Roulette

Online Roulette: The Complete Guide to Rules, Bets and Odds

Roulette is one of the oldest and most recognisable casino games in the world. The spinning wheel, the bouncing ball and the moment of suspense before it settles have made it a favourite in land-based casinos for centuries, and it's just as popular online. The rules are simple enough to learn in minutes, yet the wide range of bets and game variants keeps it interesting for experienced players too.

In this guide you'll learn how roulette works, which bets you can place, what they pay, how the odds differ between game variants and which betting systems players use. For more casino game guides and the latest industry news, visit the Casino Daily News homepage.

How Roulette Works

A roulette game consists of two parts: the wheel and the betting table. The wheel contains numbered pockets coloured red and black, plus one or two green zero pockets. The table layout shows all numbers in a grid, along with areas for outside bets such as red/black, odd/even and dozens.

A round of roulette follows the same steps every time:

Place your bets. You put chips on one or more numbers or betting areas.
The wheel spins. The dealer (or software) spins the wheel and launches the ball in the opposite direction.
No more bets. Betting closes just before the ball slows down.
The ball lands. The pocket where the ball stops is the winning number.
Payouts. Winning bets are paid according to fixed odds, and losing bets are cleared.

In online RNG roulette, a Random Number Generator determines the winning number. In live dealer roulette, a real dealer spins a physical wheel streamed in real time from a studio.

European, French and American Roulette

The game variant you choose has a major impact on your odds. The difference comes down to the number of zero pockets and a few special rules.

European Roulette

European roulette has 37 pockets: the numbers 1 to 36 and a single zero. This gives the game a house edge of 2.70% on all bets. It's the most widely available version online and the best standard choice for most players.

French Roulette

French roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European roulette but adds special rules for even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low):

La Partage: if the ball lands on zero, you get half of your even-money bet back.
En Prison: if the ball lands on zero, your even-money bet is "imprisoned" for the next spin. If it wins then, you get your original stake back.

These rules lower the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%, making French roulette the most player-friendly version available. The table layout often uses French terms such as Rouge, Noir, Pair and Impair.

American Roulette

American roulette has 38 pockets: 1 to 36, a single zero and a double zero (00). That extra pocket raises the house edge to 5.26%, almost double that of European roulette. It also includes a unique five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) with an even higher house edge of 7.89%. If you have the choice, European or French roulette is always the better option.

Roulette Bets and Payouts

Roulette bets are divided into inside bets (on specific numbers) and outside bets (on larger groups of numbers). Inside bets pay more but win less often; outside bets win more often but pay less.

Inside Bets

Straight Up: one single number, pays 35:1
Split: two adjacent numbers, pays 17:1
Street: three numbers in a row, pays 11:1
Corner: four numbers in a square, pays 8:1
Six Line: six numbers across two rows, pays 5:1

Outside Bets

Red / Black: all red or all black numbers, pays 1:1
Odd / Even: all odd or all even numbers, pays 1:1
Low / High: 1–18 or 19–36, pays 1:1
Dozens: 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36, pays 2:1
Columns: one of the three vertical columns, pays 2:1

Note that the zero is not part of any outside bet. When the ball lands on zero, all outside bets lose, except in French roulette where La Partage or En Prison applies to even-money bets.

Call Bets (Announced Bets)

Many European and French roulette tables offer call bets, also known as announced or racetrack bets. These cover sections of the wheel rather than sections of the table:

Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero): 17 numbers around the zero, covered with 9 chips.
Tiers du Cylindre (Thirds of the Wheel): 12 numbers opposite the zero, covered with 6 chips.
Orphelins (Orphans): the 8 numbers not covered by the two bets above, covered with 5 chips.
Jeu Zéro (Zero Game): 7 numbers closest to the zero, covered with 4 chips.
Neighbours bet: a chosen number plus the two numbers on either side of it on the wheel.

Online, these bets are usually placed through a racetrack-shaped layout next to the regular table.

Roulette Odds and House Edge

Every roulette bet pays slightly less than its true odds. That small gap is the house edge. In European roulette, a straight-up bet has a 1 in 37 chance of winning, but it pays 35:1 instead of 36:1. This applies to every bet on the table, which is why the house edge is the same 2.70% whether you bet on a single number or on red.

That's an important insight: no bet in roulette is better than another in terms of expected return (with the exception of the American five-number bet, which is worse). What differs is the risk profile. Outside bets give you close to a 50% chance of winning each spin with small payouts, while inside bets give you rare but much larger wins.

The chance of winning per spin in European roulette:

Straight Up: 2.7%
Split: 5.4%
Street: 8.1%
Corner: 10.8%
Six Line: 16.2%
Dozen / Column: 32.4%
Red / Black, Odd / Even, Low / High: 48.6%

Compared to other casino games, European roulette's house edge is moderate. Blackjack played with basic strategy and the banker bet in baccarat both offer a lower house edge, while most online slots sit in a similar or slightly higher range.

Popular Roulette Betting Systems

Many players use betting systems to structure their play. It's essential to know that no system can overcome the house edge. Every spin is independent, and the odds stay the same regardless of previous results. Systems only change how you manage your stakes, not your long-term expected return.

Martingale

You double your bet after every loss on an even-money bet, so that one win recovers all previous losses plus a profit equal to your original stake. It works in the short term but carries a big risk: a losing streak quickly leads to very large bets and can hit the table limit or your budget.

Reverse Martingale (Paroli)

The opposite approach: you double your bet after a win and return to your base stake after a loss. This limits losses and lets you ride winning streaks, but a single loss wipes out the accumulated winnings of that streak.

D'Alembert

You increase your bet by one unit after a loss and decrease it by one unit after a win. The progression is much milder than Martingale, which makes it popular with cautious players.

Fibonacci

Your bets follow the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13...). After a loss you move one step forward, after a win two steps back. It grows more slowly than Martingale but can still escalate during long losing streaks.

Labouchère

You write down a sequence of numbers, and each bet is the sum of the first and last number. A win removes those numbers; a loss adds the bet amount to the end of the sequence. It's flexible but complex and can still lead to large bets.

Roulette Tips for Smarter Play

Always choose European or French roulette over American roulette when you have the option.
Play French roulette for even-money bets to benefit from La Partage or En Prison.
Set a budget and a loss limit before you sit down at the table.
Pick a betting approach that matches your budget. Outside bets give you more playing time, inside bets more excitement.
Avoid the American five-number bet, the worst bet on the roulette table.
Ignore "hot" and "cold" numbers. Previous results have no influence on the next spin.
Try the free demo version to learn the layout and betting options without risk.

Prefer a game where your own decisions influence the result? Then poker and blackjack offer more room for skill.

Online Roulette Variants

Besides the three classic versions, online casinos offer a wide range of modern variants:

Live Roulette: played with a real dealer and wheel via a live video stream, often with chat and multiple camera angles.
Lightning or multiplier roulette: random numbers receive multipliers each round, boosting straight-up payouts. In return, the standard straight-up payout is usually lower.
Auto Roulette: a live wheel without a dealer, where the ball is launched automatically for fast rounds.
Multi-Wheel Roulette: one bet is played on several wheels at once.
Mini Roulette: a smaller wheel with only 13 pockets and adjusted payouts.
Double Ball Roulette: two balls are launched on the same spin, with special bets on combined results.

Always check the rules and payout table of each variant, because the house edge can differ from standard European roulette.

Roulette Bonuses and Wagering

Casino bonuses can extend your playing time, but roulette usually contributes only partially to wagering requirements, often 10% to 20% or even 0%. Some bonuses exclude table games entirely. Always read the bonus terms before you play. Slot-focused promotions like free spins generally can't be used on roulette.

Responsible Gambling

Roulette is a game of chance, and the house always has an edge in the long run. Only play at licensed casinos, only gamble with money you can afford to lose and use the responsible gambling tools available, such as deposit limits, session reminders and self-exclusion. If gambling no longer feels like entertainment, reach out to a support organisation in your country. Online gambling is only available to players aged 18 or older (or the legal age in your jurisdiction).

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Roulette

What is the best roulette variant to play?

French roulette offers the best odds thanks to La Partage and En Prison, with a house edge of 1.35% on even-money bets. European roulette, at 2.70%, is a strong second choice.

Is online roulette fair?

At licensed casinos, yes. RNG roulette uses independently tested random number generators, and live roulette uses real wheels that are monitored and regularly inspected.

Which roulette bet has the best odds?

Even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, low/high) have the highest chance of winning per spin. In French roulette they also have the lowest house edge.

Can you win at roulette with a strategy?

No system can beat the house edge over the long term. Betting systems help you manage your stakes, but they don't change the odds of any spin.

What does the zero do in roulette?

The zero is what gives the casino its edge. When the ball lands on zero, all outside bets lose, unless special French rules apply.

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