Roulette Rules: How to Play, Bets, Payouts and Odds Explained

Roulette is a casino game of pure chance played with a spinning wheel divided into numbered pockets and a matching betting layout on the table. You place chips on the numbers or number groups you think the ball will land in, the dealer (croupier) spins the wheel and rolls a small ball in the opposite direction, and when the ball settles into a pocket that number wins.

The game exists in a few variants, and the difference matters more than beginners expect:

• European roulette uses a single-zero wheel with 37 pockets (0–36).
• American roulette adds a second zero (00) for 38 pockets (0–36 plus 00).
• French roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European but adds player-friendly rules (La Partage and En Prison) that can cut your losses on even-money bets.
• California roulette is a card-based version used where spinning-wheel games face legal restrictions.

Roulette is a game of chance, not skill — no reading of patterns changes the odds of the next spin. What you can control is which wheel you sit at and which bets you make, and those choices directly affect how fast your money erodes.

Roulette (French for "little wheel") traces to 18th-century France, where the single-zero wheel took shape. The double-zero version crossed the Atlantic and became the American standard, while the single-zero wheel remained dominant in Europe. That historical split is why two very different house edges still coexist today — and why the wheel you choose matters. Modern online and live-dealer roulette faithfully recreate both formats, plus French rules that survive from the game's European roots.

The wheel is the heart of the game. Numbers are not arranged in numerical order around the rim — they're deliberately scattered to balance high/low and red/black across the wheel.

• On a European/French wheel there are 37 pockets: numbers 1–36 plus a single green 0.
• On an American wheel there are 38 pockets: 1–36 plus a green 0 and a green 00.

The numbers 1–36 are split evenly between red and black. The red numbers are: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36; the rest are black. The zero (and the double zero in American play) is green and belongs to neither color — which is precisely where the house edge comes from.

Wheel positions matter for one group of bets in particular: French "called bets" (see below) are defined by neighboring pockets on the wheel rather than by their position on the table.

The betting table mirrors the numbers but arranges them for easy chip placement. The main grid shows numbers 1–36 in three columns of twelve, with the 0 (and 00 in American roulette) at the top. Around the grid sit the boxes for the group bets: the three columns, the three dozens (1–12, 13–24, 25–36), and the even-money fields (Red/Black, Odd/Even, 1–18/19–36).

Bets fall into two families based on where they sit:

• Inside bets are placed on or between the individual numbers in the grid.
• Outside bets are placed in the boxes surrounding the grid and cover large groups of numbers.

Winning bets are marked by the dealer placing a dolly (marker) on the winning number, after which losing chips are cleared and payouts are made.

The objective is simple: predict which pocket the ball will land in and back that prediction with chips. You don't play against other players — every bet is between you and the house.

Equipment used in a standard game:

• The roulette wheel (single- or double-zero).
• The table layout where bets are placed.
• The ball, which the dealer spins against the wheel's rotation.
• Chips — in live casinos each player gets a unique color chip to avoid disputes; you exchange these for cash chips before leaving the table.
• The dolly/marker the dealer uses to flag the winning number.

In online roulette, the wheel, ball and chip handling are replicated digitally (RNG games) or streamed from a real table (live-dealer games).

A round of roulette follows the same rhythm every time. Here's the step-by-step flow:

1. Buy in. Exchange cash for chips. At a live table you'll receive color chips unique to you.
2. Place your bets. While the dealer invites betting, put your chips on any combination of inside and outside bets. You can back multiple numbers and groups in the same round.
3. "No more bets." The dealer spins the wheel and rolls the ball, then calls "no more bets" — after this point you cannot add, move or remove chips.
4. The ball settles. When the ball drops into a pocket, that number, its color, and its properties (odd/even, high/low, column, dozen) determine every winning bet.
5. Payouts and clearing. The dealer marks the winning number with the dolly, clears losing chips, then pays the winners at the fixed odds.
6. Next round. The dolly is removed and betting reopens.

The only real "rule" mistakes to avoid are touching your chips after "no more bets" and confusing your color chips with another player's.

You place a bet by physically positioning chips on the layout (or clicking the spot online). Where the chip sits defines what it covers:

• Directly on a single number = a straight-up bet.
• On the line between two numbers = a split.
• On the outer edge of a row of three = a street.
• On the corner where four numbers meet = a corner/square.
• Straddling two rows = a six line.
• In a column, dozen or even-money box = the corresponding outside bet.

You can combine as many bets as you like in one round, but remember: covering more of the table doesn't beat the house edge — it just spreads the same disadvantage across more chips.

Minimum and maximum limits apply per bet and per table; always check the table placard or the game's info panel before you buy in.

Every roulette bet is either an inside bet (specific numbers, higher payouts, lower chance) or an outside bet (large groups, lower payouts, higher chance). Understanding the two families is the foundation of smart play.

Inside bets target individual numbers or small clusters. They pay more because they're less likely to hit:

• Straight up — a single number.
• Split — two adjacent numbers.
• Street — three numbers in a row.
• Corner/Square — four numbers meeting at a corner.
• Six line/Double street — six numbers across two rows.
• Trio — three numbers including a zero.
• Basket/First four — a group including the zero(s) at the top of the layout.

Inside bets are where the biggest payouts live — and where your money disappears fastest if the numbers don't come.

Outside bets cover big blocks of numbers and pay less, but hit far more often. They're the natural home for beginners:

• Red/Black — the color of the winning number.
• Odd/Even — whether the number is odd or even.
• High/Low — 1–18 (low) or 19–36 (high).
• Dozens — 1–12, 13–24, or 25–36.
• Columns — one of the three vertical columns of twelve numbers.

Note that the green zero(s) are not covered by any even-money outside bet — that's exactly why Red, Black, Odd, Even, High and Low are not true coin-flips.

Payouts are fixed and identical on European and American wheels — the difference is that the extra 00 on American wheels makes each bet slightly less likely to win. Here's the full payout chart:

How to read this: "35 to 1" means a winning $1 straight-up bet returns $35 in winnings plus your original $1 stake. The reason a 35-to-1 payout on a 1-in-37 (or 1-in-38) chance isn't a fair deal is the gap between those numbers — and that gap is the house edge. Save or screenshot this chart as your roulette cheat sheet.

American roulette uses the exact same payout ratios as the table above — a straight up still pays 35 to 1, splits 17 to 1, and so on. What changes is the denominator: with 38 pockets instead of 37, every bet is marginally less likely to land, which is why the American house edge (5.26%) is nearly double the European figure. There is one bet unique to American layouts — the five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) — which carries the worst edge on the table and is best avoided.

Called (or announced) bets are a French tradition based on sections of the wheel rather than the table grid. You call them out to the dealer, who places the chips for you. The main ones:

• Voisins du zéro ("neighbors of zero") — a large group of numbers around the green zero.
• Jeu zéro ("zero game") — a smaller cluster right around the zero.
• Le tiers du cylindre ("the third of the wheel") — the numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from zero.
• Orphelins ("orphans") — the numbers not covered by the two groups above.
• Final bets — all numbers ending in the same digit (e.g. all numbers ending in 5).

These don't change the odds — they're just a shorthand for covering wheel sections. They're most common on French and European tables and many live-dealer games.

Roulette's math is honest and unavoidable: the house edge comes from the green zero(s). Because payouts are calculated as if the zeros didn't exist, the casino keeps a small percentage of every bet over the long run.

What this means for you: on European roulette, for every $100 wagered over time you can expect to lose about $2.70 on average; on American, about $5.26. RTP (return to player) is simply the flip side — the percentage of total stakes returned to players over the long run.

Two French rules can cut the even-money house edge in half:

• La Partage returns half your even-money stake if the ball lands on zero.
• En Prison locks your even-money bet for one more spin instead; if it wins next spin, you get your stake back.

The practical takeaway: a single-zero (European or French) wheel is always a better deal than a double-zero (American) wheel, and French rules are better still — but none of them turn roulette into a positive-expectation game. The edge is always with the house.

There is no strategy that beats roulette long-term — the house edge applies to every spin regardless of what you did before. What good strategy can do is slow your losses, extend your playtime, and keep the game fun. Honest, practical tips:

1. Choose the right wheel. Always prefer single-zero (European/French) over double-zero (American). If French rules with La Partage are available, that's the lowest edge you'll find.
2. Favor outside bets for staying power. Even-money bets win nearly half the time, so your bankroll lasts longer — at the cost of smaller payouts.
3. Mix inside bets in small doses if you want bigger wins, knowing they hit rarely.
4. Set a session budget and stick to it. Decide your loss limit before you sit down.
5. Ignore "hot" and "cold" numbers. Each spin is independent; the wheel has no memory.

About betting systems

Betting systems change how you size bets, not the underlying odds. Know how they work — and their flaws:

• Martingale / Reverse Martingale — double your bet after a loss (Martingale) or after a win (Reverse). Martingale can wipe out a bankroll fast during a losing streak and runs into table limits.
• Labouchère — cross off numbers in a list to reach a target profit; a long losing run makes the required bets balloon.
• D'Alembert — increase your bet by one unit after a loss, decrease after a win. Gentler than Martingale but equally unable to beat the edge.
• 1-3-2-6 — a positive-progression system where you stake 1, then 3, then 2, then 6 units through a winning run, then reset. It caps how much a run can cost you but does nothing to the house edge.

Every system eventually collides with two realities: the house edge and table limits. Treat them as ways to structure your play, never as a way to guarantee a profit.

Myths to drop

• "Red is due after a run of blacks." This is the gambler's fallacy. Every spin is independent; past results never influence the next.
• "A system can beat roulette." No progression overcomes a negative-expectation game.
• "Even-money bets are 50/50." They're not — the green zero(s) tilt them below 50%.

Common beginner mistakes

• Playing American when European is available — you're doubling the edge for no benefit.
• Touching chips after "no more bets." Wait for the dealer's cue.
• Chasing losses by increasing bets to recover — the fastest way to blow a bankroll.
• Ignoring table limits when using a progression system.
• Betting the five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) on American wheels — the worst-value bet on the table.

Why is 17 so popular?

Seventeen sits right in the center of the table layout, making it an easy, visible number for players to reach — and it has a reputation boosted by pop culture. But it's pure superstition: 17 is no more or less likely to hit than any other number. Every pocket has exactly the same chance every spin.

• Croupier / dealer — the casino employee who runs the game.
• Spin — one complete round of the wheel.
• No more bets — the dealer's call ending betting for the round.
• Dolly — the marker placed on the winning number.
• Color chips — player-specific chips used at live tables.
• La Partage — French rule returning half an even-money stake on zero.
• En Prison — French rule locking an even-money bet for one more spin on zero.
• Inside / outside bets — bets on specific numbers vs. large groups.
• Called/announced bets — wheel-section bets like Voisins du zéro.

If you're playing online, the casino you choose matters as much as the wheel. Use these criteria rather than any single "best" claim:

• Licensing. Play only at casinos licensed by a recognized regulator for your jurisdiction, and confirm roulette is legal and available in your location.
• Fairness certification. RNG roulette should be independently tested (look for certification of the random number generator); live-dealer roulette should stream from a licensed studio with visible, real equipment.
• Variant availability. A quality casino offers single-zero European and, ideally, French roulette with La Partage — the lowest-edge options.
• Clear rules and limits. Table minimums, maximums and payout rules should be stated up front.
• Live-dealer quality (if that's your preference) — multiple camera angles, professional dealers and stable streaming.
• Responsible-gambling tools. Deposit limits, loss limits, session reminders and self-exclusion should be easy to find and use.

Always read the terms — 18+ only, T&Cs apply, and geo-eligibility varies. We describe selection criteria, not specific offers, because promotions and availability change constantly.

Roulette should be treated as paid entertainment, never as a way to make money. Protect yourself with a few firm habits:

• Set a budget you can afford to lose before you play, and stop when it's gone.
• Set a time limit as well as a money limit.
• Never chase losses — increasing bets to "win it back" is how small losses become big ones.
• Take the winnings mindset off the table — the house edge means the expected long-run result is a loss.
• Use the tools: deposit limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion exist to help you stay in control.

If gambling stops being fun or feels hard to control, support is available. In the US you can call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 (available 24/7). Elsewhere, contact your local responsible-gambling service. 18+ only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.