To play roulette, you place chips on a number, a group of numbers or a colour, the dealer spins the wheel and a ball, and you win if the ball lands in a pocket your bet covers. A European wheel has 37 pockets (1 to 36 plus a single zero) and an American wheel has 38, with a double zero added, and the payouts are the same on both.
Roulette's the easiest casino game to learn, because there aren't any cards to count and there's nothing to decide once the ball is spinning. The only thing worth studying is the betting layout, and which wheel you're playing on. I've used the New Jersey gaming regulator's official rules for the bets and payout odds.
Single zero or double zero wheel
Wizard of Odds describes a US wheel as having 38 slots: 1 to 36, a zero and a double zero. What most people call European roulette uses a 37 number wheel with one zero only. The payouts don't change between them, so the extra pocket is pure advantage for the house. Wizard of Odds puts the house edge at 5.26% on a double zero wheel and 2.70% on a single zero wheel.
| European (single zero) | American (double zero) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Zeros | 0 | 0 and 00 |
| House edge (Wizard of Odds) | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Common name | European roulette | American roulette |
How a spin works
- Place your chips on the layout. You're responsible for where they sit, even if the dealer helps.
- The dealer spins the wheel one way and the ball the other.
- Near the end of the spin, the dealer calls no more bets.
- The ball drops into a pocket and the dealer marks the winning number.
- Losing bets are cleared and winners are paid at the odds below.
- Leave or move your chips and the next spin begins.
The New Jersey rules say every bet is settled strictly by where it sits on the layout when the ball comes to rest, so place it carefully.
Inside bets on the numbers
Inside bets go on the numbered grid itself. They pay more because they cover fewer numbers.
- Straight: one number.
- Split: two numbers next to each other, chip on the line between them.
- Three numbers (street): one row of three.
- Four numbers (corner): chip where four numbers meet.
- First five: 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, on American wheels only.
- Six numbers (line): two rows of three side by side.
Outside bets around the edge
Outside bets sit in the boxes around the grid. They cover a dozen or more numbers each, so they win more often and pay less: red or black, odd or even, 1 to 18 or 19 to 36, one of the three dozens, or one of the three columns.
Payout odds for every standard bet
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout odds |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | 1 | 35 to 1 |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 |
| Three numbers | 3 | 11 to 1 |
| Four numbers | 4 | 8 to 1 |
| First five (double zero only) | 5 | 6 to 1 |
| Six numbers | 6 | 5 to 1 |
| Column or dozen | 12 | 2 to 1 |
| Red, black, odd, even, 1 to 18, 19 to 36 | 18 | 1 to 1 |
These are the minimums the New Jersey rules allow. One bet to skip is the first five: Wizard of Odds says it carries a house edge of 7.89%, worse than every other bet on the American wheel.
What the zero does to even chances
Zero's green, and it's neither red nor black, odd nor even, high nor low. On a single zero wheel under the New Jersey rules, all those even chance bets lose when the ball lands on zero. On a double zero wheel, a New Jersey casino can choose to take only half of each even chance bet when 0 or 00 comes up, and must say which rule it uses at the table. Wizard of Odds says this Atlantic City rule lowers the house edge on those bets to 2.63%. So in Atlantic City the American wheel can treat even chance bets more kindly than the European wheel next door.
Why the even chance bets are called that
Red, black, odd, even, 1 to 18 and 19 to 36 each cover 18 numbers and pay 1 to 1, which is why they're often called even chances. They aren't quite even, though, and that's the whole secret of roulette. There are 18 red numbers, but the wheel has 37 or 38 pockets, so the zero tips every one of these bets slightly towards the house. It's the same story for the dozens and columns: they cover 12 numbers and pay 2 to 1, but the zero isn't in any of them.
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La partage and en prison
French roulette uses a single zero wheel with an extra rule for even chance bets. Under la partage, if the ball lands on zero you get half your bet back. Under en prison, you can leave the whole bet imprisoned for the next spin instead: if it wins, you get your bet back without winnings. Wizard of Odds notes that what happens if zero comes up again varies by casino. If you see either rule, you'll find the even chance bets are the cheapest on the table.
My suggestions for a friendly game
If you have the choice, play on a single zero wheel, and look for la partage or en prison. Outside bets keep you in the game longer, and inside bets give you the occasional big moment, so a mix keeps it fun. Roulette's a game of pure chance, there's no system that beats the zero, so set a limit before the first spin and stop when you reach it. At home, a toy wheel and counters make a great party game for teens and adults. For more family ideas, try my list of classic board games or these dice games.
Frequently asked questions
How many numbers are on a roulette wheel?
A European wheel has 37 pockets, 1 to 36 plus a single zero. An American wheel has 38, adding a double zero.
What does a single number pay in roulette?
A straight bet on one number pays 35 to 1.
Is red or black an even chance?
Not quite. The zero, and the double zero on American wheels, make red and black lose on those pockets.
What is la partage in roulette?
A rule on single zero wheels where you get half your even chance bet back if the ball lands on zero.
Which roulette bet should beginners avoid?
The first five bet on American wheels. Wizard of Odds puts its house edge at 7.89%, the worst on the table.
