Roulette is one of the most played games at both land and online casinos. There are two versions of roulette – European and American – and both have almost all of the same game rules. Below we explain the basic game rules of roulette, betting odds, and the differences between the European and American versions of the game.

The Basics Of Roulette

While there are a number of strategies for winning at roulette, it’s a game based on luck with rules that are extremely simple to understand. Players need to predict which pocket the ball will fall into after the roulette wheel is spun and comes to a standstill. Correct predictions are paid out according to preset odds. Below are the key rules you need to know when playing roulette:

• Bets are placed on a specially designed roulette table.

• After the croupier announces that there is no more betting to be had, he or she spins the roulette wheel and drops the ball into the wheel while it is still turning.

• After spinning, the ball will fall into one of the pockets on the roulette wheel, which eventually comes to a standstill.

• All winning numbers are isolated on the roulette table.

• The table is cleared, all winning bets are paid out and wagers can be placed for the next round of roulette.

Roulette is definitely one of the major draw cards to any gambling establishment or online casino. Once you’ve got the basics nailed, you can have a lot of fun spinning the roulette wheel.

The Equipment Used In Roulette

There are two main pieces of equipment that you’ll see when playing roulette in a land or online casino:

• The roulette wheel

• The roulette table

Below, we’ve explained what the key features are of the two most important bits of equipment in roulette:

Roulette Wheel

The American roulette wheel has 38 ball pockets (numbers 1-36 and two zeroes), while the European roulette wheel has 37 ball pockets (and just one zero). The zero pockets are green, while all other numbers are either red or black in colour.

The wheel has pockets placed in alternate patterns of odd numbers and even numbers, as well as alternative colours. When the ball falls into one of these pockets on the roulette wheel, this is what determines the payout.

Roulette Table

There are thirty-six numbers (without the zeroes) on the roulette wheel. These numbers are arranged in three columns of 12 on the table. In addition to these numbered bets, there are also other types of bets that players can wager, such as odds and evens – as you can see from the image underneath:

How To Join A Roulette Table

Roulette is a game based on luck. This means that you won’t be able to find a so-called ‘good table’ that increases your chances of winning because all tables will be the same wherever you sit. Instead, to increase your chances of winning at roulette and having fun, you should:

• Select a table that’s friendly – One without rowdy or aggressive players

• Opt for a table that’s legit – Focus on the action to make sure the croupier is fair

Once you’ve found the right table, all you need to do to join it is sit down. The croupier will then ask you to place your bet and you can begin gambling!

Types Of Bets In Roulette

A roulette table is split into betting sections that allow gamblers to make a range of different wagers. While there are many different types of bets that you can place when gambling at a roulette table, they fall into two distinct categories:

• Inside bets

• Outside bets

Both inside and outside bets come with their own subcategory of bets. Underneath, we explain the important ones for each category.

Inside Bets

The main area of the roulette table is made up of numbers from 0-36, which gamblers can bet on the roulette ball landing on. Any bets placed on the numbers in this section are known as inside bets (because they are placed on the inner part of the table).

There are seven inside bets that gamblers can place:

Straight

This is a bet placed on one number. You make your bet by putting your chips inside the square in which the number is located.

Split

Gamblers place a bet on two adjacent numbers. Bets are placed by placing chips on the line shared by the two numbers.  

Street

Players wager on three consecutive numbers within the same line. Street bets are made by leaving your chips on the outer corner of the line of numbers.

Six Line

You bet on two adjacent lines on the roulette table, putting your chips on the corner shared by the two.

Corner/Square Bet

This is a bet on four numbers in a square. You make your wager by placing your chips on the shared corner for the four numbers.  

Trio

Gamblers playing American roulette can bet on three numbers, of which at least two are 0. Your chips are laid on the line that the 0 and other two numbers share.

Basket

Players wager on 0, 1, 2 and 3 by putting their chips on the corner that the 0 and first line of numbers share – American roulette alose allows the players to bet on 00.

Outside Bets

The outer part of the roulette table contains nine sections for gamblers to wager their money on. Any bet placed on one of these areas is known as an outside bet (because it is made on an area located outside the main part of the roulette table).

There are five main outside bets that players can make – all chips are placed on the relevant sections of the table (as seen in the image in the Roulette table section of this article):

Red or Black

Gamblers bet on either one of the two colours.

Odd or Even

Players wager on the ball landing on an odd or even number.

High or Low

Bets are made on the outcome being either a low number (from 1-18) or a high number (from 19-36).

Dozens

Gamblers wager that the ball will land on one of the three sections of numbers grouped in dozens – i.e. 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36.

Columns

Gamblers bet that the ball will land on one of the three columns of numbers grouped by the dozen – See roulette table diagram above.

How To Bet In Roulette

After learning the different types of inside and outside bets, you should prepare for your first wager by learning about the different betting systems in roulette. The five best strategies to win at roulette are the:

• Martingale System

• Fibonacci Sequence

• D’Alembert Approach

• Reverse Martingale System

• James Bond Strategy  

The strategy you select should be based on how you want to bet – if you wish to adopt a progressive approach then the Martingale System, Fibonacci Sequence, D’Alembert Approach, Reverse Martingale System all allow you to bet in this way. However, if you want to take a riskier attitude, the unit-driven James Bond Strategy may be the best way for you to bet.    

Roulette Betting Rules

Whether you gamble at an online casino or in a land casino, each casino has its own maximum and minimum stake for betting at its roulette table(s). These stakes depend not only on the casino but also on the type of bet wagered – casinos will usually have the same minimum bet for inside and outside bets, but will often have a different maximum bet for the two types of bet.

The maximum stake shown by casinos is often for a single number. For other types of bet, you will find that the maximum bet increases proportionally – for example, the maximum wager allowed for betting on two numbers is generally twice that of a single bet.

European Roulette Rules

European roulette tables only have one zero, giving the house an advantage of 2.7%. While many of the rules in European and American roulette are identical, there are two which are unique only to European roulette.

En Prison Rule

The en prison rule can only be used on even-money bets. If the ball falls on the zero on the wheel, the player can take back half their bet or they can leave the money ‘in prison’ for another spin. If the next spin produces another zero, the player loses the whole bet.

La Partage Rule

Like the En Prison rule, the la partage rule is for even-bets only. The la partage rule allows the player to reclaim half of their bet if the ball lands on zero, but doesn’t allow the gambler to take another spin if the ball falls on zero.

American Roulette Rules

American roulette has the same rules as European roulette with one exception, that American roulette tables have a ball pocket labelled 00 and another ball pocket labelled 00

This means that any bet (other than those placed on the 0 the ball lands on) loses if the outcome is either 0 or 00.

Overview Of Payouts In Roulette

There are many different types of bet that can be placed in roulette, offering a range of payout returns. Below we have listed the different payouts available for the bets you can place in roulette.

The Return Of Winning Payouts In Roulette

FAQ

What Is The Best Bet You Can Place In Roulette?

Roulette offers gamblers many different types of bet to place, with a wide range between the wager that is most likely to pay out and the one which is least likely to.

Statistically, the best bet you can place in roulette is Red or Black, Odd or Even, or High or Low as these all have a payout of 1-1. The worst best you can place in roulette by odds of winning is a straight, with this having odds of 35-1.

How Do You Bet In Roulette?

To place a bet in roulette you sit at a table and place your chips in the correct section of the table. You wager on either an outside bet or an inside bet.

How Much Do You Win If You Bet On 0 In Roulette?

In European roulette, there is one 0 on the table, while in American roulette there is a 0 and a 00. Betting on either 0 or 00 has payout odds of 35-1.