Roulette Rules: How the Game Works
Roulette rules are simple to learn. Players place chips on a felt layout, the dealer spins a wheel and a ball, and the result of the spin pays out fixed odds on each winning bet. The full ruleset fits in a single page, but the variant you play changes the wheel, the house edge, and a few important exceptions.
What Are the Basic Rules of Roulette?
The basic rules are the same across European, American, and French roulette. Each round follows the same flow:
- The dealer opens betting and players place chips on the table.
- The dealer spins the wheel one direction and the ball the other.
- The dealer announces "no more bets" before the ball decelerates.
- The ball settles in a single pocket.
- Winning bets are paid at fixed odds; losing chips are collected.
- The next round begins.
Players never compete against each other. Every bet is between the player and the casino.
How a Roulette Spin Works
The wheel and ball are launched in opposite directions to ensure randomness. The ball travels around the upper track until it loses speed, drops into the spinning rotor, and bounces between the frets until it settles into a single numbered pocket. The dealer marks the winning number with a transparent dolly and pays out winning bets.
Inside Bets
Inside bets cover specific numbers or small groups on the numbered grid.
| Bet | Numbers | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 1 number | 35:1 |
| Split | 2 adjacent numbers | 17:1 |
| Street | 3 numbers in a row | 11:1 |
| Corner | 4 numbers in a square | 8:1 |
| Six-line | 6 numbers (two rows) | 5:1 |
| Top-line (American only) | 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 | 6:1 |
Outside Bets
Outside bets cover larger groups of numbers at lower payouts.
| Bet | Numbers | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Column | 12 (one of three columns) | 2:1 |
| Dozen | 12 (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) | 2:1 |
| Red / Black | 18 | 1:1 |
| Odd / Even | 18 | 1:1 |
| 1-18 / 19-36 | 18 | 1:1 |
Zero (and double zero on American wheels) does not belong to red, black, odd, even, 1-18, or 19-36. When zero hits, every standard even-money bet loses unless the table uses La Partage or En Prison.
European Roulette Rules
European roulette uses a 37-pocket wheel: one green zero plus 1-36. The house edge is 2.70% on every standard bet. The wheel order is calibrated to spread red/black and high/low evenly around the rotor. European roulette is the standard reference for online play and the recommended choice over American whenever both are available. Full guide: European roulette rules.
American Roulette Rules
American roulette uses a 38-pocket wheel: 0, 00, and 1-36. The double zero raises the house edge to 5.26%. The five-number bet (0-00-1-2-3) is unique to American roulette and carries the worst edge on the table at 7.89%. Full guide: American roulette rules.
French Roulette Rules
French roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European roulette but adds La Partage or En Prison on even-money bets. Both rules cut the house edge on red/black, odd/even, and 1-18 / 19-36 in half to 1.35%. Full guide: French roulette rules.
Roulette Payouts at a Glance
Payouts are identical across all three major variants. The difference is the win chance per spin because the wheels have different numbers of pockets.
| Bet | Payout | European win % | American win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Split | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
| Corner | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| Column / Dozen | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
What Happens When Zero Hits?
On European and American roulette, all standard outside even-money bets lose when zero (or double zero) hits. Inside bets that include zero, splits with zero, and street bets including zero pay normally. On French roulette, La Partage or En Prison softens the impact on outside even-money bets.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Confusing payout with probability. A 35:1 payout does not mean 35:1 odds - the wheel has 37 or 38 pockets.
- Betting after "no more bets". Late chips are removed before the result is announced.
- Playing American when European is available. The extra zero halves your value.
- Believing in due numbers. Each spin is independent. The wheel has no memory.
- Ignoring table limits. Maximums apply per spot, not per spin total.
Where Roulette Systems Fit In
Roulette systems organise stake sizes across spins. They cannot beat the rules or the house edge, but they can help manage risk. Learn the rules first, then explore the roulette systems hub. The free roulette demo is the safest place to apply both.