How to Play Roulette
I’m here to help you learn how to play roulette. This guide has everything you need to get started, from the rules and types of bets to the table layout and the most popular variants.
You’ll find easy-to-follow tips and strategies to boost your confidence and skills. Let’s dive in and prepare you to play like a pro, whether at an online casino or a physical table.
Table of Contents
Learn Everything About Roulette
Roulette Rules
The goal is simple: predict the exact slot where the ball will land on the spinning roulette wheel. If your guess is correct, you win. If not, you lose. This rule applies to any format of roulette you play.
Here are the three basic things you must know to understand the game.
- How does roulette work? The basic mechanics are straightforward: you place your bets, the wheel spins, and then the outcome is determined. Based on the result, you get paid or you don’t.
- How is roulette designed? The roulette wheel is divided into numbered slots, typically from 0 to 36. In American roulette, there’s an additional 00 slot. The numbers are colored either red or black, except for the 0 and 00 slots, which are green. Here’s an overview of a roulette layout.
- How much will you get paid? In roulette, different bets offer varying levels of risk and reward. You can bet on all the black slots, for example, or a specific number. The amount you’ll get paid depends on the risk level of your bet. Jump to the roulette bets section to learn more.
Here’s a breakdown of how to play.
How to Play in 4 Simple Steps
Roulette is a straightforward game to play, whether you’re at a physical casino or playing online. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to get you started.
Place Your Bet
Select your chip size and place it on the table in the section you wish to bet on.The Dealer Spins the Wheel
The dealer will announce when it’s time to place your final wagers and then spin the wheel. In online games, this is either done automatically after you place a bet or by a live dealer. The wheel will spin until it lands in a slot.The Results Are Available
Once the ball lands in its final slot, the dealer places a marker (also known as a dolly) on the winning number and removes all losing chips from the table.
Online platforms automatically clear losing bets and highlight the winning number.Winning Number
The dealer allocates winnings based on the bets placed. In physical casinos, winners receive their chips directly. Online, winnings are automatically added to your account balance.
You can continue playing by placing new bets or cashing out your winnings.
If some words or phrases are unclear to you, I suggest you check out our Roulette Terms Guide!
Understanding the Roulette Table Layout
The table layout is where you place your bets. It mirrors the numbers and sections on the roulette wheel, allowing you to choose where you think the ball will land.
Let’s break down the elements. In this example, I considered a classic American Roulette game.
- Zero Betting Areas: You’ll find a 0 and a 00 positioned at the top of the table layout and colored green. The color distinguishes these bets from others and signifies the house edge.
- Colored Number Spaces: These are the red and black numbered sections on the table. Each numbered space corresponds to a number on the roulette wheel. You place your chips on these spaces to bet on specific numbers.
- Column Betting Areas: These sections are labeled ‘2 to 1’. You can place bets on entire columns of numbers. If any number in the selected column wins, the payout is 2 to 1.
- Other Betting Options: These are mostly ranges of numbers and are considered outside bets. In each case, you win if the roulette hits any number within the range you chose. You have more chances to win, but the pay is less. I will briefly explain each one below.
- 1st 12, 2nd 12, & 3rd 12: These sections are labeled to cover the first, second, and third sets of twelve numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36).
- 1-18 / 19-36: These sections represent low numbers (1-18) and high numbers (19-36).
- Even / Odd: This one is self-explanatory. You can bet on even or odd numbers.
- Red / Black: You can bet on whether the winning number will be red or black.
The layout is designed to accommodate a variety of betting options, allowing you to choose between low-risk, high-frequency bets and high-risk, high-reward bets.
By familiarizing yourself with these sections and terms, you can make informed betting choices and enjoy the game of roulette.
Play for Free
Practice roulette for free to perfect your gameplay before playing for real money. Do you have what it takes to win?
Roulette Betting Options
In Roulette, there are two major types of wagers: inside bets and outside bets. The roulette table is a large felt area with a box full of numbers. Wagers made inside that box (on the numbers) are inside bets. Wagers made outside the box are outside bets.
The outside ones have better chances of winning but pay out smaller amounts. The inside ones are less likely to win but pay more significant amounts. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Outside Bets
There are many types of outside bets. If you want to wager on big blocks of numbers, you want to place chips outside the number box. You either bet on 12 numbers or 18 numbers at a time. Since these are more likely to hit, the payouts are smaller.
In certain types of online casino roulette, house rules allow better odds on even-money bets like hi-lo, black-red, or even-odd. When those house rules are in effect, it’s best to wager only on the even-money propositions.
Dozen Bet
This is made on 12 numbers at a time. You have three options:
1 through 12, 13 through 24, or 25 through 36.
High/Low Bet
This is considered an even-money wager. You have two options. You can bet on the 1 through 18 or the 19 through 36.
Even/Odd Bet
This is another type of even-money wager. You are wagering on whether the ball lands on an even number or an odd number.
Black/Red Bet
This is another even-money wager. Half of the numbers on the wheel are red, while half are black. You wager on whether the ball lands on red or black. It should be noted that the “0” and “00” are green slots, so the ball landing on zeroes produces a losing bet on either proposition.
Column Bet
This is made on 12 numbers at a time, too. In this case, you’re wagering on one of three sets of columns in the number box. The options here are wagering on the 1-4-7-10-13-16-19-22-25-28-31-34, the 2-5-8-11-14-17-20-23-26-29-32-35, or the 3-6-9-12-15-18-21-24-27-30-33-36.
Serpent Bet
The serpent is a 12-number wager made on a set of numbers that snake through the column of numbers. The bet is placed on the 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34. This bet is used in some casinos to max out the betting potential for high rollers.
Inside Bets
Many people prefer inside bets because they pay out the most.
These wagers are made on three columns of numbers, which contain 1 through 36. At the top of the columns, the “0” is found.
In American roulette, a “00” is also located there.
From the largest payouts to the smallest ones, here are those wagers.
Straight Bet
This is a bet on a single number. It’s the simplest one. To make this wager, place your chip inside the number’s box.
Split Bet
This is a wager on two numbers that are adjacent to the table. To make this bet, place your chip on the line between the numbers.
Street Bet
This is a wager on three numbers. These are on a single horizontal row. Place your chip on the outside line of that row of numbers to make this bet.
Corner Bet
The square bet is placed on four numbers whose boxes are adjoining. Place your chip on the four corners where the numbers’ boxes converge.
Six Line Bet
Two adjoining street bets make this wager. You must place your chip on the outlined line of those two rows of numbers and the dividing line between the two streets.
Trio Bet
This is made on either the 0-1-2 or the 2-3-0 slots. To make this wager, you have to place your chips where these three boxes intersect.
Basket Bet
This is a 3-number wager placed on the 0-1-2, the 0-00-2, or the 2-3-00 numbers in American roulette. To bet, place your chips where these boxes intersect.
Top Line Bet
In American roulette, this is a 5-number wager made on the 0-1-2-3-00. To make this bet, place your chip at 0 and 1 or the juncture of 00 and 3.
Roulette Odds: How Much Will You Get Paid?
Understanding the odds and payouts in roulette is crucial for making informed bets.
Different types of bets come with varying odds and payouts, which are expressed in ratios like ‘1 to 1′ or ’35 to 1’.
These numbers indicate how much you can win relative to your bet amount. For example:
- 1 to 1: A $10 bet will win you an additional $10, making your total return $20.
- 11 to 1: A $10 bet will win you an additional $110, making your total return $120.
The more specific the bet, the higher the payout due to the lower probability of winning. Below, I’ve included the odds for some specific types of bets.
- High/Low Bet: 1 to 1
- Black/Red Bet: 1 to 1
- Even/Odd Bet: 1 to 1
- Dozen Bet: 2 to 1
- Column Bet: 2 to 1
- Serpent Bet: 2 to 1
- Six Line Bet: 5 to 1
- Top Line Bet: 6 to 1
- Corner Bet: 8 to 1
- Street Bet: 11 to 1
- Trio Bet: 11 to 1
- Basket Bet: 11 to 1
- Split Bet: 17 to 1
- Straight Bet: 35 to 1
Roulette Variants Explained: American, European & French
The most popular roulette games are American, European, and French roulette. The types of bets you can make are roughly the same in American and European variants. Let’s look at each roulette variant and how it’s played.
American Roulette
The game is also known as double-zero roulette because it contains two extra pockets: “0” and “00”.
The second 0-pocket is pivotal to gameplay because it doubles the house edge.
- Wheel Layout: Includes 38 slots with numbers 1 to 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00).
- Table Layout: Similar to the European layout, but it includes a section for betting on 00.
- House Edge: Higher due to the additional 00 slot, giving a house edge of 5.26%
Learn more about American Roulette and where to play.
European Roulette
The most popular version. This variant’s total number of pockets is 37 (numbered 1 to 36), with a green pocket marked as “0”.
The main difference from the American version is that this one has a single zero, thus a lower house edge.
- Wheel Layout: Includes 37 slots with numbers 1 to 36 and a single zero (0).
- Table Layout: Similar to the American layout but without the 00. Bets are placed on the same types of sections as American roulette.
- House Edge: Lower than American roulette, with a house edge of 2.60%.
Learn more about European Roulette and where to play.
French Roulette
It is the rarest one of the three variants.
It’s very similar to the European one but with special types of wagers and even a lower house edge.
- Wheel Layout: Identical to European roulette with 37 slots and a single zero (0).
- Table Layout: The betting area includes special sections for “La Partage” and “En Prison” rules.
- House Edge: Even lower than European roulette, effectively reducing the house edge to 1.35% on even-money bets due to the special rules.
Learn more about French Roulette and where to play.
Table Layout Differences
There are minor differences in the layout and sizes of components between different games – though the fundamentals are broadly the same. Below are the most popular roulette variants table layouts.
More Online Roulette Variations You Could Find
Most of the roulette games you can find online are American, European, or French, but a few take the same idea and change it to create a new game, a new way of playing roulette. These are some of those variations.
Double Ball Roulette
In this version, two balls are spun on the same wheel for each spin.
It usually uses the American roulette layout, allowing multiple simultaneous bets.
With perfect play, Double Ball Roulette can improve the house edge, offering an RTP of up to 97.30%.
Zoom Roulette
This version is based on the European single-zero roulette wheel, featuring 36 numbers plus 0.
This game is available on several online platforms and offers a high-quality rendered wheel.
Bets can range from $1 to $50. Players place their bets and watch the ball drop to see if they win.
High-Roller Roulette
High-Roller Roulette is designed for players with a budget for high-limit bets.
Tables usually have minimum bets ranging from $10 to $500 or more, depending on the casino.
High rollers might also be eligible for VIP or personalized support for withdrawals.
Tips to Win Playing Roulette
Follow these roulette tips to start playing like a pro. For more advanced players, you can visit our roulette strategies guide.
Choose the Right Variation
I recommend you choose European Roulette. With a single zero (0), the house edge drops to 2.60%, offering better odds.
If French Roulette is available, choose that one because the “La Partage” rule can reduce the house edge to 1.35%.
Avoid Progressive Bets
I advise against relying on progressive betting systems like the Martingale. While they may lead to small, frequent wins, one losing streak can result in substantial losses.
Focus on managing your bankroll wisely and placing bets you can afford to lose.
Set a Budget
I strongly recommend setting a budget before you start playing. This helps prevent chasing losses and ensures you play within your means. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
Understand the Odds
I encourage familiarizing yourself with the odds of different bets. Outside bets (red/black, odd/even) offer better odds but lower payouts, while inside bets (straight-up numbers) have higher payouts but lower odds.
Knowing this can help you make more informed decisions.
Now You Know How to Play Roulette: Ready to Take a Spin?
Playing roulette is fun and straightforward: you place your bets, spin the wheel, and if luck’s on your side, you can walk away with some exciting winnings.
But mastering roulette takes more than just luck. It involves understanding the rules, getting familiar with the table layout, and honing your betting strategy.
By selecting favorable variations and setting a budget, you enhance your chances of winning while enjoying the game responsibly. Enjoy the thrill, and good luck at the tables!
If you’re feeling confident and ready to play, check out our top roulette online casinos for the best experience. Alternatively, head straight to the best site for real money roulette games listed below.
FAQ
Here are a few common questions that roulette players ask.
What type of roulette game should I play?
If the best odds are what you are looking for, then play French roulette. If this isn’t available, you should play European roulette. If you’re looking for something else in roulette or have certain superstitions, choose a game that suits you.
Just be sure to check the house edge on the particular type you choose to play.
What are the best bets to make in roulette?
Generally speaking, playing outside bets is better as your chances of winning in a short session will be greater. Simply betting on one number, known as a straight-up bet, and hoping it hits is not the best way to play roulette, and you’ll most likely lose a lot of your money before your number finally comes up.
Who invented the roulette wheel?
A physicist initially invented the roulette wheel for an entirely different purpose in the 17th century. You can find the roulette game in almost every casino in the world and every online casino. Roulette is a French game, and the word itself translated to English is “small wheel.”
Is online roulette rigged?
No. Visit casinos we recommend as we make sure that they all have RNG (Random Number Generator) certified games. This will ensure that the results are truly random and the game is not rigged.
