How to Play Roulette

Roulette is a classic game that has evolved from its roots in 18th-century France to become a staple at physical and online casinos around the globe. Known for its iconic spinning wheel, shiny ball, and diverse betting options, roulette combines elements of chance, strategy, and excitement, making it a consistent player favorite.

The game is simple to learn and play but offers enough depth to keep you engaged. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics, explain the different types of bets you can make, and share tips to better your roulette experience. Let us show you how to play roulette and win!

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Basic roulette rules & gameplay
2. Roulette bet types
3. Different types of roulette
4. Tips for playing roulette
5. Is there a winning strategy for roulette?
6. Conclusion
7. FAQ
8. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Basic roulette rules & gameplay
2. Roulette bet types
3. Different types of roulette
Show Full Guide
4. Tips for playing roulette
5. Is there a winning strategy for roulette?
6. Conclusion
7. FAQ
8. References

Basic roulette rules & gameplay

At its core, roulette is a game of chance centered around a spinning wheel, a small ball, and a betting table. The wheel is divided into numbered pockets, alternating between red and black, with green pockets designating zero (one for European and two for American roulette).

You place bets on where you predict the ball will land. The croupier then spins the wheel in one direction and releases the ball in the opposite. Where the ball eventually settles determines the outcome of the round.

If you decide to play roulette online, the experience is very similar but with a few key differences. For one, you use virtual chips instead of physical ones to place your bet, and you enjoy much faster gameplay and automated payouts, with betting rounds typically lasting 20–30 seconds.

Roulette is a fixed-odds game, meaning payouts are predetermined based on the type of bet placed. Winnings are credited instantly to your account when playing online, plus you can explore different variations that might not be available at physical casinos, many offering boosted payouts.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to play roulette, but first, you need to create an account at one of the best roulette online casinos to win real money.

• • Choose your game: There are multiple roulette variants; find the one that suits your style and budget.
• • Place your bets: Alter the chip denomination and place bets on your preferred section(s). You can bet on individual numbers, groups of numbers, and various other outcomes.
• • Wait for the spin: Once the betting time ends, the wheel spins and the ball is released.
• • Watch the outcome and receive payouts: The ball lands in a numbered pocket, determining the winning bets. If your selection matches the winning number or category, your earnings are instantly credited to your account. 

Roulette bet types

When it comes to playing roulette, whether online or physically, you need to understand the different bet types because each one comes with its own risk level, payout, and strategic value. Let’s break them down into three main categories.

Outside bets

Outside bets are placed on broader categories of numbers, which lowers the risk but decreases the potential payout. These are perfect for beginners or those who prefer a simpler game approach.

Common wager types in this category include the Red/Black bet, where you predict whether the ball will land in a red or black pocket. The payout here is 1:1, with a probability of approximately 48.6% for the European variant and 47.4% for the American one. 

You receive the same roulette probability and payouts for Odd/Even and High/Low bets, the latter being split between 19–36 and 1–18. Remember, all outside bets are lost if the ball lands on the green zero. Other bet types in the category include:

Dozens: You wager on one of three groups of 12 consecutive numbers (1–12, 13–24, 25–26). This bet type offers a 2:1 payout with a 32.4% probability (European) and 31.6% (American).

Columns: You wager on one of the three vertical columns of numbers on the betting layout. The payout is also 2:1, with the same probability as the Dozens bet.

Snake bet: This wager type isn’t available at most roulette tables, so it needs to be placed manually. It involves betting on a specific zigzag pattern that resembles a snake shape, covering a series of 12 numbers. Again, the payout is 2:1.

Inside bets

This category of bets is placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers in the center of the roulette table. They are riskier but offer much higher roulette payouts. If you enjoy the thrill of chasing big wins, you’ll definitely love these bet types. 

You have the Straight-Up, where you bet on a single number. The payout for this is 35:1, but you have to be wary of the significantly low odds of winning, which are 2.7% in European roulette and 2.6% in American roulette.

There’s also the Split, which involves betting on two adjacent numbers by placing your chip on the line between them. This wager type comes with a better probability of 5.4% (European)/5.3% (American) and a payout of 17:1. The other most widely-used inside bets include:

Street: You bet on three numbers in a horizontal line (e.g. 1-2-3 or 6-7-8) for an 11:1 payout. The probability of winning is 8.1% (European) and 7.9% (American).

Corner (Square): This wager is placed on four numbers that meet at a corner, such as 1-2-4-5. The payout is 8:1, with a probability of 10.8% (European) and 10.5% (American).

Line (Double street): In this bet, you wager on six numbers that span two adjacent rows, such as 1-2-3-4-5-6, by placing your chip on the line separating inside and outside bets. The chances of winning are 16.2%, which pays out at 5:1.

Section bets

Section bets, sometimes referred to as “call” or “announced” bets, allow you to bet on specific sections of the wheel itself. These bet types originate from French roulette, as evident from their names. They include:

Voisins du zéro: French for “neighbors of zero,” this bet type covers 17 numbers closest to the zero, spanning 22–25 on the wheel. The payout varies depending on the specific numbers hit, with a 45.9% win probability.

Tiers du cylindre: Also known as Thirds of the Wheel, this bet covers 12 numbers opposite the zero, ranging from 27 to 33 on the wheel. The payout also varies, with a probability of winning at 32.4%.

Orphelins (Orphans): This bet covers the remaining eight numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers and features a win probability of 21.6%. Once again, the payout varies depending on the specific numbers hit.

Different types of roulette

Since its invention in the late 1700s, roulette has traveled across the world, evolved, and taken different forms. Beyond the classic version, modern technology has introduced new twists, ranging from virtual titles to live dealer games. However, we’ll start with the classics.

The classics

European roulette is found at most casinos worldwide. The game features numbers 1 to 36, a single zero (0), and a 2.7% house edge, and is the most popular version used in the online sphere.

This variant uses the same wheel layout as French Roulette, although the latter offers additional rules that reduce the house edge to 1.35% and, in turn, make it the best roulette game to play online.

These are ‘La Partage’ and ‘En Prison,’ which both apply when you place even-money bets and the ball lands on zero. The former returns half of your bet, while the latter enables you to leave your chip in the same position for the next spin. If this next bet wins, you reclaim your initial stake but don’t secure any profit.

American roulette is known for its higher house edge. This game type features 38 pockets, numbers 1 to 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00), which essentially doubles the house edge to 5.26%. American roulette is also the only version of the game where you can place the Basket Bet, a unique wager on numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.

Online roulette 

You also have virtual roulette, exclusive to online casinos, where random number generators (RNGs) are used to simulate the outcomes found on a regular table with a human croupier.

Live casino roulette is another version intended for online players, but this time, the game is streamed from a real-life studio or casino where a real croupier is spinning a physical wheel. Live casino roulette is as close as you can get to the physical experience, as it also features a chat where you communicate with the dealer or other players in the lobby.

There’s a hybrid of both online variants of roulette called Auto Roulette. Here, you have a physical wheel and a ball, but the whole game is fully automated with no human involvement. The wheel is spun mechanically, with sensors detecting results that are displayed on-screen. This version is ideal for those who want the authenticity of a physical wheel with the speed of virtual roulette.

Online technology has also led to several fun and rewarding modern twists. You now have roulette games with boosted multipliers, where certain numbers offer increased payouts. 

For example, XXXtreme Lightning Roulette by Evolution adds random multipliers up to 2,000x to lucky single numbers on the wheel. You even have Double Ball Roulette, which uses two balls instead of one and grants boosted returns if the balls land in the same pocket.

Tips for playing roulette

Conclusion

Roulette is more than just a game of chance — it’s a blend of strategy and excitement. While the house edge ensures that the casino always has a long-term upper hand, understanding the gameplay, bet types, and specific strategies can help you make smarter decisions and enhance your experience.

So, place your bets on your preferred number, group, or outcome and watch the wheels spin until the ball lands in a pocket. Remember to set a budget, understand the game you’re playing, and, most importantly, have fun.

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