The Basic Rules of Roulette
Roulette is one of the simplest casino games to learn and one of the most rewarding to understand deeply. A wheel spins, a ball lands, and the result determines whether you win or lose. But within that simplicity lies a complete mathematical system — specific bets, specific payouts, and a house edge that never changes. This guide explains every rule, every bet type, and every payout in full. Whether you are sitting at a table for the first time or moving from casual play to structured strategy, start here.
How Roulette Works
Every round of roulette follows the same five-step sequence, whether you are playing at a physical casino or an online live table.
Step 1 — Place Your Bets
The croupier opens the betting window. You place chips on the areas of the betting grid that correspond to your chosen numbers, colours, or bet types. You can place multiple bets on a single spin — there is no limit to how many different positions you cover, only the minimum and maximum stakes per bet.
Step 2 — The Wheel Spins
The croupier spins the wheel in one direction and releases the ball into the track running along the inside edge of the wheel in the opposite direction. The opposing forces create the unpredictable path that gives roulette its randomness.
Step 3 — No More Bets
As the ball begins to decelerate, the croupier announces “no more bets.” No additional chips can be placed or moved after this call. At a physical table this is enforced manually. At an online table, the betting interface locks automatically.
Step 4 — The Ball Lands
The ball drops from the outer track into the numbered pockets of the spinning wheel. It bounces between the metal frets dividing the pockets before settling in one. That pocket — its number and colour — is the result of the round.
Step 5 — Payouts and Clear
The croupier places a marker (dolly) on the winning number on the betting grid. Losing bets are cleared first. Winning bets are paid at their respective payout ratios. Once all payouts are complete, the marker is removed and the next round begins.
The Wheel and the Table
The roulette wheel and the betting table are two separate physical objects that represent the same 37 or 38 numbers. Understanding how they relate to each other is fundamental to understanding the game.
The Wheel
A European roulette wheel has 37 numbered pockets: 0 through 36. The single zero pocket is green. Numbers 1 through 36 alternate between red and black — 18 of each. The numbers are not arranged in sequential order around the wheel. They are arranged in a specific pattern designed so that high and low numbers, red and black, and odd and even are distributed as evenly as possible around the circumference. This layout is fixed and standardised — every European wheel has the same sequence.
An American wheel has 38 pockets — the same layout plus an additional double-zero (00) green pocket. This extra pocket raises the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26% without changing any payouts. See our double zero wheel guide for the full analysis.
The Betting Table
The betting table (also called the layout) is a grid of all 37 numbers arranged in three columns of 12, with the single zero at the top. Around the outside of this number grid are the outside bet boxes — Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low, Dozen, and Column. This is where you place your chips to make your bets.
| Component | European | American |
|---|---|---|
| Total pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Green pockets | 1 (zero) | 2 (zero and double-zero) |
| Red pockets | 18 | 18 |
| Black pockets | 18 | 18 |
| House edge | 2.70% | 5.26% |
Inside Bets — Complete Guide
Inside bets are placed on the number grid itself — on specific numbers or the lines between them. They cover fewer numbers, win less frequently, but pay significantly more when they do win. Every inside bet carries the same 2.70% house edge on a European wheel — the difference between them is purely risk profile and payout size.
Straight Up
A bet on a single number. Place your chip in the centre of any numbered square, including 0. Pays 35:1. Win probability: 2.70% (1 in 37). This is the highest-paying and lowest-probability bet on the table — it wins roughly once every 37 spins on average.
Split Bet
A bet on two adjacent numbers. Place your chip on the line separating any two numbers that share a border on the betting grid — either horizontally or vertically adjacent. Pays 17:1. Win probability: 5.41%.
Street Bet
A bet on three consecutive numbers in a horizontal row. Place your chip on the outer edge of the row — for example, at the edge of the 1-2-3 row. Pays 11:1. Win probability: 8.11%. There are 12 possible street bets on a European layout.
Corner Bet (Square Bet)
A bet on four numbers that form a square on the betting grid. Place your chip at the intersection point where all four numbers meet. Pays 8:1. Win probability: 10.81%. For example, the corner of 1, 2, 4, and 5.
Trio Bet
A three-number bet that includes zero. Only two combinations are possible: 0-1-2 or 0-2-3. Place the chip at the intersection of 0 and the two numbers. Pays 11:1. This bet is only available on European and French wheels — not American, because the layout is different.
Six Line (Double Street)
A bet on six numbers across two adjacent rows. Place your chip at the outer edge of the two rows where they meet. Pays 5:1. Win probability: 16.22%. The six line is popular because it covers nearly one-sixth of the wheel and pays a meaningful multiple — it is frequently used as part of combination betting strategies.
| Bet Type | Numbers Covered | Payout | Win Probability | Chip Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% | Centre of number |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% | Line between two numbers |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% | Outer edge of a row |
| Trio | 3 (incl. 0) | 11:1 | 8.11% | Intersection of 0 and two numbers |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% | Centre of four-number square |
| Six Line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% | Edge where two rows meet |
Outside Bets — Complete Guide
Outside bets are placed in the boxes surrounding the number grid. They cover large groups of numbers and offer near-even-money returns. They win more frequently than inside bets but pay proportionally less. The single zero is not covered by any outside bet — when zero lands, all outside bets lose (unless La Partage or En Prison is active).
Even-Money Bets (1:1)
Three bet types pay 1:1 and each covers 18 numbers. They are the most popular bets for players using structured betting systems because the near-50% win rate creates a relatively stable session pattern.
- Red / Black — bet on all 18 red or all 18 black numbers. Win probability: 48.65%.
- Odd / Even — bet on all odd or all even numbers (0 counts as neither). Win probability: 48.65%.
- Low / High — bet on numbers 1–18 (Low) or 19–36 (High). Win probability: 48.65%.
Dozen and Column Bets (2:1)
These bets cover 12 numbers each and pay 2:1. Win probability: 32.43%.
- Dozen bet — covers 1–12 (First Dozen), 13–24 (Second Dozen), or 25–36 (Third Dozen).
- Column bet — covers one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers on the betting grid. Each column contains 12 numbers but they are not sequential — check the grid layout to see which numbers are in each column.
| Bet Type | Numbers Covered | Payout | Win Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red / Black | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Odd / Even | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Low (1–18) / High (19–36) | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Dozen (1st / 2nd / 3rd) | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% |
| Column | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% |
Special Rules: La Partage and En Prison
These two rules apply only to even-money outside bets and only when the ball lands on zero. They are standard on French Roulette tables and occasionally available on European tables. Both rules reduce the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to 1.35% — the lowest house edge available in standard roulette.
La Partage
“La Partage” means “the sharing” in French. When zero lands, half of your even-money stake is returned to you automatically. If you bet €20 on Red and zero lands, you receive €10 back. The other €10 goes to the casino. You do not win, but you only lose half rather than the full amount.
En Prison
“En Prison” means “in prison.” Instead of losing or receiving half back, your entire even-money bet is locked (“imprisoned”) for one more spin. If your bet wins on the next spin, you receive your full original stake back with no winnings. If it loses, you lose the stake in full. Mathematically equivalent to La Partage in expected value.
Announced and Call Bets
Announced bets (also called call bets) are sector-based bets that cover specific sections of the physical wheel rather than positions on the betting grid. They are a feature of European and French Roulette — not available on American wheels. They are called out to the croupier by name and placed as multi-chip combinations.
Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero)
Covers the 17 numbers closest to zero on the European wheel — roughly half the wheel. Requires 9 chips placed across several splits, streets, and a corner. The numbers covered are: 0, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 35.
Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel)
Covers the 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from zero. Requires 6 chips placed as splits. The numbers covered are: 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 23, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36.
Orphelins (Orphans)
Covers the 8 numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers — the two small sections of the wheel left uncovered by the other two announced bets. Requires 5 chips. The numbers covered are: 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, 34.
Neighbours Bet
A custom announced bet covering any specific number and its two immediate neighbours on each side of the wheel — five numbers total. You call the centre number and the number of neighbours. Many online tables have a racetrack interface that allows you to place neighbour bets directly without calling them out.
The House Edge Explained
The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino holds on every bet. In roulette it comes from one simple source: the payouts are calculated as if there are 36 numbers on the wheel, but there are actually 37 (European) or 38 (American). The extra pocket — zero — is where the house’s advantage lives.
On a straight-up bet, the fair payout would be 36:1 (since there are 36 numbers that lose and 1 that wins). The casino pays 35:1. That one unit of difference, averaged across all possible outcomes, produces the 2.70% edge.
This means that over a long session, for every €100 wagered, the casino expects to keep €2.70. Over 1,000 spins at €10 per spin, that is €270 in expected losses. No betting system changes this — systems only rearrange when and how much you win and lose, not the underlying expectation. See our full house edge guide and use the payout calculator to model any bet combination.
Which Variant Should You Play?
The single most important decision in roulette is which wheel you play on. This choice has a bigger impact on your results than any betting strategy.
| Variant | Pockets | House Edge | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Roulette (La Partage) | 37 | 1.35% | Even-money bet players — best edge available |
| European Roulette | 37 | 2.70% | All players — global standard |
| American Roulette | 38 | 5.26% | Experience only — avoid if European available |
| Mexican Roulette | 39 | 7.69% | Novelty only |
The decision tree is simple: if French Roulette with La Partage is available and you plan to use even-money bets, play that. Otherwise, play European. Only consider American Roulette if no single-zero alternative exists. Never play Mexican or Triple Zero Roulette when a standard variant is available at the same stakes.
Table Etiquette
At a physical casino, following table etiquette is expected. At an online table, most of these rules are enforced automatically by the interface — but understanding them gives context to how the game is designed to flow.
Chip Colours
At a physical roulette table, each player is assigned a unique colour of chips that has no denomination value outside that specific table. This prevents disputes over who placed which chip on which number. You exchange these coloured chips back for standard casino chips when you leave the table.
Do Not Touch the Grid While the Dolly Is Present
Once the ball lands and the croupier places the dolly marker on the winning number, do not touch any chips on the table — including your own. Wait until the croupier has paid all winnings, removed all losing chips, and lifted the dolly before reaching for your winnings or placing new bets.
Late Betting
Placing bets after the croupier has called “no more bets” — intentionally or not — is a serious breach. In physical casinos it can result in being asked to leave the table. Online tables lock the betting interface automatically when the window closes.
Tipping the Croupier
Tipping is customary at physical tables. You can either hand chips directly to the croupier or place a bet “for the dealer” — a chip placed at the edge of any bet that, if it wins, pays out to the croupier. There is no obligation, but it is standard practice at most tables.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many numbers are on a roulette wheel?
A European wheel has 37 numbers: 0 through 36. An American wheel has 38: 0, 00, and 1 through 36. A Mexican (Triple Zero) wheel has 39. Always choose the wheel with the fewest zero pockets — fewer zeros means a lower house edge.
What is the best bet in roulette?
Mathematically, every bet on a European wheel carries the same 2.70% house edge. The “best” bet depends on your goal. For long sessions with low variance: even-money outside bets. For the chance of a large single-spin payout: straight-up numbers. For a balance: six lines or corner bets. There is no bet that beats the house edge.
What happens when zero lands?
All outside bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low, dozens, columns) lose automatically when zero lands. Inside bets placed on zero pay 35:1. If La Partage is active, even-money outside bets return half their stake. If En Prison is active, even-money bets are locked for one more spin.
Can you bet on every number at once?
Yes, but it does not help. If you place a €1 straight-up bet on all 37 numbers (€37 total), exactly one wins and pays €35 — you lose €2. The house edge is baked in regardless of coverage. The only way to reduce the house edge is to choose a better wheel variant or find a table with La Partage.
Is roulette a game of skill?
No. Each spin is an independent random event. Skill lies in choosing the right variant (European over American), understanding the bets, managing your bankroll, and applying a structured approach to session management. No skill or system can predict the outcome of a spin or change the house edge.
What is the Gambler’s Fallacy?
The Gambler’s Fallacy is the false belief that past results influence future spins. If red has landed 10 times in a row, many players believe black is “due.” It is not. Each spin is completely independent — the wheel has no memory. The probability of red or black on the next spin is always 48.65%, regardless of what happened previously.
Do roulette strategies work?
Betting systems like the Martingale, Fibonacci, and D’Alembert manage variance and session structure — they do not change the house edge. A well-applied strategy can make your session more consistent and extend play time on a fixed budget. No system produces a long-term mathematical advantage over the casino. See our full roulette strategies guide for a complete comparison.