Beginner
Roulette Rules, Odds & Bet Types
Roulette is pure chance, but choosing the right bets and the right wheel makes a real difference to your odds.
House Edge
2.7% (European)
Best For
Beginners
Read Time
5 min
How to play
Place your chips on the number, colour or range you think the ball will land on, then watch the wheel spin. Payouts are fixed based on the odds of each bet type, from 35:1 on a single number to even money on red/black.
- European wheels have 37 pockets (0-36); American wheels add a second zero, raising the house edge.
- Inside bets cover specific numbers and pay higher odds.
- Outside bets cover colours, odd/even, or ranges of numbers and pay even money or 2:1.
- The ball is spun and the winning pocket determines all payouts.
💡 Pro tip
Always choose a European (single-zero) wheel over an American one it roughly halves the house edge, from 5.26% to 2.7%.
Odds & house edge
European roulette carries a 2.7% house edge across all bet types except the 'en prison' or 'la partage' rule on even-money bets, which cuts it to about 1.35%. American roulette's extra double-zero pocket raises the edge to 5.26%.
Strategy tips
- Play European or French wheels whenever they're available.
- Stick to outside, even-money bets for longer, lower-variance sessions.
- Betting systems like Martingale don't change the house edge treat them as bankroll management, not a way to beat the game.
Common mistakes
Many players assume a colour is 'due' after a streak of the opposite colour. Every spin is independent the wheel has no memory.