Roulette is a fast-paced table game that offers simple rules, a low house edge, and a wide range of betting options. This guide explains precisely how to play roulette. We’ll break down every bet type and explain how the payouts work. You’ll discover the difference between European, American, and French roulette, and you’ll also learn the key roulette rules.
Roulette Rules: How the Game Works
Roulette is a simple game of chance. A ball is dropped onto a spinning wheel, and it eventually nestles into one of the pockets. You can bet on which pocket it lands in, or you can place outside bets like red/black, high/low, or odd/even.
Here’s how to play roulette online:
- Table layout. You’ll see a table, which features all the betting options. They include individual numbers, columns, dozens, and even-money bets (red, black, even, odd, 1-18, and 19-36).
- Chip placement. There will be chips at the bottom of the screen. Select chips and place them on the table to make your bets. For example, if you want to bet $30 on the number 24, place three $10 chips on that number. You can lay chips down on as many numbers or outside bets as you like.
- Wheel spin. If you’re playing a virtual roulette game, just hit the “Play” button and the wheel will start spinning. If it’s a live dealer game, the host will spin a physical wheel, launch the ball, and call “no more bets” shortly before it drops.
- Excitement mounts. The ball will roll across the wheel, and it will eventually settle in a specific pocket when the wheel stops spinning. This typically takes 2-5 seconds on a virtual roulette game, but it can last up to 30 seconds on a live dealer game, and tension increases as the ball gradually slows down and lands in a pocket.
- Payout resolution. If your bet wins, the funds will be added to your account balance right away. You can keep playing or walk away at any time.
European, American, and French Roulette
There are three main roulette variants:
- European roulette. This is the classic version, which has been played in European casinos since the 19th century. A European roulette wheel has 37 pockets – the numbers 1-36, plus a single zero. That single zero gives the house a 2.7% edge, so European roulette has a 97.3% return to player (RTP) rate.
- American roulette. The American version follows the same format, but the wheel has 38 pockets – the numbers 1-36, a single zero, and a double zero. Adding an extra double zero pocket increases the house edge to 5.26%. That means American roulette has a 94.74% RTP, so it’s best to avoid the American version.
- French roulette. This version also features 37 pockets, with just a single zero. Some French roulette games have a rule called la partage, which gives you a 50% rebate on even-money bets if the ball lands on zero. Others have a rule called en prison, which gives you the chance to win your stake back on the next spin if the ball lands on zero. Both of those rules cut the house edge in half to just 1.35% on even-money bets like red/black or odd/even.
We recommend playing the French version if you plan to bet on red/black, odd/even, or high/low. If you’re sticking to single number bets, the European version is just as good, and we always recommend avoiding American roulette.
The best crypto casinos host a few other roulette variants too. They include double ball roulette and mini roulette, which is played on a smaller wheel. You’ll find roulette games with huge multipliers too, like Lightning Roulette and Mega Fire Blaze Roulette. They all follow the same basic format, but they give you the chance to win huge payouts on single number bets, although the trade-off is a reduced payout on regular straight-up wins.
Roulette Bets Explained
We can divide roulette bets into two categories:
- Inside bets. You place these bets inside the numbered grid on the roulette table.
- Outside bets. Lay your chips outside the numbered grid in designated boxes.
Inside Bets
You can place a straight up bet on the ball landing on a specific number. These bets pay out at 35:1. For example, if you bet $10 on the number 16, and the ball lands in that pocket, you’ll earn a $350 profit.
If you like, you can spread your stake across several numbers. For instance, you could put $5 on six separate numbers for a total stake of $30. Alternatively, you can place these bets, which all cover multiple numbers:
| Inside Bet |
Description |
Payout |
| Split |
Place chips over two numbers located next to one another on the table. You’ll get paid out if the ball lands on either number. |
17:1 |
| Street |
Lay your chips down on the outer line of a row of three numbers. If the ball lands on one of them, you’ll win. |
11:1 |
| Corner |
Put your chips on the corners of four numbers, which must be clustered together in the grid. You’ll be paid out if the ball lands on one of those four numbers. |
8:1 |
| Six Line |
A bet on two adjacent rows of three numbers, so you cover six numbers in total. |
5:1 |
These are high-risk, high-reward bets. If you want to bet on individual numbers, splits, or streets, it’s best to have a large bankroll and only risk a small percentage of it on each bet. That will help you ride out any volatility.
Outside Bets
These bets offer lower payouts, but you also benefit from steadier returns. These are the most popular outside bets:
| Outside Bet |
Description |
Payout |
| Red/black |
A simple bet on whether the ball will land on a red pocket or a black pocket. Half the numbered pockets are red, and the other half are black, but the green zero gives the house its edge. |
1:1 |
| High/low |
A wager on the ball landing on the numbers 1-18 or 19-36. As always, the zero pocket creates the house edge. |
1:1 |
| Odd/even |
A bet on the ball landing on a pocket with an even number or an odd number. |
1:1 |
| Column |
The grid is divided into three columns of 12 numbers, and you can bet on the ball landing on one of the 12 numbers in a column. For instance, you could bet on the column that includes the numbers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31 and 34. |
2:1 |
| Dozen |
Similar to a column bet, you can bet on 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36 instead. |
2:1 |
Do Roulette Strategies Work?
Roulette strategies help you manage your bankroll. They don’t erase the game’s inherent house edge, and they don’t guarantee success, but they can bring greater discipline and structure to your sessions.
You can only apply roulette strategies to even-money bets – red/black, high/low, or odd/even – as they don’t really work on other bets. First, you’ll need to come up with a base unit. This is a percentage of your bankroll. For example, you might have a $500 bankroll and decide to wager 2% on your initial spin, so you’d start by wagering $10.
Roulette strategies fall into two groups. Positive progression strategies are designed to capitalize on winning streaks, so you increase your bet after a win. Negative progression strategies are designed to chase losses, so you increase your bet after a loss.
These are the most popular roulette betting strategies:
- Martingale: This is an extremely aggressive strategy, which requires you to double your bet after each loss. For example, you could bet $10, then $20, then $40, then $80, and so on. When you win, start again by betting 1 unit. The idea is that a single win wipes out all previous losses. However, the Martingale only works if you have infinite time, unlimited funds, and no table limits.
- Reverse Martingale: The opposite approach, which sees you double your stake after each win. You need to quit when you’re ahead if you follow this strategy, as one loss erases all previous gains.
- Paroli: A more disciplined alternative to the Reverse Martingale, in which you increase your double your stake after each win, but only for three consecutive wins. If you win three times in a row, you start again by betting 1 unit.
- D’Alembert: This negative progression system chases losses, but less aggressively than the Martingale. Instead, you increase your bet by 1 unit with each loss and decrease your stake by 1 unit with each win.
- Fibonacci: A negative progression system that follows the famous Fibonacci sequence, where each number is the sum of the previous two: 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21-34-55-89-144 etc. You begin by betting 1 unit, then move a step forward after each loss or two steps back with each win.
Live vs Online RNG Roulette
Virtual roulette games use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to simulate a roulette wheel. The RNGs are independently certified to guarantee fairness and accuracy. These games let you play at your own pace. You can often play in demo mode too while learning the ropes.
The top casinos also host live roulette games from top studios like Evolution and Pragmatic Play. They include classic live roulette, plus fun variants like XXXtreme Lightning Roulette and PowerUp Roulette. These live dealer games replicate the excitement of visiting a physical casino, as you connect with a real dealer via a video link, and you can watch the wheel spin in real time.
Conclusion
You’ll boost your chances of winning if you stick to French or European roulette. Avoid the American version, as the double zero results in a much higher house edge. Choose bets that match your appetite for volatility too, and manage your bankroll accordingly.
FAQs
The best bet in roulette is an outside bet like red/black if you don’t like volatility. Your chances of winning are pretty close to 50/50 on those bets, and they pay out at even money (1:1). If you don’t mind dry spells, and you enjoy chasing large payouts, opt for a single number bet instead.
The single zero is one of the pockets on a roulette wheel. You can place a single number bet on the ball landing on the zero. However, outside bets like red/black, odd/even, and high/low always lose if the ball lands on zero, which is where the house gets its edge.
The European roulette wheel has 37 pockets (0-36), whereas the American roulette wheel has 38 pockets (0-36, plus a double zero). That extra pocket increases the house edge from 2.7% on European roulette to 5.26% on American roulette. Otherwise the format is the same, so it’s best to play European roulette instead of the American version.
The chances of hitting a single number are 1-in-37 on European roulette and 1-in-38 on an American roulette wheel. That’s because the American roulette wheel has an extra pocket (the double zero). A single number bet pays out at 35:1, which illustrates the house edge.
No, online roulette isn’t rigged. Just stick to games from reputable studios like Evolution, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, and OneTouch. Their games have been independently certified for fairness and accuracy by the world’s top testing labs. They still have a house edge, but you can rely on the games to deliver fair results.
Ilija is a CCN writer with 7 years of experience covering all things crypto. Ever since a fateful run-in with Litecoin in 2013, he's been an avid investor and writer in the space. When he's not maniacally hacking away at his keyboard, Ilija spends his time either hiking in nature or holed up in his apartment gaming.
Easy 
