How to Play Roulette: A Complete Guide to Basic Rules

To win at a casino game, you need to know both the rules and the basic strategies. That's what we're going to do here: we've prepared a guide that both explains the casino roulette rules and answers the roulette how to play question.

  • Pick a type of roulette

    Find a game based on the type and design, and start the game. (You can read more about the types and designs below.)

  • Choose your stake

    Your betting options are indicated on the table. Choose one according to the level of risk you want to take and place your chips on that option. You can place multiple chips at the same time. Decide on the chip size (i.e. bet amount) according to your budget, playing style and risk level. 

  • Place your bet

    You can bet on a single number or a range of numbers (for example, the first dozen). It is also possible to bet that the outcome will be a certain colour (red/black) or an odd/even number. 

  • Hold on for the results

    Spin the wheel and wait for the result (if you are playing live roulette, the croupier will spin the wheel).

  • Play to win or quit

    Repeat these steps until you reach your target win amount or end the game.

Roulette Rules Based on Variants of the Game

European Roulette

European roulette wheel has a single zero and therefore has a house edge of 2.70%. It’s a popular version that offers better odds than American roulette.

European Roulette
American Roulette

American roulette has a house edge of 5.26% because it has two 0 pockets (0+00) on the wheel. This affects your winning chances too – single-zero wheels are always better in terms of odds.

American Roulette
French Roulette

French roulette offers the lowest house edge (1.35%), but this is not due to the number of 0 pockets, but to its special rules: in this variant, half of losing player bets are refunded in certain circumstances.

French Roulette
Type of Roulette Number of Zeros House edge Features
European Roulette 1 2.7% Single zero
American Roulette 2 5.26% Double zero (00)
French Roulette 1 1.35% La Partage and En Prison

Roulette Winning Rules for Bet Types

When answering the question of how to play roulette for beginners step by step above, we briefly mentioned what your betting options are. However, we need to explain them in more detail, as this is the only way we can explain what outcomes each of them covers and what level of risk they carry. In all variants of the game, bets are divided into “inside” and “outside”:

  • Inside bets are straight, split, street, corner and line (in the American variant, a basket bet is also added.) These are bets that cover a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 6 numbers and pay between 35x and 5x. Their risk level is high (but their payout potential is also high). 
  • Outside bets are column, dozen, low, high, red, black, odd and even. These are bets that cover a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 numbers and pay out between 1x - 2x. Their risk level is low (but so is their payout potential). 

Your chances of winning are determined by how many outcomes are covered by the bet you place. The higher this number is, the better your chances will be. In the table below, you can see the positions of roulette bets on the table, their odds in different variants and how much they pay out.

Inside Bets

  • Inside Bets
  • Straight-Up – betting on a single number for the highest payout.
  • Split – wagering on two adjacent numbers by placing the chip on the line between them.
  • Trio – a three-number bet that typically involves 0, 1, 2 or 00, 2, 3.
  • Street – a bet on three numbers in a horizontal row.
  • Corner (Square) – covers four numbers that form a square on the layout.
  • Five Number Bet – exclusive to American roulette; includes 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.
  • Six Line – covers six consecutive numbers across two adjacent rows.

Outside Bets

  • Column Bet – a wager on 12 numbers in one of the vertical columns.
  • Place your chip at the bottom of the chosen column.
  • Dozen Bet – bet on one of the three number ranges: 1–12, 13–24, or 25–36.
  • Red / Black – bet on whether the winning number will be red or black.
  • Even / Odd – a simple bet on whether the number will be even or odd.
  • Low / High – covers either 1–18 (low) or 19–36 (high).
More about bets

Roulette Odds & Payouts for All Variations

Bet Payout Odds (0) Odds (00)
Straight up 35:1 2.70% 2.60%
Split 17:1 5.40% 5.30%
Street 11:1 8.10% 7.90%
Corner 8:1 10.80% 10.50%
Basket 6:1 - 13.20%
Six Line 5:1 16.20% 15.80%
Column 2:1 32.40% 31.60%
Dozen 2:1 32.40% 31.60%
Even/Odd 1:1 48.60% 47.40%
Red/Black 1:1 48.60% 47.40%
High/Low 1:1 48.60% 47.40%
Roulette Odds & Payouts for All Variations

How to Play Casino Roulette with Announced Bets?

In addition to the above options, there are also some exotic betting options that are unique to French roulette and are known as “announced” or “call” bets. (They are also referred to simply as French bets.) These have their own dedicated area on the table that looks like a racetrack. The names of these bets are in French (e.g. Voisins du Zero, Tiers du Cylindre, Orphelins, Jeu Zéro), and each one is a combination of multiple bet types.  For example, for Tiers du Cylindre, you place six split bets for the following numbers: 5/8, 10/11, 13/16, 23/24, 27/30, 33/36. 

Because they cover different outcomes and allow you to place multiple bet types, their chances of winning are slightly better than inside bets and slightly worse than outside bets. In the table below, you can see the names of the announced bets, their odds, how many numbers they cover and how much they pay out.

Bet Odds (0) Numbers Covered Payout
Voisins du Zero 45.95% 17 x16/x10/x1
Orphelins 21.62% 8 x31/x13
Tiers du Cylindre 32.43% 12 x12
Jeu Zero 18.70% 7 x29

How to Avoid Basic Mistakes in Roulette

  • Do not ignore the house edge. Each roulette variant has a different house edge value and it is always better to choose the lowest value: prefer single zero wheels.
  • Learn to manage your bankroll. Always set a win/loss limit before you start trying your luck. Win or lose, do not exceed these limits: know in advance when to stop playing.
  • Do not chase your losses. Do not chase your losses under any circumstances. Don't be one of those bankrupt players who believe that the next spin will cover all losses.
  • Strategies are not “guarantees”. You don't become “invincible” when you use a strategy. Strategies cannot beat the house edge. But they can help you manage your bankroll more efficiently and increase your chances of winning.
  • Keep it simple. Don't complicate things by placing too many different types of bets at once, especially if you are just starting out. Focus on placing few but strategic bets.
  • Understand the bets. Make sure you know all the types of bets, their chances of winning, payouts and risk levels before you start playing. Don't just rely on your luck.
  • Use a strategy. They are not a guarantee, but as mentioned above, they can still be useful, especially for budget management and risk minimization. Find and use a strategy that suits your budget and play style.
  • Use bonuses. Cash balance bonuses offered by online casinos can also be used for roulette, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Take advantage of them to boost your bankroll.
  • There are no “hot” numbers. Just because a number or colour appears multiple times in a row does not make it “hot”. All odds are reset on every spin. There are no hot or cold numbers.
  • Check the variant. Pay attention to which variant you are playing and adapt to the gameplay specific to that variant. For example, placing only even money bets in French roulette allows you to benefit from a low house edge.

How did we pick these strategies?

While selecting these strategies, we considered the following criteria: 

  • Effectiveness simulations:
    We tested all strategies on simulators with different budgets in the range of 500-1,000 spins to see how effective they are.
  • Optimized gameplay:
    We chose strategies that both increase your chances of winning and minimize risk, i.e. they do more than one thing at the same time.
  • Low house edge:
    We prioritised strategies that deliver satisfactory results in roulette variants that have a lower house edge.

Infographic: Strategy Effectiveness by Game Type

We created an infographic to compare how different strategies perform based on factors like roulette type, bet size, and losing streaks. It includes:

  • Winning chances (graph)
  • Loss risk (bar chart)
  • Loss coverage probability (strategy formula)

This helps you quickly identify the strategy that best suits your playstyle.

Roulette Strategies Compared

FAQ About Rules for Roulette

  • How are roulette payouts determined based on the bet type placed?

    Each bet covers a different number of outcomes and offers a different chance of winning. The payouts are determined accordingly. The lower the chance, the higher the payout.

  • What distinguishes the European roulette wheel from the American roulette wheel?

    The European wheel has one 0 pocket and a total of 37 numbers, while the American wheel has two 0 pockets and a total of 38 numbers. 

  • Can you explain the “La Partage” rule and its impact on player returns?

    If the player places an even money bet and loses because the spin result is 0, they get half of his bet back. This allows them to get more returns in the long run.

  • Which types of roulette bets statistically offer the highest probability of winning?

    Even money bets (red/black, odd/even, low/high) that pay 1x have the highest probability of winning (48.60% in single-zero roulette).

  • How does having one or two zero pockets on the roulette wheel influence a player's odds?

    The smaller the total outcome, the higher the chances of winning. For example, in roulette with one zero, the chance for a straight bet is 2.70% (1/37). For a double-zero wheel, it is 2.60% (1/38).

  • What does the term RTP mean in the context of roulette games?

    It shows how much of your stake you can win back in the long run, and the higher it is, the better. 

  • How is the house edge defined in roulette, and what does it signify for players?

    It shows how much profit the casino will make from your investment and the lower it is, the better for the player.

  • What is the meaning of “hot” and “cold” numbers in roulette?

    Hot is a color or number that comes up multiple times in a row. Cold is a color or number that has not come up for a long time.