How To Play Roulette

If you’re brand new to the game and you’re wondering how to play roulette at casino websites online, you’ve come to the right place. That’s because here we look at exactly how to do that, so that you can enjoy one of the most popular and exciting games at the casino.

As well as helping to answer questions like how does roulette work, we look at basic strategies you can use to improve your chances of success at the table. Essentially, roulette is a game of chance, but by betting wisely you do improve your chances if you bet sensibly.

So, if you want to know more about how to bet on roulette or anything else relating to the classic game, keep reading. You might not be an expert at the wheel by reading to the end, but you will have the information you need to get started.

So, What Is Roulette?

Roulette is a game that dates back to 18th century France, with the name itself roughly translating as ‘wheel’. It’s a game of chance that you’ll find in pretty much every land-based and online casino and it involves the use of both a roulette wheel - where the action happens - and the roulette board.

Depending on where you play roulette, there are either 37 or 38 slots into which the ball can land once it has been released by the croupier. Casino roulette rules state that you must place bets on where the ball will land, with wagers able to be made on single number outcomes, groups of numbers, colours of numbers and more.

When viewing the game being played from the outside, it can seem pretty daunting to a beginner, but the primary objective is pretty easy to understand. The roulette table is fairly simple when compared to, say, the craps table layout, with the odds of winning changing based on your roulette bets.

How Does the Game of Roulette Work?

When you play roulette in a real-world, land-based casino, you’ll see the magic of first hand. At the beginning of a game, the croupier spins the wheel in one direction and then moments later, you’ll see the ball get released in the opposite direction.

The speed of the ball keeps it spinning along the rim, just above the wheel until it drops down and nestles in one of the numbered gaps. According to roulette rules , anyone who has bet correctly on the number, the colour of the number of the group in which the number sits will win.

Then there is a brief gap in proceeding where the croupier pays out all of the winnings, moving the chips to where they need to be and then the whole process starts again and you can start placing your bets again.

How Exactly Do You Place a Bet?

When you play roulette in a real casino or online, the wagering process is the same. On a casino website, you’d click on the number, colour or group of numbers you want to bet on, whereas in person, you’d place your chips on the number or the area of your choice until the ‘no more bets’ announcement is made by the croupier.

When making your bet, you’ll see numbers going from 0 to 36, with the colour of each number being either red or black. The only number that’s different is the 0, which is green. Some tables also have a 00 or even 000 and these numbers actually worsen your odds, meaning that the house has a bigger edge.

The Different Types of Roulette Bets

As we’ve already touched upon, there are a variety of different ways that roulette bets can be made. When you’re trying to remember how to bet on roulette, just need to think about the fact that there are two types that can be made; an inside bet and an outside bet.

The reason for this is quite literal, in that bets that are made on the numbers at the centre of the roulette table are the inside bets and those made on the separate, outside area (see diagram). Within these two main types, there are many variations you can use during the game.

Inside Bets

Betting on a single number is known as a Straight up bet
Placing a bet on four adjoining numbers e.g. 7, 8, 10 & 11 is a Square bet or a Corner bet
Wagering on two adjacent numbers is called Split or a Cheval
A row of inside numbers (e.g 4, 5, 6 or 7, 8, 9) is called a Street
Betting on two rows is called a Six Line or a Double Street
Wagering on three consecutive numbers that includes a 0 or a 00 is called a Trio
Placing a bet on the first 4 four numbers on the wheel (only on a single 0 wheel) is unsurprisingly known as First Four

Outside Bets

When you bet on 1-18, this is known as a Low or Manque Bet
A bet on 19-36 is known as a High or Passe Bet
Betting on red or black numbers is known exactly as you’d expect - Black or Red
Another obvious one is odds or evens, known as an Odd or Even bet
Wager on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd group of 12 and you’ll have made a Dozen bet
Put your money on any of the 3 columns and it’s a Column bet
You can even make a Green bet on 000 tables

Knowing the Odds When You Play Roulette

Knowing the odds associated with each type of bet is another important part of learning how to play roulette , as it will help you make informed bets based on probability. Let’s take a look at the different odds that each type of bet carries.

A Single Bet pays out 35-1
A Split Bet pays out 17-1
A Row or Street Bet pays out 11-1
A Square Bet or Corner Bet pays out 8-1
A Six Line Bet pays out 5-1
A Column Bet pays out 2-1
A Dozen Bet pays out 2-1
A Red or Black Bet pays out at Evens
An Even or Odd Bet pays out at Evens
A High or Low Bet pays out at Evens
A Green Bet (on 000 tables only) pays out at 11-1

As you can see, where you place your bets can have a significant effect on the likelihood of you winning. There’s nothing to stop you making improbable single bets, but when you’re aware that it’s something of a long-shot, you’re likely to bet less as a result.

Other Interesting Roulette Rules

When you play roulette in Europe, you may encounter different roulette rules that don’t exist anywhere else. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of the things you might need to be aware of when at the roulette table on the eastern side of the Atlantic.

La Partage

In the UK and France, they operate with single zero tables and they use La Partage roulette rules. This means ‘sharing’ in French and it means that all even money bets are equally divided between the players and if a 0 comes up, half of it gets paid back, with the other half staying with the house.

This is a rule that actually reduces the house edge and is a welcome bonus for players who would otherwise have lost their whole wager.

En Prison

Another variant of this rule is En Prison, which you don’t have to be a fluent French speaker to know means ‘In Prison’. It’s identical to La Partage, apart from the fact that the returned stakes must then be used to bet again on the next spin of the wheel.

These specific roulette game rules apply to even money bets that include even/odd, high/low and Red/black wagers.

What Happens When You Win at Roulette?

When you play roulette online, getting your winnings is really easy, as it will just get electronically added to your casino account. When you play in a real casino, however, you need to know what happens, so you don’t just go grabbing at the chips that you think are now yours.

When the ball finishes in its final landing place, the croupier takes their dolly (a kind of small ornament made from glass) and puts on the winning number on the roulette board. You’re forbidden from touching any chips that are in play and must wait for the dealer to remove all losing chips and then pay out everyone (like you) who has won.

It’s important to understand that croupiers and dealers aren’t machines, so they might not remember everybody’s individual bet, so you should be ready to claim your bets if the dealer doesn’t come to you automatically. Once the dolly is removed, the whole thing starts over and you’re free to start placing bets again.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’re nearing the end of our guide on how to play roulette and we’ve covered much of what you need to know. However, there’s always new stuff to learn, even for experienced players, so with this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions on the subject.

“Are the odds the same at online roulette tables?”

Absolutely. The random nature of land-based casinos is replicated online by the use of random number generators or RNGs, so as long as you play roulette at a reputable online casino, your odds are exactly the same.

“Can you really beat the roulette table?”

As a game of chance, there isn’t a proven way to beat either online or land-based casino roulette tables. Systems come and go, but none offer a consistent way to win.

“Is there such a thing as a roulette wheel without zeros?”

In short, no. You’re unlikely to find a ‘No Zero’ wheel at a reputable casino, as it’s the 0 that gives the house its edge. If you find yourself playing at a casino that does have a wheel without a zero of any kind, you have to ask yourself why.

“Are Live Dealer roulette games anywhere near as good as being there for real?”

Nothing quite compares to the real thing, but live dealer roulette is a pretty decent alternative that allows you to play and chat with a real human being while you play roulette .