Roulette

Roulette is one of the most recognisable casino games in the world - a spinning wheel, a small ball, and a table covered in betting options. It requires no special skills to play, but understanding the rules, bet types, and house edge gives you a much clearer picture of what you're getting into before you place a chip.

How Roulette Works

The dealer (called the croupier) spins a numbered wheel in one direction and releases a small ball in the opposite direction. The ball eventually settles into one of the numbered pockets, and any bets matching that outcome win.

The wheel in European roulette contains 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36. American roulette adds a second green pocket (00), giving 38 pockets in total. That extra pocket is the key difference between the two variants - and it matters considerably when it comes to odds.

Once bets are placed and the croupier announces "no more bets", no further wagers are accepted. The ball settles, winners are paid, and the next round begins.

Bet Types Explained

Roulette splits bets into two broad categories: inside bets and outside bets.

Inside Bets

Inside bets are placed on specific numbers or small groups within the main number grid. They pay more but win less often.

• Straight Up - a single number. Pays 35:1.
• Split - two adjacent numbers. Pays 17:1.
• Street - a row of three numbers. Pays 11:1.
• Corner - four numbers forming a square. Pays 8:1.
• Six Line - two adjacent rows of three numbers. Pays 5:1.

Outside Bets

Outside bets cover larger groups of numbers. They win more often but pay less per unit staked.

• Red or Black - which colour the ball lands on. Pays 1:1.
• Odd or Even - whether the number is odd or even. Pays 1:1.
• High or Low - numbers 1-18 or 19-36. Pays 1:1.
• Dozens - first (1-12), second (13-24), or third (25-36). Pays 2:1.
• Columns - one of three vertical columns of twelve numbers. Pays 2:1.

Note that zero (and double-zero in American roulette) is not covered by most outside bets. When the ball lands on zero, all outside bets lose in the standard rules.

European vs American vs French Roulette

Choosing which version to play has a direct impact on your expected return.

• European Roulette - one zero, house edge of 2.70% on all bets. The standard choice at most online casinos.
• American Roulette - two zeros (0 and 00), house edge of 5.26%. The double-zero roughly doubles the house advantage compared to European.
• French Roulette - one zero with the La Partage rule. When zero hits, even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low) receive half their stake back. This cuts the house edge on those bets to 1.35%. Some versions offer En Prison instead, which holds the bet for the next spin.

The practical advice is simple: if you have the choice, play European or French over American roulette.

House Edge and What It Means

The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino holds over every bet you make. In European roulette, the edge on every bet - straight up, red/black, column, everything - works out to 2.70%. This comes from the fact that payouts are calculated as if there were 36 numbers, but there are actually 37 (including zero).

A straight up bet on a single number pays 35:1, but the true odds are 36:1 (36 ways to lose, 1 way to win). That gap is where the casino's margin sits. Over a large number of spins, the house edge grinds down your bankroll regardless of which bets you choose.

This is worth understanding clearly: no bet in roulette has a better or worse house edge than another (in European roulette). A straight up bet and a red/black bet carry the same 2.70% disadvantage, just expressed over different payout structures.

Online Roulette Variants to Try

Online casinos offer a wider range of roulette variants than land-based venues, with different rule sets, camera angles, and betting interfaces. A few notable options available on this site:

• Premier Roulette - a polished European single-zero wheel with an enlarged betting grid and customisable chip colours. The 2.70% house edge applies across all bets.
• Premier Roulette Diamond Edition - an enhanced version of the above with additional racetrack betting for neighbours, finals, and complete bets. Better suited to players who prefer the voisins du zero and tiers du cylindre call bets.
• Multi Wheel Roulette Gold - plays up to eight European wheels simultaneously. Each active wheel is treated as a separate bet, so stakes multiply accordingly, but so does the pace of outcomes per spin.
• Roulette Master - a clean, fast-play European variant with a straightforward interface and a 2.70% house edge.
• Roulette Advanced - a feature-rich European game with racetrack betting and statistical panels showing hot and cold numbers. The statistics panels are informational only; each spin is an independent event.

All of the above use the European single-zero format, so the house edge remains 2.70% throughout. Multi Wheel Roulette Gold is the most distinctive mechanically, since it lets you run the same bets across multiple simultaneous wheels.

Strategy and Betting Systems

Several well-known betting systems are commonly used at the roulette table. They can add structure to your session, but none of them change the underlying odds.

Martingale

Double your stake after every loss, return to your base stake after a win. In theory, the first win recovers all previous losses plus a small profit. The problem is that losing streaks can require very large bets very quickly, and table limits will eventually stop you from doubling further.

D'Alembert

A more conservative approach: increase your stake by one unit after a loss, decrease it by one unit after a win. It avoids the dramatic stake escalation of Martingale but does not overcome the house edge.

Fibonacci

Follow the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13...) - move one step forward after a loss, two steps back after a win. Slower progression than Martingale, still subject to the same mathematical limits.

Flat Betting

Stake the same amount every spin and accept the variance. It is straightforward, keeps sessions predictable, and loses money at the same rate as any other approach - but without the risk of runaway losses from progressive systems.

The most useful practical tips for roulette are: stick to European or French variants where available, use outside bets if you want frequent smaller wins, set a session budget before you start, and treat any streak - winning or losing - as temporary. The house edge applies across all spins, not single outcomes. To find casinos where you can play these variants, see our casino reviews.

Where to Play Roulette

We're currently updating our casino list for Roulette. In the meantime, browse our full casino reviews or check out current free spins offers.

Roulette RTP and Variance

Roulette has an RTP of 97.30%, which is well above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games.