| Updated: September 26, 2025Roulette has a rich history dating back to the 17th century. The French mathematician Blaise Pascal attempted to create a perpetual motion device, but his effort failed. In the process, he inadvertently invented the roulette wheel. The wheel’s classic red-and-black design has since become an iconic casino symbol.
The game quickly gained widespread popularity across Europe and the United States. Over time, various roulette variants emerged to keep players engaged. The rise of the internet has significantly reshaped the gambling landscape. Nevertheless, roulette remains a top choice for casino fans.
Roulette’s enduring popularity stems from its straightforward rules. Because the outcome of each spin lies in the hands of Lady Luck, players don’t have to master complicated strategies. Adding to its appeal, roulette is inherently social. Moreover, roulette fans pit their wits against the house rather than against one another. As a result, there is no direct competition among players.
Introduction to the Roulette Table
The roulette table is designed to support the weight of the wheel. It is usually made of solid wood. The roulette table’s circumference is about 80 centimeters, providing enough space for all players. Next to the wheel, the table also features a betting layout. All roulette tables are subject to stringent tests that ensure the randomness of each outcome.
Roulette Wheel
The Ball Table LayoutRoulette Wheel
At first glance, the roulette wheel seems uncomplicated. However, many readers might be surprised to learn that it consists of 14 different elements. The bowl and the wheelhead play the most important roles. The bowl represents the outer section of the wheel. Made of solid wood, it includes a ball track, a lower ball track with ball deflectors, and a spindle that supports the rotating wheelhead. The bowl is where the ball spins.
The wheelhead is the inner section of the wheel, seated inside the bowl and able to rotate. The numbers and pockets are positioned on the outer part of the wheelhead. The pockets are identical in size and evenly distributed around the wheel. The cone, located at the center of the wheelhead, directs the ball into the playing section of the wheel.
The Ball
Often referred to as “the pill”, the roulette ball is an integral part of the game. It is usually made of acetal or other phenolic materials. Depending on its material, the ball can bounce more or less erratically, a trait known as the “liveliness of the ball”. Gambling establishments favor livelier balls to maximize randomness.
Over the years, some players have tried to manipulate outcomes with magnets. To prevent this, casinos use balls of varying sizes. Croupiers may also change the roulette ball whenever a specific player begins to win too frequently.
Table Layout
The betting area on a roulette table is known as the layout. A green cloth marked with betting areas covers this section. Players position their chips on the layout to place bets. The layout is divided into two sections – one for inside bets and one for outside bets.
The layout can be single-zero or double-zero, depending on the roulette variation. Generally, American and European Roulette share similar layouts; the only difference is the addition of a double-zero square on the American table.
In European and American Roulette, outside bets are placed on one side of the table. On a French roulette table, they are positioned along both sides of the layout. French and some European roulette tables feature a racetrack, a betting tool that allows roulette fans to place call bets.
- High Stakes Roulette
- Low Limit Roulette
- Fibonacci Roulette System
- Parlay Roulette System
- Martingale Roulette System
- Inside Bets
- Outside Bets
- Roulette Strategies
- American Roulette
- French Roulette
- European Roulette
- American and European Wheel Sequences
- Roulette – From a Perpetual Motion Machine to a Casino Landmark
- Roulette Basics and Rules of Table Conduct
- Roulette's Bet Types
- The French Roulette Layout
- Independent Trials, Odds, and Casino Edge in Roulette
- En Prison and La Partage
- Taking Your Roulette Game to the Next Level with Call Bets
- The Many Faces of Roulette – Interesting Variations to Try
- Progressive Roulette Systems
- Reading Biased Wheels and Other Predictive Methods
- The Master of the Wheel Gonzalo Garcia Pelayo
- Improving Your Roulette Game
- Dispelling Roulette Myths
- How to Protect a Roulette Bankroll
- Software Providers of Online Roulette
- Roulette Games with Progressive Jackpots
- Live Dealer Roulette
- Roulette Goes Mobile
- Roulette in Literature, Film, and Television
Roulette Variations
The online gambling business is highly competitive. As a result, Internet-based casinos offer a wide range of titles to retain existing players and attract newcomers. When it comes to online roulette, you’ll encounter many different variations, yet they are all based on one of three major variants: European, French, or American Roulette.
The primary difference among European, French, and American Roulette lies in the number of green pockets on the wheel. European and French Roulette have only one zero pocket, whereas the American version is played with a wheel that contains two zero pockets (0 and 00). The sequence of numbers on single-zero and double-zero roulette wheels also differs.
American roulette wheel: 0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2
European/French roulette wheel: 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26
House Edge “La Partage” Rule “En Prison” Rule SurrenderHouse Edge
The addition of a double-zero pocket on the American roulette wheel gives the house a significant edge of 5.26%. Consequently, many roulette enthusiasts prefer playing the French or European versions, where the house edge is 2.70%. French Roulette introduces two special rules – “La Partage” and “En Prison” – that can reduce the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%. Some European tables also incorporate these rules.
“La Partage” Rule
The “La Partage” rule applies when you place an even-money bet and the ball lands in the zero pocket. Under this rule, you automatically receive half of your wager back while the house keeps the other half. Even-money roulette bets pay out at odds of 1:1 and include Red/Black, Even/Odd, and High/Low.
“En Prison” Rule
The “En Prison” rule is less common, yet it is just as beneficial to players as “La Partage.” It allows roulette fans to recover their wagers when the ball lands on zero. The rule applies only to even-money bets.
In short, your stake is “imprisoned” on the same position for the next spin. If the bet wins, you get your full stake back; if it loses, the house retains it. Some casinos permit players to leave their wagers in place for one or two additional spins if zero appears again.
Surrender
To make American Roulette more appealing, some casinos offer the so-called surrender rule. It is similar to “La Partage” – players who place even-money bets receive half of their stake back if the ball lands in either zero pocket. The surrender rule reduces the house edge on even-money bets from 5.26% to 2.63%.
Roulette Basics for Beginners
Playing roulette is all about guessing where the ball will come to rest. Casino fans can choose from a variety of betting areas. The game’s outcome is based purely on chance, but you can increase your odds of winning by placing a bet that covers more numbers at once. Keep in mind, though, that the more numbers your bet covers, the lower the payout is.
The first thing you should do when you join a roulette table in a brick-and-mortar casino is exchange your regular casino chips for roulette chips. Each player receives a stack of uniquely colored chips. Note that roulette chips are valid only at that specific table and cannot be used to play other casino games.
Wait for the dealer to clear bets from the previous spin before joining the action. To place a bet, position your chips on the layout before the dealer announces “No more bets.” Remember, you are not allowed to touch the chips on the table unless you are placing a bet. When you decide to leave, ask the croupier to convert your roulette chips back into casino chips.
Playing Roulette at Online Casinos Table LimitsPlaying Roulette at Online Casinos
We recommend that novice casino enthusiasts try online roulette before visiting a land-based casino. First, many gambling sites allow users to play for fun, providing an excellent opportunity to hone your skills. Second, you can control the pace of the game to match your abilities and preferences. Online roulette variations also offer helpful features such as statistics and charts.
Additionally, when playing online roulette, there are few, if any, distractions. The outcome is determined by a computer algorithm also known as a random number generator (RNG). Independent testing agencies audit the RNG to ensure its randomness.
Once you feel confident, you can try your luck on a live-dealer roulette variation for an immersive gambling experience. Because live-dealer games replicate the atmosphere of a real casino, they are the perfect way to prepare for playing roulette in a brick-and-mortar establishment.
Table Limits
Whether you play roulette online or in a physical casino, you must comply with the table limits. These limits vary widely between tables and venues, accommodating players of all bankrolls.
At online casinos, you can find tables with minimum bets starting at just $0.10. High rollers, however, may prefer live-dealer roulette or a brick-and-mortar casino, where the maximum limits are generally higher than those on software-based games.
Types of Bets
As mentioned earlier, roulette offers players the opportunity to place a wide range of bets. Casual players are often familiar with the classic move of betting on red or black, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
To place any of the available bets, you need to know where to position your chips on the layout. Stick with us to learn more about the different types of roulette bets and their payouts.
Inside Bets Outside Bets Announced BetsInside Bets
Inside bets are placed on the inner section of the table layout. They usually offer high payouts but lower odds of winning. The main bet types in this category include:
- Straight-Up Bet – covers a single number, making it the riskiest wager of all. To place it, put your chips directly on the chosen number. The payout is 35:1.
- Split Bet – placed on two adjacent numbers. Position your chips on the line between the selected numbers. Winning bets pay 17:1.
- Street Bet – covers a row of three numbers (for example, 1, 2, and 3). Place your chips on the outer line bordering the first number in the row. The payout is 11:1.
- Corner Bet – covers four neighboring numbers. Chips are placed on the intersection point shared by these numbers. The payout is 8:1.
- Six Line Bet – covers six numbers, essentially a wager on two streets. Place your chips on the point that connects the two rows. The payout is 5:1.
- Basket Bet – available only on the American roulette table. It covers five numbers: 00, 0, 1, 2, and 3. Because of its poor odds, it is often called the suckers bet.If you insist on placing a basket bet, position your chips on the line between the two zero spots that is shared with the other three numbers. A winning basket bet pays 6:5.
Outside Bets
Outside bets cover more numbers and are placed outside the number grid. They are less risky, but the payout is lower. The main types of outside bets include:
- Column Bet – covers 12 numbers in a single column. There are three columns on the layout, and the payout is 2:1.
- Dozen Bet – a wager on one of three dozens of numbers on the layout. It covers 12 numbers and pays 2:1.
- Red/Black – a wager on the color of the winning number. It covers all 18 red or all 18 black numbers and pays even money (1:1).
- Odd/Even – a bet on whether the winning number will be odd or even. It pays 1:1.
- High/Low – numbers 1 to 18 are low, while 19 to 36 are high. This bet covers either all high or all low numbers and pays 1:1.
Announced Bets
- Voisins du Zero – covers 17 numbers located near the zero pocket: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, and 25. Players need at least nine chips: two on 0/2/3, two on the corner 25/26/28/29, and one on each of the splits 4/7, 12/15, 18/21, 19/22, and 32/35. The maximum payout is 17:1.
- Orphelins – a bet on 9, 31, 14, 20, 1, 17, 34, and 6. It comprises one straight-up bet on 1 (one chip) and four split bets: 6/9, 14/17, 17/20, and 31/34 (one chip each). Depending on the winning number, the payout can reach 35:1.
- Le Tiers du Cylindre – covers 12 numbers, or one-third of the wheel: 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 23, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36. It requires six chips, one on each of the splits 5/8, 10/11, 13/16, 23/24, 27/30, and 33/36. Winning bets pay 17:1.
- Jeu Zero – a bet on 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, and 15. It uses one chip on each of the splits 0/3, 32/35, and 12/15, plus one chip on 26. The maximum payout is 35:1.
- Les Finales – covers all numbers ending in the same digit. It is a combination of straight-up bets that requires three or four chips. The payout is 35:1.
- Neighbors – a variable announced bet that allows players to wager on a chosen number and the two numbers adjacent to it on both sides of the wheel, for a total of five numbers. It is a combination of five straight-up bets and requires five chips. The payout is 35:1.