Roulette Rules – Learn How to Play Roulette Online
Want to learn how to play roulette but don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place! In this guide on casino roulette betting rules, we’ll cover everything you should know about this game. From simple roulette odds and payouts to different variations and much more. Let’s get into it!
Beginner’s Guide to Roulette Rules
For a beginner gambler, learning the roulette wheel and accompanying betting table can seem like an insurmountable obstacle. The truth is, the game is very straightforward. However, even though roulette is simple, there are many little things you should know before playing.
Firstly, keep in mind that there isn’t one universal version with the same rules. Although the fundamentals of the game might be the same, there are many different game versions. Each variation puts its twist on the rules. Knowing these slight differences between the versions can directly impact your success.
For example, some roulette versions include 37 numbers, while others might include 38 or even 39 numbers. Some variations include specific bets that can’t be found in other roulette games. All of this might sound like too much to pay attention to. To make it easier to understand, we’ll divide it into easily digestible topics, starting with the main one—how to play roulette to win.
How to Win at Roulette
Whether you’re playing at a roulette online casino or in a land-based casino, placing bets in roulette is very simple. Roulette mainly involves luck, so the gameplay is easy to follow. The main goal is to guess in which numbered pocket the roulette ball will fall.
You can bet on the number outright or bet on several numbers. The more numbers you bet on, the safer your bet is. However, it also lowers your potential payout. Every roulette game plays out the same way.
The round begins with players placing their bets. This is the only input you have in the game. In land-based and live casinos, you have a certain amount of time you need to bet within. After the betting round is finished, the croupier will spin the wheel. If you’re playing online RNG roulette, you’re controlling the spins.
After the ball slows down and falls into one of the roulette pockets, the croupier will pay out all the winning players. After this, the betting process begins again. Knowing this, you can already start playing roulette.
That said, to play it optimally, there are many other things to be mindful of. Arguably the most important one is the difference between the major roulette versions. This brings us to the next key point.
The Difference Between American and European Roulette Wheels
American roulette and European roulette are the two most popular versions in both land-based and online casinos. They are very similar in many key features. However, there are some essential differences that directly impact the game.
The biggest difference between European and American roulette is that the latter version also includes a double zero pocket. In European roulette, the numbers go from 0 to 36, making 37 numbers in total. With the added double zero pocket, American roulette has 38 pockets.
Both games offer the same payouts. But, because European roulette lacks the double zero pocket, it offers a lower house edge. This makes it a better choice than American roulette.
The difference in the overall number of pockets isn’t the only dissimilarity. If you look at the two wheels more closely, you can also notice that the numbers aren’t in the same order. Moreover, the numbers on the European roulette wheel face inwards. Oppositely, in American roulette, the numbers face outwards.
Basic Roulette Rules
Understanding the fundamentals we’ve discussed above, the next step is learning how to play a standard roulette game. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to bet in roulette:
- Find a roulette table you want to play at.
- Wait for the betting round to begin.
- Choose your numbers and place your bets.
- The croupier throws the ball into the spinning roulette wheel (you can still place bets at this point).
- The croupier will announce “no more bets”, after which you should stop betting.
- Wait for the ball to land in one of the pockets to find out the result of your bet.
⭐ Roulette Rules at Land-Based Casinos
At land-based casinos, there are only so many players that the table can simultaneously accommodate. In most casinos, the roulette table will only allow a maximum of seven players. That said, it also depends on the croupier and their ability to handle a certain number of players.
The minimum table limit depends on the casino and the roulette game. In most cases, it will be around $5 to $10 per spin. When it comes to high roller tables, the minimum bet limits can go up into hundreds or even a thousand dollars per spin.
Additionally, when playing roulette in a land-based casino, it’s important to adhere to proper roulette etiquette. Players should communicate their bets clearly, make timely bets, and be thoughtful of others around them.
Lastly, it’s useful to learn all of the hand gestures. Mainly, know how to place the chips and how to ask for more chips. It’s important to know how to recognize when the dealer calls “no more bets”. From that moment and until the dealer removes all bets, players are not allowed to place their hands on the table.
Online Roulette Rules
The great thing about online roulette is the unmatched convenience it offers. You don’t have to be mindful of any etiquette and don’t have to communicate with anyone. What’s more, you’re also directly controlling the game’s tempo. The wheel will only spin when you press the spin button – that is when playing RNG roulette.
This basic gameplay structure and experience are the same no matter which variation you play. Additionally, online roulette will typically offer lower minimum betting limits than roulette in land-based casinos.
Of course, this is different when playing online live roulette. These variations are more similar to what you can experience in land-based casinos. You can communicate with other players and the croupiers, and have to make your bets in a timely fashion.
Roulette Bets
The two basic types of roulette bets are inside bets and outside bets. We’ll go over them in detail in the next two sections. Additionally, some roulette variations might offer more bets. For instance, in European and French roulette you will find called bets. This includes a few unique bets covering groups of specific numbers. Moreover, French roulette also offers an Imprisonment bet.
⭐ Inside Bets
Inside bets cover single numbers or smaller groups of numbers. They offer better payouts but with lower winning odds. Here are all the inside bets you can place in roulette:
- Straight-Up — The simplest bet in all roulette variations. It’s a straightforward wager on a single number.
- Split — This is a bet on any two adjacent numbers on the betting board.
- Street — A roulette bet on any three numbers placed in a row on the betting board.
- Corner (Square) — A bet that covers four numbers that share the same corner on the roulette betting board.
- Six Line — This bet is almost identical to the street bet. It covers six numbers across two adjacent rows.
- Basket — This bet is only available in American roulette. It involves betting on the first five numbers, 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3.
⭐ Outside Bets
Outside bets cover large groups of numbers, dividing the betting options into two or three groups. As such, outside bets provide you with much better winning odds than inside bets. On the other hand, they come with significantly lower payouts. Here’s a rundown of the available outside bets in roulette:
- Red/Black — A simple even-money bet in which numbers are grouped by their colours. Betting on red covers 18 red numbers on the wheel while betting on black covers the same number of black numbers.
- Low/High — The numbers are sorted into groups from 1 to 18 and 19 to 36. With the low/high bet, you can predict which of the two groups the winning number will be a part of.
- Odd/Even — The third of the even-money bets. For this bet, you can place your wager on whether the ball will land on one of 18 odd or 18 even numbers.
- Dozens — The dozens bet divides the betting options into three groups. The first group includes numbers 1 through 12. The second group covers numbers 13 through 24, and the third group includes numbers 25 through 36.
- Columns — Similar to the previous bet, the columns bet offers you three groups of numbers you can bet on. The difference is that this one divides numbers based on their horizontal position on the roulette betting board.
⭐ Racetrack Bets
Racetrack bets are usually available at European and French roulette tables. They are located beside the main roulette betting board. These bets are grouped in an oval shape similar to a racetrack, hence the name.
The racetrack’s purpose is to make placing call bets easier. You don’t have to manually reach to place bets on all numbers or call your bet. Instead, you can place your chips conveniently on a specific group of numbers. Here’s a closer look at all of the roulette racetrack bets:
- Voisins Du Zero — A bet that covers 17 numbers on the roulette wheel. Meaning “neighbours of zero”, this bet covers nine numbers from the left and eight numbers from the right side of the zero pocket.
- Le Tiers du Cylindre — This bet includes 12 numbers located approximately on the opposite side of the Voisins Du Zero numbers. As it covers almost a third of the wheel, Le Tiers du Cylindre means “thirds of the wheel” in French.
- Jeu Zero — Nearly identical to the Voisins Du Zero, this bet also covers the closest neighbours of the zero pocket. The only difference is that Jeu Zero only includes three numbers from each side.
- Orphelins — This roulette bet covers all 8 numbers that aren’t included in the previous bets. These numbers are split apart across the wheel and are therefore called Ophelins, meaning “orphans” in French.
Odds of Winning In Roulette
In order to fully understand the game, you should also know roulette odds for different types of bets. Odds can help you determine whether or not a particular roulette bet is a smart one. Here are the roulette payout rules for all available bets:
- Straight Up — 35:1
- Split — 17:1
- Street — 11:1
- Corner (Square) — 8:1
- Basket — 6:1
- Six Line — 5:1
- Dozens — 2:1
- Columns — 2:1
- Red/Black — 1:1
- Low/High — 1:1
- Odd/Even — 1:1
House Edge in Roulette
The house edge in roulette depends on what variation you play. The most favourable house edge is in French Roulette, with only 1,35%. Then, European Roulette is set at 2.7%. This means that the casino, on average, keeps $2.7 from every $100 you bet. The second most popular roulette version, American Roulette, has a house edge of 5.26%.
The twice as high house edge compared to European roulette is because the American version has a double zero pocket. You can also find roulette wheels with a triple zero pocket. Naturally, these are the most unfavourable ones to play. Triple zero roulette comes with a sizable 7.7% house edge.
With these numbers in mind, roulette offers a fairly low to medium house edge compared to other casino games. This is especially the case with the French and European versions. Of course, the lower-house edge doesn’t mean you will win more. It’s still a luck-based game. But, if you pick a version like European Roulette, you should see better long-term results than with other versions.
Roulette Game Rule Variations
With roulette being so popular, it has inspired many other variations over the years. Some of them can be regularly found in many land-based and online casinos. Here are some of the most popular roulette variations:
⭐ Rules for American Roulette
One of the standard roulette variations, American Roulette includes 38 numbers on the roulette wheel. It has two green pockets, a zero and a double zero. Because of this, American roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. It’s one of the most popular roulette versions, albeit with an unfavourably high house edge compared to common variations.
⭐ Rules for European Roulette
The second of the two standard roulette versions. It offers a 2.7% house edge. In addition to only having one green pocket, European roulette includes several bets unavailable to American Roulette players. These are racetrack bets, commonly known as called bets. These include Voisin du Zero, Tiers du Cylindre, Jeu Zero, and Orphelins.
⭐ Rules for French Roulette
The French Roulette version is almost identical to the European version. It has a lower house edge at 1,35% and offers the same payout odds. It also includes the same numbers and all of the same bets. However, French Roulette also includes the special rules of En Prison and La Partage. These rules mean that you don’t lose when you bet on any of the even-money bets. You’ll either get half your bet back or get another chance on the next spin.
⭐ Rules for Double Ball Roulette
At first glance, the betting layout for Double Ball Roulette looks identical to the one in American roulette. However, the main difference is that this game contains two balls. Due to this feature, there are several unique rules.
Firstly, for an outside bet to win, both balls need to land in the right pockets. For inside bets to win, only one ball is sufficient. However, if both balls land in the right pockets, the player’s win is doubled.
In Double Ball Roulette, croupiers don’t pull the balls onto the wheelhead. Instead, the player is given a remote-controlled button. The player uses this button to activate an air gun that launches the roulette balls.
⭐ Rules for Lightning Roulette
Lightning Roulette is one of the most exciting roulette variations. It combines live casino roulette with RNG gameplay and backs it up with high payouts. In each round, between one and five Lucky Numbers are struck by lightning. They are given payout multipliers that can be anywhere from 50x to 500x.
It’s important to remember that these Lightning Roulette multipliers are only available for straight-up bets. Additionally, in Lightning Roulette, non-multiplied straight-up bets pay 30:1. All other bets pay the same as a standard roulette game.
⭐ Rules of Mini Roulette
As its name gives away, Mini Roulette is a miniature version of standard roulette. More precisely, Mini Roulette includes only 13 numbers, going from 0 to 12. You have most of the same bets available, some with minor tweaks. For instance, instead of a dozen bet, you’ll find the half-dozen bet.
Mini Roulette has a fairly higher house edge than standard roulette, sitting at 3.85%. However, there’s an exception on any bet that involves a zero. The house edge on these bets is a substantial 7.69%. For this reason, it’s best to avoid all Mini Roulette bets that involve a zero.
Mini Roulette also offers a rule similar to the standard La Partage rule. When you make a straight-up bet on Mini Roulette and the ball lands on zero, you automatically get half of your bet back.
Roulette Rules FAQ
Written by Ivan Potocki
Proofread for quality assurance by Eve Luneborg
