How to Play and Win at Roulette
Roulette is a popular and simple casino game that many can play without prior knowledge. However, if you want to know how to play roulette effectively and increase your chances, it's worth learning the basics. Even though the odds are typically against players in the long run, understanding the rules can offer slight advantages. This guide is for those new to the game or anyone looking for tips on how to win at roulette. We'll cover the basic rules, different game variants, bet types, and even touch upon online roulette options. So, without further ado, this is how to play and win at roulette!
The Basics of Roulette
Roulette consists of a wheel, a ball, and a table where you place your bets. The wheel features slots that are numbered and colored, while the table features the same numbers and colors, along with sectors for different types of bets.
A player places their bet on the table based on where they believe the ball will land. This involves placing virtual casino chips on the various betting options on the virtual felt. These include higher odds inside bets or outside bets, including even money bets and bets that pay 2:1. The dealer then spins the wheel and throws the ball into it.
Where the ball lands will determine whether the players win their bets or if they have placed losing bets. You're not limited to just a single bet, as you can cover as many as you like. Bets can be placed until the moment the dealer announces betting is closed, which can take place even once the ball has been thrown into the spinning wheel.
Payouts differ based on the risk. Thus, you will win more if you bet on a single number simply because there is a higher chance you will lose.
How to Play Roulette - A Brief Step-by-Step Guide
Before we dive into the rules of roulette, the different variations available, strategies, and more, let's take a brief look at how a round of roulette plays out.
- You place your roulette bets on the table (or overlay if playing online roulette). This involves placing your casino chips on the betting positions you want to cover. You can place a single bet or place more bets if you choose. You can place as many bets as you like.
- After calling time to signify 'no more bets', the croupier spins the roulette wheel and spins the ball around the edge of the wheel. They do this in the opposite direction of the roulette wheel.
- When the spinning roulette wheel gradually slows, the ball falls into a pocket to reveal the winning number. You have a winning bet if you covered that number as one of your bets, whether that is a straight bet, split bet, odd or even, black or red, or any other type of bet.
- The croupier will payout whatever your bet pays and does the same for the winning bets of everybody else. All other casino chips on the roulette table are scooped up and taken.
- The dealer announces that players can start placing their roulette chips on the table in preparation for the next round.
As you can see, on the face of it, roulette is a simple game anyone can play. You just place your bets and wait for where the ball lands. This is one of the reasons it is one of the most popular casino games, as even newcomers visiting a casino for the first time can pick it up easily.
Types of Roulette, The Roulette Wheel, and House Edge
Now, while all roulette tables will look almost identical when you walk up to them or log in and play online, there are three main variations. The rules are pretty much the same, but there are some telling differences between the three. American Roulette, in particular, has major differences that mean we recommend you avoid it altogether unless you do not have access to French or European tables.
European Roulette
The most popular of all roulette variants, European roulette tables, have a wheel with 37 pockets numbered 0 through 36. As with all other variations, the numbers on the wheel are alternately colored black and red. One number is black, the next is red, and the third is black. This continues around the wheel until the only other color, the single zero green.
As for the roulette board betting layout, this also looks very similar to the other roulette variations. You will see all the inside bets, such as straight bets, split bets, street bets, and corner bets, as well as outside bets, including odd or even, red or black, and dozens.
European Roulette House Edge / RTP: 2.7% / 97.3%
European Roulette Inside Bets Bet Type Description Payout Probability of Winning Straight-Up (Single Number) Bet on a single number. 35:1 1/37 or 2.70% Split Two Numbers Bet on two adjoining numbers, vertically or horizontally. 17:1 2/37 or 5.41% Street (Three Numbers) Bet on three numbers in a horizontal row. 11:1 3/37 or 8.11% Corner (Four Numbers) Bet on four numbers that meet at a corner. 8:1 4/37 or 10.81% Six Line (or Double Street) Bet on two adjoining streets. 5:1 6/37 or 16.22% Trio Bet on the intersection of 0, 1, and 2 or 0, 2, and 3. 11:1 3/37 or 8.11% Basket Bet on 0, 1, 2, and 3 (a combination of a Trio and a Split). 8:1 4/37 or 10.81%
Note: The probabilities don't add up to 100% since there are also outside bets that players can place, and the table has a house edge which skews the odds slightly in favor of the casino.
European Roulette Outside Bets Bet Type Description Payout Probability of Winning Red or Black Bet on either all the 18 red numbers or all the 18 black numbers. 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Even or Odd Bet on either all 18 even numbers or all 18 odd numbers. 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Low (1-18) or High (19-36) Bet on the first half or the second half of numbers. 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Dozens Bet on one of three groupings: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. 2:1 12/37 or 32.43% Columns Bet on one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers on the table. 2:1 12/37 or 32.43%
Note: It's important to note that when the ball lands on 0, all outside bets lose, which is what gives the house its edge.
French Roulette
Very similar to European Roulette, the French Roulette game also has a single zero wheel that has 37 numbers from 0 to 36. It also has similar roulette bets, odds and payouts, and a similar roulette board. However, there are differences which even give this roulette variant a lower house edge. French Roulette has La Partage and en prison rules that lower the casino's advantage to a house edge of approximately 1.35%.
When a player makes even money bets, and the ball lands on the green zero, the player may either receive half of their initial bet back (La Partage rule) or leave the bet for the next spin (En Prison rule).
French Roulette House Edge / RTP: 1.35% (with the La Partage rule in effect) or 2.70% (when not in effect) / 98.65% or 97.3%
French Roulette Inside Bets Bet Type Description (French Term) Payout Probability of Winning Straight Up Bet on a single number (En Plein). 35:1 1/37 or 2.70% Split Bet on two adjoining numbers, vertically or horizontally (Cheval). 17:1 2/37 or 5.41% Street Bet on three numbers in a horizontal row (Transversale Pleine). 11:1 3/37 or 8.11% Corner (or Square) Bet on four numbers that meet at a corner (Carré). 8:1 4/37 or 10.81% Six Line (or Double Street) Bet on two adjoining streets (Sixaine or Transversale Simple). 5:1 6/37 or 16.22% Trio Bet on the intersection of 0, 1, and 2 or 0, 2, and 3. This bet is similar in both versions. 11:1 3/37 or 8.11% Basket Bet on 0, 1, 2, and 3 (a combination of a Trio and a Split). 8:1 4/37 or 10.81%
French Roulette Outside Bets Bet Type Description (French Term) Payout Probability of Winning Red or Black Bet on either all the 18 red numbers or all the 18 black numbers (Rouge or Noir). 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Even or Odd Bet on either all 18 even numbers or all 18 odd numbers (Pair or Impair). 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Low (1-18) or High (19-36) Bet on the first half or the second half of numbers (Manque or Passe). 1:1 18/37 or 48.65% Dozens Bet on one of three groupings: 1-12 (Première douzaine), 13-24 (Moyenne douzaine), or 25-36 (Dernière douzaine). 2:1 12/37 or 32.43% Columns Bet on one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers on the table (Colonne). 2:1 12/37 or 32.43%
American Roulette
As the name suggests, American Roulette is a variant of Roulette usually found at land-based casinos in America. When the roulette game first made it to the country, casinos felt they were not making enough money because of the low house edge. To counter this, they made changes to the game that increased the casino's roulette house advantage.
When you look at American roulette wheels, you will notice one striking difference when compared to French or European Roulette wheels. The American Roulette wheel contains 38 pockets (1 more than other variants), with the additional section containing a double zero green. Like the single zero green on French and European variants of roulette, the double zero is the leveler. The green sections are where the casino gains its house edge. When the ball lands on the 0 or double 0, it means most bets lose. The zero is neither odd nor even, red or black, high or low, and is part of any bets unless the players specifically place bets that include the zero(s).
Because there are two 'levelers' on American roulette tables, it doubles the house edge of 2.7% found on single zero European roulette tables to 5.26%.
American Roulette House Edge / RTP: 5.26% / 94.74%
American Roulette Inside Bets Bet Type Description Payout Probability of Winning Straight Up Bet on a single number. 35:1 1/38 or 2.63% Split Bet on two adjoining numbers, vertically or horizontally. 17:1 2/38 or 5.26% Street Bet on three numbers in a horizontal row. 11:1 3/38 or 7.89% Corner (or Square) Bet on four numbers that meet at a corner. 8:1 4/38 or 10.53% Five Number (Top Line) Bet specifically on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. 6:1 5/38 or 13.16% Six Line (or Double Street) Bet on two adjoining streets. 5:1 6/38 or 15.79%
Note: The additional "Five Number" or "Top Line" bet is exclusive to American Roulette and is generally advised against due to its higher house edge compared to other bets
American Roulette Outside Bets Bet Type Description Payout Probability of Winning Red or Black Bet on either all the 18 red numbers or all the 18 black numbers. 1:1 18/38 or 47.37% Even or Odd Bet on either all 18 even numbers or all 18 odd numbers. 1:1 18/38 or 47.37% Low (1-18) or High (19-36) Bet on the first half or the second half of numbers. 1:1 18/38 or 47.37% Dozens Bet on one of three groupings: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. 2:1 12/38 or 31.58% Columns Bet on one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers on the table. 2:1 12/38 or 31.58%
A Summary of the Roulette Variants
Using the above information, you can see why experienced roulette players avoid American-style roulette. They stick to the European and French roulette variants whenever possible due to the lower house edge of the games. The American double zero wheel doubles the house edge and is, therefore, not the best option. So, as a tip, if you're going to play roulette, stay away from American Roulette unless you're not bothered about your chances of winning in the long term. You should play French roulette because of the 'La Partage' and 'En Prison' rules. If you cannot find that variation, European Roulette is the next best.
How Betting in Roulette Works
There are a variety of bets available on a roulette board. Essentially, they all allow you to place wagers on single numbers or groups of numbers. The higher the risk of loss involved, the higher the payout. So, betting on a single number, for example, will net you higher winnings per single bet than betting on even money bets.
Overall, there are three categories of bets, namely, inside bets, outside bets, and announced bets. Inside and outside bets are the standard. Announced bets are usually connected to European roulette and/or French roulette games and are not available at all casinos.
Below, we dive into the most common betting options you will find on roulette tables:
Inside Bets on a Roulette Table
Inside bets refer to the wagers that you place directly on the numbers on the table. The name comes from the fact that the numbers are on the “inside” of the table layout, surrounded by other sectors.
There are several different types of inside bets:
- The Straight-Up Bet: Also called a number bet, this involves betting on a single number. It has the best payout of the game at 36x your bet.
- The Split bet: Bet on two adjacent numbers on the table by placing your chip on the line between the two. This bet pays 18x.
- The Street Bet: You bet on a row of three numbers by placing your chip on the outer border of the numbers. The payout is 12x.
- The Corner Bet: Bet on four numbers that form a block by placing your chip on the point where all four numbers intersect. This bet pays 9x.
- The Six Line Bet: You bet on six numbers arranged in two adjacent horizontal rows by placing your chip on the intersection of the outside borders of the rows you want to wager on. The payout is 6x.
- The Trio Bet: Bet on 0, 1, and 2 or 0, 2, and 3 by placing your chip at the intersection of the numbers. Only available in European/French roulette with a payout of 12x.
- The Basket Bet: You bet on 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 by placing your chip on the point where 0 intersects with the outside border of the first row of numbers. It only applies in European/French roulette and has a payout of 9x.
- The Top Line Bet: Bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 by placing your chip on the outer border where the two rows intersect. It’s only available in American roulette and offers a payout of 7x.
Outside Bets on a Roulette Table
As the name implies, outside bets are those where you use the sections surrounding the numbers themselves to wager. Essentially, these sectors provide different groupings of numbers you can bet on that you wouldn’t be able to physically place a single wager on by using the numbers themselves.
They have lower payouts than inside bets because you have a higher chance of winning. It should be noted that none of these bets include 0 for European/French roulette, or 0 and 00 for American roulette. If either of these comes up, the house wins.
Thus, the available outside bets are as follows:
- Red or Black Bet: You bet on any black or red number. The payout is 2x.
- Odd or Even Bet: Bet that an even or an odd number will come up. The payout is 2x.
- High or Low Bet: You bet that a number between 1 and 18 will come up or between 19 and 36. The payout is 2x.
- The Dozen Bet: Bet that a number out of three different blocks of a dozen numbers will come up. These blocks are 1 to 12, 13 to 24, and 25 to 36. The payout is 3x.
- Column Bet: You bet on any one of the three columns on the table. The payout is 3x.
Announced Bets
Announced bets cover a portion of the wheel itself. Since you wouldn’t be able to place them on a regular table due to how the numbers are set up on the wheel, you have to “announce” your bet, which means telling the dealer.
Some tables, however, have a special area known as the racetrack with a depiction of the wheel where you can place these bets. These types of bets are usually associated with European/French roulette and are not available in all casinos.
Popular Online Roulette Games
Roulette is a game not only played in land-based casinos but also in online casinos. It is just as popular, too, because of its simplicity and the appealing house edge (not on American Roulette). The great thing about playing roulette online is technology allows for a wider variety of roulette variants. You also have the option of playing RNG-based roulette (results determined by an RNG) or live casino roulette (streamed live).
This is what you can expect to find at online casinos:
- Regular French, American, and European Roulette Games: The most common roulette tables you will find at an online casino are the standard European, French, and American roulette variations. These follow the same rules as you'll find on tables at land-based casinos. Of course, each table will have varying minimum and maximum bets, so just pick one that suits your bankroll.
- Auto Roulette Games: An automated version of roulette found at live casinos. This is a variation that provides more players with the opportunity to place more bets per hour. A machine controls it, so no dealer is slowing down the action.
- Speed Roulette Games: This is a fast-paced version of roulette designed to give players more rounds per hour. They usually have shorter betting times so that players can enjoy more bets more often.
- Unique Roulette Games: You will also come across some unique variations of roulette at some online casinos. One of the most notable is Evolution's Double Ball Roulette. As the name suggests, two balls are spun into the roulette wheel. Multi-Wheel roulette has multiple roulette wheels, Mini Roulette is a scaled-down version of the game, and Pinball Roulette uses a pinball machine to determine the winning number.
- Roulette Tables Streamed from Land-Based Casinos: At some online casinos, you might even find the odd roulette table streamed live from a land-based casino. You play at the same time as other players actually at the table in person. Evolution, Ezugi, and Authentic Gaming are several live casino suppliers that offer this type of roulette table.
As you can see, you have many options to consider when you visit most online casinos. Initially, it is better to stick to the standard variations before experimenting with anything different.
Random Multiplier Roulette Games
Extremely popular at live casinos, this type of roulette table game uses random multipliers to spice up the action. Evolution's award-winning Lightning Roulette was the first roulette game of this type, and it can payout multipliers of between 50x and 500x the bet. The multipliers will apply to random numbers and only pay when players place a number bet (straight-up bet) on that number.
Other titles that use random multipliers include Mega Roulette (Pragmatic Play Live), Quantum Roulette (Playtech Live), and XXXtreme Lightning Roulette (Evolution). The downside to these roulette games is they have a lower RTP (higher house edge) to cover those increased multiplier payouts.
Progressive Jackpot Roulette Games
Some online roulette games give you a chance to win a progressive jackpot. Like video slots with a progressive jackpot, these tables give you the chance to potentially win life-changing sums of money. As you may know, progressive jackpots are seeded with a starting amount (£1 million on the Mega Moolah) and grow as players play the games. A small percentage of each wager is added to the pooled jackpots. This continues until the jackpot randomly pays out to one lucky player.
Ezugi has Jackpot Roulette, Playtech has Age of the Gods Roulette, and there is Mega Moolah Roulette by Microgaming/Games Global. The latter, in particular, gives you the chance of winning a progressive jackpot that pays out £7.5 million on average.
A Brief Look at Popular Roulette Strategies
We already have a guide dedicated to roulette strategies, so we will not go into these in too much detail here. We have given a brief description of the most commonly used roulette strategies by both professional and casual roulette players.
- Martingale Strategy: One of the oldest and simplest roulette betting systems. It is a system based on placing even money bets.
- Labouchere Strategy: Also called the 'Cancellation' strategy or 'Split Martingale' strategy, this is a riskier and more complex strategy.
- Fibonacci Strategy: Players place bets in a sequence and double the bet after a loss and reduce a bet after a win.
- D'Alembert Strategy: Created by Jean le Rond d'Alembert, a French mathematician, this is similar to the Fibonacci in that players double after a loss and return to the original bet after a win.
- Paroli Strategy: Also known as the 'Anti' or 'Reverse' martingale strategy, the Paroli is designed to maximize profits from winning streaks.
- James Bond Strategy: Named after one of the world's most famous fictional spies, this strategy involves placing bets that cover a large portion of the roulette wheel.
It is worth noting you're not guaranteed to win no matter what roulette strategy you use. You're still relying on chance. Still, they can add another element to the game and give you a systematic betting plan to stick to.
Tips When Playing Roulette
Now that you have a good idea of how to play roulette and have a better understanding of the different variations and rules, you're probably eager to try it out for yourself. The best way to do this is to play roulette at an online casino unless you live close to a brick-and-mortar casino. However, before you get started, read through some of our best roulette playing tips.
- Practice on a free-to-play demo version of roulette: If you're new to roulette, we recommend practicing for free before risking real money. Even if you understand the rules, get a feel for how to play the game, place bets, the roulette odds, and all the rest. While you rarely find free-to-play live casino games, you can play demo modes of RNG roulette table games at online casinos.
- Understand the rules of roulette: Unless you want to throw your money away, you should not play roulette until you have a good understanding of the rules. You need to know all the bets, what is required to win them, the odds of winning, and how the game works. Only when you understand the game, you can part ways with your roulette chips.
- Avoid American roulette tables: We have mentioned it a few times in this how-to-play roulette guide, but you really should avoid playing American Roulette. It has double the house edge of single zero European Roulette due to the additional pocket (double green zero '00'). Always play at a French or European-style roulette table.
- Establish the table's minimum and maximum bets: Before you sit at any roulette table, you need to establish the minimum and maximum bets the table accepts. All tables will have their individual betting limits, so make sure you find one that fits your bankroll.
- Start with even money bets: Until you get experience, it is better to stick to bets you have a higher chance of winning. Even money bets such as red/black and odd/even may not pay much, but you will win far more often because of their equal odds. You can mix it up by placing the odd number bet or split bet, but you must understand, these rarely payoff, even if they payout more.
- Consider using a roulette strategy: In this guide, we listed several of the most commonly used roulette strategies. While none will guarantee you always place a winning bet and come away a winner, they give you a structured betting plan to follow. Often, they involve following a betting system aimed to maximize your winning streaks and minimize how much you lose when on a bad run.
- Employ good bankroll management: This is a tip you should apply when playing any online casino game. Always ensure you employ solid bankroll management that allows you to stretch your bankroll over many rounds. There is no point betting all your bankroll in just a few rounds. Instead, aim to roulette bet 5% or less of your bankroll on every round. That way, you have time to recover from losing streaks.
- Understand you're more likely to lose: Never go into a roulette session expecting to win. It is better to write off your bankroll as lost before you even start. The casino's advantage is the house edge, which means the odds are always stacked against you. Sure, you will have winning sessions, but over the long term, you're likely to lose against the house. If you already accept, you'll lose, winning feels even better.
- Avoid playing when intoxicated: There's nothing wrong with having a few drinks while you play, but keep it under control. When intoxicated, there is a higher chance you'll make mistakes, chase losses, and generally play without thinking. Why do you think many land-based casinos regularly hand out free drinks?
If you follow the above tips, you are more likely to enjoy the game and will stand a better chance of finishing your session as a winning roulette player. Just remember, though, just like with any casino game, the odds are stacked against you because of the house edge. Make sure you understand you're likely to lose money in the long term.
Conclusion
Roulette is a simple game to play, and it can be great fun. While it doesn’t offer players the best odds of all the games in a casino, you still have a decent chance of winning. You can choose from many betting options, play at tables offering a wide variety of betting limits, and even play unique variations offering random multipliers. However, like with any casino game, it is wise to learn when to walk away, especially if things are not going in your favor.
