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. Within that simplicity lies a complete mathematical system: specific bets, specific roulette payouts, and a house edge that never changes. This guide covers every rule, every bet type and every payout in full.
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.
The Wheel & the Table
The roulette wheel and the betting table are two separate physical objects representing the same 37 or 38 numbers. A European wheel has 37 numbered pockets (0–36) — zero is green, 1–36 alternate red and black. The numbers are not in sequential order around the wheel — they follow a standardised pattern designed to distribute high/low, red/black and odd/even as evenly as possible. An American wheel has 38 pockets — the same layout plus a double-zero (00), which raises the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%. See our double zero wheel guide for the full analysis.
| Component | European | American |
|---|---|---|
| Total pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Green pockets | 1 (zero) | 2 (0 and 00) |
| 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 hit. Every inside bet carries the same 2.70% house edge on a European wheel — the difference is purely risk profile and payout size. See the full roulette odds and payouts table for every bet combination compared side by side.
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). The highest-paying and lowest-probability bet on the table.
Split Bet
A bet on two adjacent numbers. Place your chip on the line separating any two numbers that share a border — horizontally or vertically. 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. 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 forming a square on the grid. Place your chip at the centre intersection of all four numbers. Pays 8:1. Win probability: 10.81%.
Trio Bet
A three-number bet including zero — only two combinations possible: 0-1-2 or 0-2-3. Place the chip at the intersection of 0 and the two numbers. Pays 11:1. European and French only — not available on American wheels.
Six Line (Double Street)
A bet on six numbers across two adjacent rows. Place your chip at the outer edge where the two rows meet. Pays 5:1. Win probability: 16.22%. Popular in combination betting strategies — see the full roulette payouts breakdown for how the Six Line compares to other inside bets.
| 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 row |
| Trio | 3 (incl. 0) | 11:1 | 8.11% | Intersection of 0 + 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 win more frequently than inside bets — but pay proportionally less. The roulette payouts on even-money bets are 1:1 — the lowest on the table but with the highest win frequency. 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 cover 18 numbers. Win probability: 48.65% on a European wheel.
- Red / Black — all 18 red or all 18 black numbers.
- Odd / Even — all odd or all even numbers. Zero counts as neither.
- Low / High — numbers 1–18 (Low) or 19–36 (High).
Dozen and Column Bets (2:1)
Cover 12 numbers each. Win probability: 32.43%.
- Dozen — 1st Dozen (1–12), 2nd Dozen (13–24) or 3rd Dozen (25–36).
- Column — one of three vertical columns of 12 numbers on the betting grid. Numbers are not sequential per column — check the layout.
| 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 & 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 on European tables. Both rules reduce the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to 1.35% — the lowest available in standard roulette.
Announced & Call Bets
Announced bets cover specific sections of the physical wheel — not positions on the betting grid. They are a feature of European and French Roulette only (not American). They are called out to the croupier by name and placed as multi-chip combinations. Many online tables have a racetrack interface for placing these directly.
| Bet name | Numbers covered | Chips required |
|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero) | 0, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 35 | 9 |
| Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel) | 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 23, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 | 6 |
| Orphelins (Orphans) | 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, 34 | 5 |
| Neighbours Bet | Any number + 2 neighbours each side = 5 numbers total | 5 |
The House Edge Explained
The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino holds on every bet. In roulette it comes from one source: payouts are calculated as if there are 36 numbers on the wheel, but there are actually 37 (European) or 38 (American). That extra pocket is where the house’s advantage lives.
On a straight-up bet, the fair payout would be 36:1. The casino pays 35:1. That one unit of difference, averaged across all outcomes, produces the 2.70% edge.
European: (36 − 35) ÷ 37 × 100 = 2.70% — applies to every single bet without exception.
For every €100 wagered, the casino expects to keep €2.70. Over 1,000 spins at €10/spin: €270 in expected losses. No betting system changes this — systems only rearrange when and how much you win or lose, not the underlying expectation. Compare every payout against its true probability in the full roulette odds and payouts guide, read the house edge breakdown, or use the payout calculator to model any bet.
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 players — best edge available |
| European Roulette | 37 | 2.70% | All players — global standard |
| American Roulette | 38 | 5.26% | Avoid if European available |
| Mexican / Triple Zero | 39 | 7.69% | Novelty only — always avoid |
Simple decision tree: French Roulette with La Partage if available and you use even-money bets. Otherwise European. American only if no single-zero alternative exists. Never Mexican or Triple Zero when a standard variant is at the same stakes.
Table Etiquette
At a physical casino, etiquette is expected. At an online table, most rules are enforced automatically by the interface — but understanding them gives context to how the game is designed to flow.
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?
Every bet on a European wheel carries the same 2.70% house edge — there is no mathematically “better” bet. The choice depends on your goal. For low variance and long sessions: even-money outside bets. For a large single-spin payout: straight-up numbers. For balance: six lines or corners. No bet beats the house edge.
What happens when zero lands?
All outside bets lose when zero lands — red/black, odd/even, high/low, dozens and columns. Inside bets placed directly 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. A €1 straight-up bet on all 37 numbers costs €37 total. Exactly one wins and pays €35 — you lose €2. The house edge is built in regardless of coverage. The only way to reduce it is to choose a better variant or find a La Partage table.
What is the Gambler’s Fallacy?
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 history.
Do roulette strategies work?
Betting systems like Martingale, Fibonacci and D’Alembert manage variance and session structure — they do not change the house edge. A well-applied strategy can extend play time on a fixed budget and make sessions more consistent. No system produces a long-term advantage. See the full strategies guide for a complete comparison.