How to Play Roulette
Roulette is undoubtedly one of the most popular table games around the world. This casino classic, alongside blackjack and slots, is one of the most liked games among players thanks to its easy-to-understand rules and quick gameplay. When playing online roulette, the objective is simple: anticipate the number on which the ball will settle when the wheel comes to a stop.
The following guide is exactly what you need to learn how to play roulette. It covers everything you need to know to hone your skills, including the different types of bets you can make, the unique attributes of each variant, and which ones are more favourable to players.
How Roulette Works
Unlike other table games, which use cards and dice, roulette works using a wheel and a ball that are spun in opposite directions by the dealer. As the ball begins to lose momentum, it will drop down onto the wheel, coming to rest in one of the individually numbered pockets.
The Roulette Wheel
These pockets are coloured red and black, with one or two green ones that are labelled 0 and 00. The red and black ones are numbered 1-36, but they are not placed sequentially on the wheel. Each one is the same size, so there is an equal chance of the ball landing in any of them.
The Dealer
For each round of the game, the dealer will direct you, advising you to “place your bets now” and then calling “no more bets” when the ball is close to falling into a pocket.
The Table
Each roulette table contains a grid with numbers that correspond with those on the wheel, with some additional ones that represent a group of pockets. The table should tell you the payouts of each bet type but it’s a good idea to know the odds of each one before playing. You place your bet by placing a chip on the number of groups that you think will win and wait for the ball to land.
Types of Bets
One of the most exciting things about roulette is that it offers more betting options than almost any other live casino game you can play. Not only that, but each wager comes with different payouts, reflecting the different odds of a win. So, for anyone looking at how to play roulette, it’s important to understand all the different types of bets you can place.
You can make one, two, or several bets within each round. You just need to place separate chips for each of your wagers. Here are the main bets you can place in most roulette variants.
Inside Bets
The bets in roulette can be split into two groups - inside and outside. These names refer to the position of the bet’s position on the grid, with the inside bets contained within the table itself. The main ones are:
- Straight-up: a bet on a single number.
- Split: two adjacent numbers.
- Street: three numbers in a row.
- Corner: four numbers in a square.
- Six line: two streets.
Outside Bets
Outside bets are those that can be found on the outer section of the table. The main ones are:
- Red/black: a bet on a single colour.
- Odd/even: whether the winning number is odd or even.
- High/low: 1-18 or 19-36.
- Column: one of the three columns on the table.
- Dozens: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36.
Variations in the Types of Roulette Games
If you play roulette online, you’ll know there are an incredible number of variants, with some of them featuring multiple balls or several wheels to speed up gameplay. Generally, the three main roulette versions that you’ll come across are European, American, and French.
To the untrained eye, all three games can look identical because they are very similar. They all use a red and black wheel and a table for placing bets. However, there are a couple of minor distinctions that change the odds and the way they’re played.
European Roulette
European roulette is the standard game. It uses a wheel with 37 pockets - one green 0, and 36 red and black. The house edge in this version is 2.7%, meaning you can expect a theoretical return of £97.30 for every £100 wagered.
French Roulette
French roulette is very similar to European roulette as the wheel is exactly the same and the house edge remains unchanged for most bets. However, even money wagers are more favourable to players because the edge is cut to 1.35% thanks to the French variant’s unique En Prison and La Partage rules.
American Roulette
American roulette is more common in the States but can be found in most casinos today. It features an additional green pocket labelled 00. This changes the house edge to 5.26%, making it the least favourable variant around.
Roulette Strategies: How to Win at Roulette
Like all casino games, there are no guarantees in roulette and there is no strategy that guarantees how to win at roulette. However, strategies are a popular way to add structure to your gameplay and they can, in some cases, help to optimise your odds. The strategy that will make you more likely to win - but not guarantee it - is to make even-money bets in French roulette as this means you’ll be playing with the lowest house edge.
Other strategies like the Martingale, Paroli, and Fibonacci systems add structure by giving you a prescribed way to add/decrease the size of your wagers as your roulette playing progresses. They are exciting to experiment with, but you should always follow good bankroll management techniques while you use them.