Roulette is a wheel game with one decision that matters and many that don't. The decision that matters is the wheel: European tables keep 2.7% of what you wager over time, American tables 5.26%, French tables as little as 1.35%. Every bet on a given wheel costs the same — so learn the bets for what they are, ways of shaping variance, and spend your attention on table selection.
How a round works
1. Place chips on the betting layout — numbers, groups of numbers, or properties like red/black. 2. Betting closes; the wheel spins and the ball drops into a numbered pocket. 3. Winning bets are paid by the table below; losing chips are cleared. 4. Repeat.
There are no decisions after betting closes. Online, RNG tables resolve instantly and live tables run a betting window of 15–25 seconds per spin.
The bets and what they pay
Inside bets (on the numbers):
| Bet | Covers | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 number | 35:1 |
| Split | 2 numbers | 17:1 |
| Street | 3 numbers | 11:1 |
| Corner | 4 numbers | 8:1 |
| Six line | 6 numbers | 5:1 |
Outside bets (on properties):
| Bet | Covers | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Red/black, odd/even, high/low | 18 numbers | 1:1 |
| Dozen (1–12, 13–24, 25–36) | 12 numbers | 2:1 |
| Column | 12 numbers | 2:1 |
Every payout is set as if the wheel had 36 pockets. It has 37 (European) or 38 (American) — the zeros are the house edge. Because the shortfall is identical across bets, a straight-up number and a red/black bet on the same wheel cost exactly the same per unit wagered. The bets and payouts guide shows the full math.
The wheels
| Wheel | Pockets | House edge | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 37 (one zero) | 2.70% | The standard you should accept |
| American | 38 (two zeros) | 5.26% | Same payouts, double the cost — avoid |
| French | 37 + la partage | 1.35% on even-money bets | Best rules in the game |
French tables refund half of even-money bets when zero hits (la partage), halving the edge on those bets. If your casino spreads French roulette, even-money bets there are the cheapest spin in the building. The wheel comparison covers the details.
If you want the math: a straight-up bet on a European wheel wins 1 time in 37 and pays 35:1. Expected return = (1/37 × 36) = 97.3% — the missing 2.7% is the edge, and the same calculation lands on the same number for every bet on the layout.
What roulette strategy can and cannot do
Bet selection shapes variance: outside bets pay small and often, straight numbers pay rarely and big. No selection or staking pattern changes the edge — the systems guide walks through why martingale and its relatives fail, with the streak math shown.
What actually moves your cost: wheel choice (above), and avoiding the multiplier variants' trimmed payouts unless you've priced them — covered in the live roulette guide.
Online specifics
RNG roulette spins instantly at minimums from $0.10 — useful for learning the layout at near-zero cost. Live tables stream physical wheels with croupiers; betting windows enforce pace. Both state their wheel type in the title or info panel: "European/Auto Roulette" one zero, "American" two. Check before betting — it is the only check that matters.
Bonus note: roulette typically contributes 5–10% to wagering requirements, and even-money bets are often excluded entirely. Clear bonuses elsewhere.