Roulette Rules and Odds: A Complete Guide to Smarter Play

Dealer placing the roulette ball on a spinning wheel

Roulette operates through a basic system. Players place their chips on specific numbers or groups before the spin begins and then receive fixed payments based on their bets. The European single zero version of roulette maintains a 2.70 percent house advantage. The American double zero version operates at a 5.26 percent house advantage. The French rules of la partage and en prison applied to even money bets decrease the house advantage to 1.35 percent.

What you see at the roulette table

The game features two distinct wheel designs. The European wheel contains numbers from 0 to 36. The American version includes an additional 00 section. The felt surface contains two sections: numbers arranged in an inside grid and outside areas for red or black and other groupings. Players maintain their individual chip colors to prevent mix-ups. The table enforces separate betting limits for inside and outside areas.

How a round works

The dealer starts by opening the betting period. You place chips. The ball spins. The dealer declares no more bets before the ball finds its resting position in a pocket. The winning areas receive their corresponding payouts. All losing bets get removed from the table. The French table system applies la partage or en prison rules to even money bets when zero appears which minimizes player losses.

Overhead view of players placing chips on a roulette table layout.

Inside bets and payouts

A single number bet represents a straight-up bet. The payout for this bet reaches 35 to 1.
A bet placed on two numbers that share an edge will pay 17 to 1.
A bet on three numbers that follow each other in sequence will pay 11 to 1.
A bet on four numbers that form a block will pay 8 to 1.
A six-line bet covers two adjacent rows of six numbers. The payout for this bet is 5 to 1.
The American wheel features a top five bet that includes numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. The bet pays 6 to 1 but carries the highest house edge. Players should avoid this bet.

Inside Bets Note

The bets with higher volatility pay out more but players experience fewer winning combinations.

Outside bets and payouts

Red or Black, Even or Odd, Low or High. The payout for this bet is 1 to 1.
The three dozen sections include numbers 1-12, 13-24 and 25-36. The payout for this bet is 2 to 1.
The three vertical groups of twelve numbers form the outside bet columns. The payout for this bet is 2 to 1.

Outside Bets Note

Outside bets provide more frequent wins while producing less volatility in the game. The betting system works best for maintaining consistent play.

Wheel choice and house edge

The European single zero wheel contains 37 pockets. A straight-up bet wins once out of 37 times during a fair spin. The 35 to 1 payout results in a negative expected value of one unit per 37 spins which equals a 2.70 percent house edge. The American double zero wheel contains 38 pockets. The same payout structure with reduced winning chances results in a 5.26 percent house advantage. The French rules modify only the payouts for even money bets. The rules of la partage and en prison apply to even money bets which result in a 1.35 percent effective house edge.

Group of players placing bets together at a roulette table in a casino.

Call bets on the track

The French Roulette layout provides players with two main betting options which include neighbors and announced bets that follow wheel sequence. The most popular sets of bets include Voisins du Zéro and Tiers du Cylindre and Orphelins which combine straight-up and split bets. The bundles exist as convenient betting options. The built-in edge rate remains identical to what players would get from individual bets. The racetrack feature appears only on specific tables and not all online games display it.

Odds, RTP, and variance

Roulette operates with fixed payment structures that remain constant regardless of previous game results. The standard European bets in Roulette produce an average return of 97.30 percent. The American wheel pays out less than the European wheel because it includes one additional 00 pocket. The combination of partage and prison rules for even money bets leads to a return rate of 98.65 percent. The betting variance of inside bets creates long periods without wins but occasionally produces large payouts. Outside bets provide players with a more stable gaming experience.

Bankroll and session design

Select a base unit which should equal one to two percent of your total bankroll amount. Players should use fixed time blocks and establish specific winning and losing limits. A win rail helps players secure their profits. A loss rail functions to protect funds for the following day. The Martingale and Fibonacci systems redistribute variance but they fail to modify the established house edge.

Players celebrating a winning moment at a roulette table in a casino

Common myths to skip

The results of previous spins do not influence the outcome of future spins. The wheel shows no preference for specific numbers that players consider "hot." Modern gaming environments make it extremely difficult to detect dealer signatures and wheel bias. The American wheel's top five bet does not represent a strategic advantage. It proves to be an expensive losing opportunity.

Quick selection Roulette checklist

European single zero should be your first choice. You should avoid playing with double zero unless there are no other options.
When betting at even odds select games that offer either la partage or en prison rules.
The American wheel top five bet should be avoided by all players.
Your betting amount should match your available bankroll. Most players should set their spin budget between one to two percent of their total bankroll.