Roulette has been a favorite in casinos since the 17th century, known for its mix of glamour, mystery, and excitement. People enjoy the game worldwide because its rules are easy to learn. But for those who take it seriously, roulette offers more depth, and the right strategy can bring big rewards. If you’re looking for a simple guide to the game before placing your bets, you’re in the right place. We’ll explain the basics so you’ll know where to put your chips and how to manage your winnings.
What is Roulette?
Before learning how to play online Roulette, let’s first understand what it is. Roulette is a casino game named after the French word for ‘little wheel.’ In this game, you can place bets on a single number, different groups of numbers, the color red or black, whether the number is odd or even, or whether the number is high (19–36) or low (1–18).
To find out the winning number, the dealer spins the roulette wheel in one direction and releases a ball in the opposite direction along the outer edge of the wheel. As the ball slows down, it falls onto the wheel and lands in one of the 37 pockets (for French or European roulette) or 38 pockets (for American roulette), which are numbered and colored. If your bet matches where the ball lands, you win.
How to Play Online Roulette
Place your bet
Choose your chip size and place your chips on the bet you want to make.
Spin the wheel
There’s no rush in online roulette. When you’re ready, click the ‘Spin’ button to release the ball onto the virtual wheel.
See the outcome
The wheel will stop, and the ball will land in a pocket. The game uses a random number generator (RNG) to decide the result.
Check the result
Wait for the outcome. If you win, you’ll get a payout. Then, the next round starts.
Roulette Strategy
When deciding how to play roulette, choose a strategy that matches your budget and playing style. While no strategy guarantees a win every time, we can share some popular ones that players often use at the roulette table. These include:
- Martingale Strategy
- Grand Martingale Strategy
- D’Alembert Strategy
- Andrucci Strategy
- Fibonacci Strategy
- James Bond Strategy
- Paroli Strategy
Top Online Roulette Sites
- BetMGM – Best Overall Roulette Site
- Caesars Palace Online Casino – Great for High Rollers
- FanDuel – Best Mobile App for Roulette Players
- BetRivers – Offers Regular Promos for Roulette Players
We signed up for accounts with all licensed online casino roulette sites in the United States. Our team made deposits, claimed promotions, played various roulette games, and requested payouts. They took detailed notes during the process, which helped us narrow down the top five online roulette sites.
Roulette Table Explained
The roulette table has two main sections: the inside and the outside. The inside section includes 36 numbered squares, which are either red or black. The outside section contains boxes that represent broader ranges of numbers, such as odd or even. At the top of the table, you’ll find either a large zero or double zero, depending on the game. You can place bets on any of the squares or even on a combination of them.
Roulette Wheel Explained
A roulette wheel has numbers from 0 to 36. European wheels have 18 red pockets, 18 black pockets, and one green pocket for 0. American roulette wheels are similar but have an extra green pocket for 00.
The numbers don’t appear in order on the wheel. The sequence is arranged to balance high, low, odd, and even numbers. European and American wheels also use different number arrangements. It may seem tricky, but the difference is easy to understand when you look at both versions.
Roulette Payouts Chart
Check out the roulette payout chart below.
| Bet common name | Winning spaces | Payout | Odds against winning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | Any single number including 0 | 35 to 1 | 36 to 1 |
| Split | Any two adjoining numbers vertically or horizontally | 17 to 1 | 17.5 to 1 |
| Basket | 0, 1, 2 or 0, 2, 3 | 11 to 1 | 11.33 to 1 |
| Street | Any three numbers horizontally (1,2, 3 or 4, 5, 6 etc) | 11 to 1 | 11.33 to 1 |
| Corner | Any four adjoining numbers in a block (e.g. 17, 18, 20, 21) | 8 to 1 | 8.25 to 1 |
| Six Line | Any six numbers from two rows (e.g. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33) | 5 to 1 | 5.167 to 1 |
| 1st Column | 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34 | 2 to 1 | 2.083 to 1 |
| 2nd Column | 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35 | 2 to 1 | 2.083 to 1 |
| 3rd Column | 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 | 2 to 1 | 2.083 to 1 |
| 1st Dozen | 1 through 12 | 2 to 1 | |
| 2nd Dozen | 13 through 24 | 2 to 1 | 2.083 to 1 |
| 3rd Dozen | 25 through 36 | 2 to 1 | 2.083 to 1 |
| Odd | 1, 3, 5,…, 35 | 1 to 1 | 1.056 to 1 |
| Even | 2, 4, 6,…,36 | 1 to 1 | 1.056 to 1 |
| Red | Red numbers | 1 to 1 | 1.056 to 1 |
| Black | Black numbers | 1 to 1 | 1.056 to 1 |
| 1 to 18 | 1, 2, 3,…, 18 | 1 to 1 | 1.056 to 1 |
| 19 to 36 | 19, 20, 21,…, 36 | 1 to 1 | 1.056 to 1 |
Conclusion
Roulette provides you excitement and a strategy, so clearly it is a nicely selected game for many players worldwide. The knowledge of the most basic principles of the game and studying various strategies enlarges your chances. You can either play European or American roulette-you must know how both table and wheel work. Online platforms make the game more accessible, letting you take part in the comfort of your home with plenty of options as a beginner and as an experienced gambler. As long as you approach the game responsibly and with a reliable strategy, you could have exciting times playing roulette.
FAQs
How many numbers are there in roulette?
European and French roulette wheels have 37 pockets, numbered from 0 to 36. The numbers are split evenly between black and red, except for the single green 0. The pockets of an American roulette wheel are the same but with an additional 00.
What is the best bet in roulette?
The best bet for a big payout is a single number wager. Any bet on a single number has odds of 37 to 1 and so offers a huge reward. That said, the chances of this bet winning are far less likely than say red or black, or another outside bet.
How do the odds work in roulette?
Typically, roulette odds come in the form of ‘x to 1’. This means you’ll win ‘x’ amount for every ₹1 you bet. For example, a single number on the table has odds of 35 to 1. If you were to wager ₹1 and win the bet, you’d receive your stake back as well as ₹35 in winnings.
What does a number on roulette pay?
A bet on a single number pays 35 to 1. This includes any bets made on the green 0 or 00 pockets. Odd or even number bets payout at 1 to 1, and so do bets on 18 numbers like 1-18 or 19-36.
How much do you win on green?
Green bets have odds of 35 to 1, so you would win 35 times your stake wagered. If you were to bet on 0 and 00 at the same time in American roulette, the payout would be 17 to 1.
Can you bet on red and black at the same time?
Yes, you can bet on both red and black at the same time. Most would advise against this though, as the bets effectively cancel each other out. The green pocket is also in play meaning there’s a chance you’d lose on both bets regardless.
How can I increase my chances of winning roulette?
For a better chance of winning, stick to outside bets. Though they payout less, outside bets have far better odds of winning than inside bets.
How do you place a roulette bet?
In online roulette, you place a bet simply by clicking the relevant part of the roulette board, after selecting your bet amount. You can take as much time as you need. In a real casino, you would do the same by physically placing chips on the board with a croupier present. The croupier tells the table when betting is over and then spins the wheel.
Why is a French roulette table red?
The first French roulette wheels in Paris originally used red table layouts with red for the single zero. Nowadays, French roulette tables are only red at some physical casinos. Green is the preference for online roulette because it helps avoid any color confusion at the table.
