette. The reason is simple: Roulette is a minus EV (expected value) game, where the odds always favor the house. There is no strategy out there that, in practice, will allow you to beat the game consistently. Anyone who says otherwise is flat-out lying to you.
Popular betting strategies like the Martingale or Fibonacci systems may be familiar to you. Alluring as they may be, you'll quickly discover the threat they pose to lighting your bankroll on fire just after a couple of "unlucky" streaks.
Knowing what strategies and betting systems are available for Roulette, though, and understanding how they work, will help you save money and time not wasted on doing something that doesn't work.