How to play Roulette

Roulette basics

A simple explanation of the game is that it involves a wheel (hence the name - 'roulette' means 'little wheel' in French) and a ball. The wheel is divided into small, separately numbered segments or 'pockets', each of which is just large enough to fit the ball. The two main forms of Roulette - European and American - have a different total number of pockets, and the pockets are numbered in a different sequence (see below)

On each round of the game, the wheel is spun in one direction and the ball rolled around the edge of the wheel in the opposite direction. The ball circles around the perimeter of the wheel before it eventually falls into one of the segments - the number of the pocket it falls into is the winning number for that spin.

Players bet on the outcome of each spin by placing bets on the board. These bets can range from simple one number bets to more complex combinations. All the betting options open to you are explained in detail below.

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Roulette bets

The board layout

On each spin of the wheel, players have the opportunity to place as many bets on single numbers and number combinations as they can before the dealer calls 'no more bets'.

The Roulette board is laid out as a matrix, allowing complex bets to be placed as quickly and easily as possible.

The following bets are the ones most commonly used.

In each case, we explain the odds against winning (for both European and American Roulette) and the payout if you do win. The discrepancy between the odds and the payout is what gives the casino its advantage - the so-called 'House Edge'.

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Inside and Outside bets

NB You may sometimes hear the terms 'Inside' and 'Outside' used when describing Roulette bets.

'Inside' refers to bets placed on the numbers themselves and includes the Straight, Split, Street, Corner and Line bets

'Outside' refers to bets placed on the perimeter of the board and includes 1-18, 19-36, Odd/Even, Red/Black, Dozen and Column bets

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Straight bet

Also known as a Single, this is a bet on any single number.

To place a Straight, simply put a chip in the centre of the relevant numbered square.

The payout on a Straight is 35 to 1 in both European and American Roulette i.e. you win 35 units for every 1 you stake.

The odds against winning are 36 to 1 in European and 37 to 1 in American (because of the 00)

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Split bet

A Split is a bet on any two adjoining numbers (either vertically or horizontally) e.g. 7-8 or 24-27.

To place a Split, put a chip on the line between the two numbers.

The payout on a Split is 17 to 1 in both European and American i.e. you win 17 units for every 1 you stake.

The odds against winning are 17.5 to 1 in European and 18 to 1 in American.

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Street bet

A Street is a bet on a horizontal row of three numbers e.g. 13-15 or 22-24.

To place a Street, put a chip on the edge of the line of one of the two outside numbers.

The payout on a Street is 11 to 1 in both European and American.

The odds against winning are 11.333 to 1 in European and 11.667 to 1 in American.

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Corner bet

A Corner is a bet on a block of four adjoining numbers e.g. 31, 32, 34, 35.

To place a Corner, put a chip at the intersection of the lines between the four numbers.

The payout on a Corner bet is 8 to 1.

The odds against a Corner winning are 8.25 to 1 in European and 8.5 to 1 in American.

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Line bet

Also known as a Double Street, a Line is a bet on a block of six numbers that make up two adjacent rows e.g. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

To place a Line, put a chip on the edge of the board, at the intersection of the lines between the two rows of numbers.

The payout on a Line bet is 5 to 1.

The odds against a Line winning are 5.16 to 1 in European and 5.33 to 1 in American.

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Dozen bet

A Dozen is a bet on a block of twelve consecutive numbers 25 - 36.

To place a Dozen, put a chip in the centre of the required dozen i.e. 1st 12, 2nd 12 or 3rd 12.

The payout on a Dozen bet is 2 to 1 i.e. your return will be three times your stake.

The odds against a Dozen winning are 2.08 to 1 in European and 2.17 to 1 in American.

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Column bet

A Column is a bet on all twelve numbers that make up a vertical column.

To place a Column bet, put a chip below the final number in the column i.e. below 34, 35 or 36.

The payout on a Column bet is 2 to 1.

The odds against a Column winning are 2.08 to 1 in European and 2.17 to 1 in American.

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Even Money bets

Red/Black, Odd/Even and 1-18/19-36 are Even Money bets i.e. you've a 50% chance of winning, the same as a coin toss. Except for the zero, which just tips the balance back towards the casino! NB 1-18 is sometimes known as 'Low' or 'Manque', 19-36 as 'High' or 'Passe'.

To place one of these Even Money bets, simply put a chip on your selected square around the outside of the board.

The payout on all Even Money bets is - unsurprisingly! - 1 to 1 i.e. your return is double your stake.

The odds against any of the Even Money bets winning are 1.056 to 1 in European and 1.111 to 1 in American.

The Even Money bets are the ones that most Roulette players favour when they're looking for a Roulette system.

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French bets

On some European Roulette games (eg Roulette Pro), you'll be given some extra betting opportunities. These are known as the 'French bets' (sometimes 'Called' or 'Call' or 'Announced' bets).

To understand the French bets, imagine the wheel being divided into four segments, each of which is named to describe that segment's relationship to the zero i.e. is it near to the zero, opposite from the zero, or neither.

These segments are known as Voisins du Zero meaning 'neighbours of zero', Tiers du Cylindre (or just Tiers) meaning 'Third of the Wheel' i.e. the third of the wheel opposite the zero, and Orphelins meaning orphans i.e. no relation to Zero.

If these bets are allowed, there will be a separate betting area above the main board, where these bets can be made.

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Voisins du Zero

This bet covers the 17 numbers that lie on the wheel either side of the zero, from 22 to 25, including 22 and 25 themselves. The series is 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25.

This bet requires nine betting units, which are placed as follows: two on the 0, 2, 3 trio; one on the 4/7 Split; one on 12/15; one on 18/21; one on 19/22; two on the 25-26-28-29 Corner; and one on 32/35.

Any winning bet will see a return of at least twice the original stake.

Tiers du Cylindre

Sometimes just referred to as 'Tier', this bet covers the third of the wheel roughly opposite the zero, from 27 to 33, including 27 and 33 themselves. The series is 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33.

This bet covers 12 numbers with just six units staked - one chip is placed on each of the Splits 5/8, 10/11, 13/16, 23/24, 27/30 and 33/36.

Any winning bet will pay the player three times their initial stake.

Orphelins

The 'Orphans' bet covers the two sections of the wheel not included in either the 'Voisins du Zero' or 'Tier' bets, and consists of eight numbers played with just five units staked.

This bet covers the numbers 17, 34, 6 and 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 with the chips placed as follows - one chip as a Straight on 1, and one chip on each of the Splits 6/9, 14/17, 17/20 and 31/34.

Any win on 'Orphelins' is guaranteed to pay out at least double the original wager.