What Is Roulette?
Roulette is one of the simplest games in the casino. A ball spins around a wheel, lands on a numbered pocket, and bets on that outcome are paid. There are no decisions to make after you place your bet. No strategy changes the result. What you can control is which bets you place, and that choice has a dramatic effect on your expected loss per spin.
The single most important decision in roulette is choosing the right wheel. European Roulette has one zero and a house edge of 2.70%. American Roulette has two zeros (0 and 00) and a house edge of 5.26%. They look nearly identical on the surface. That extra green pocket nearly doubles what the house takes from every bet. Always play European when you have the choice.
Roulette Trainer
Click any area on the table to place a bet, select your chip size, and spin. Switch between European (1 zero) and American (2 zeros) to see the difference in house edge firsthand.
← Click any number for a straight-up bet (35:1) · Click outside bets at the bottom for broader coverage
European vs American Roulette
| Feature | European | American |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 37 (0 through 36) | 38 (0, 00, and 1 through 36) |
| House Edge | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| 5-Number Bet | Not available | 7.89% — worst bet on the table |
| En Prison / La Partage | Available at select tables | Not available |
| Where to find it | Most online casinos, European land casinos | Most US land casinos |
La Partage and En Prison Rules
Some European Roulette tables offer additional player-favorable rules on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero. La Partage returns half your even-money bet immediately. En Prison leaves the bet locked for the next spin, returned in full if the next spin wins. Either rule cuts the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% down to 1.35% — making it the best version of roulette available anywhere.
The Roulette Wheel
The European wheel arranges numbers in a specific non-sequential order designed to balance high and low numbers, odd and even numbers, and red and black pockets as evenly as possible around the wheel. The sequence is not random — it was engineered to make visual biases harder to detect and to prevent clustering of similar outcomes.
The American wheel uses a different sequence and adds the 00 pocket opposite the 0. The two-zero configuration is the primary reason American Roulette offers worse odds — every bet now faces a larger pool of losing outcomes.
All Roulette Bets Explained
Inside Bets
Inside bets are placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers within the main betting grid. They pay more but win less frequently.
| Bet | Description | Payout | House Edge (European) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | Single number | 35:1 | 2.70% |
| Split | Two adjacent numbers | 17:1 | 2.70% |
| Street | Three numbers in a row | 11:1 | 2.70% |
| Corner | Four numbers sharing a corner | 8:1 | 2.70% |
| Six Line | Two adjacent rows (6 numbers) | 5:1 | 2.70% |
| 5-Number | 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 (American only) | 6:1 | 7.89% |
Outside Bets
Outside bets cover larger groups of numbers. They win more frequently but pay less. The house edge is the same as inside bets on a European wheel — 2.70% on everything except when La Partage or En Prison rules apply.
| Bet | Description | Numbers Covered | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red / Black | Color of winning number | 18 | 1:1 |
| Odd / Even | Whether number is odd or even | 18 | 1:1 |
| Low / High | 1-18 or 19-36 | 18 | 1:1 |
| Dozen | 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36 | 12 | 2:1 |
| Column | One of three vertical columns | 12 | 2:1 |
Zero is not covered by any outside bet. When the ball lands on zero, all outside bets lose (except under La Partage or En Prison rules). This is the sole source of the house edge on outside bets.
Roulette Strategy
Roulette is a negative expectation game. Every bet on a European wheel loses 2.70 cents per dollar wagered on average, regardless of which bet you choose. No betting system changes this. The wheel has no memory. Previous results have zero influence on future spins.
Martingale and Other Progression Systems
The Martingale system involves doubling your bet after every loss so that a win recovers all previous losses plus a one-unit profit. It does not work in the long run for two reasons. First, table maximums cap how many times you can double — a realistic losing streak of 8 to 10 spins reaches the ceiling quickly. Second, the house edge applies to every bet placed regardless of size, so larger bets produce larger expected losses.
Other systems — Fibonacci, D’Alembert, Labouchere — have the same fundamental problem. They manage bet sizing, not expected value. None of them reduce the house edge.
What Actually Helps
Play European Roulette, not American. Find a table with La Partage or En Prison rules if available. Set a loss limit before you sit down. Treat roulette as entertainment with a known cost, not a vehicle for profit. That is an honest and accurate framing of the game.
Neighbour Bets and Call Bets
Advanced players at live and online European tables can place call bets — wagers on sections of the wheel rather than sections of the betting layout. These are standard in European casinos and available at most live dealer online tables.
| Call Bet | Numbers | Chips Required |
|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero) | 17 numbers near zero on the wheel | 9 chips |
| Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel) | 12 numbers on the opposite side | 6 chips |
| Orphelins (Orphans) | 8 numbers not covered by the above | 5 chips |
| Jeu Zéro (Zero Game) | 7 numbers closest to zero | 4 chips |
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Roulette Glossary
European Roulette The single-zero version of roulette with 37 pockets and a 2.70% house edge. Always preferable to American Roulette.
American Roulette The double-zero version with 38 pockets (adding 00) and a 5.26% house edge. The extra zero nearly doubles the house advantage. F
rench Roulette A single-zero variant that typically includes La Partage as a standard rule, reducing the edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.
La Partage A rule that returns half of an even-money bet when the ball lands on zero. Reduces the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to 1.35%.
En Prison A rule that locks an even-money bet for one additional spin when zero hits. If the next spin wins, the bet is returned in full. Equivalent to La Partage in expected value.
Straight Up A bet on a single number. Pays 35:1.
Split A bet on two adjacent numbers, placed on the line between them. Pays 17:1.
Street A bet on three numbers in a horizontal row. Pays 11:1.
Corner A bet on four numbers sharing a corner, placed at the intersection. Pays 8:1.
Six Line A bet on six numbers across two adjacent rows. Pays 5:1.
Dozen A bet on one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36). Pays 2:1.
Column A bet on one of three vertical columns of 12 numbers. Pays 2:1.
Even Money Bets Bets that pay 1:1: Red/Black, Odd/Even, and 1-18/19-36. Cover 18 numbers each.
Voisins du Zéro A call bet covering 17 numbers near zero on the European wheel. Requires 9 chips.
Tiers du Cylindre A call bet covering 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from zero. Requires 6 chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bet in roulette?
There is no best bet in terms of house edge — every bet on a European wheel carries exactly 2.70% regardless of which numbers or outcomes you choose. The best strategic decision is playing European Roulette instead of American, and finding a table with La Partage or En Prison rules, which cuts the edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.
Does the Martingale system work?
No. The Martingale produces small consistent wins interrupted by large losses when a losing streak hits the table maximum or exhausts your bankroll. The expected loss per spin is identical regardless of bet size. Doubling bets does not change the math — it only changes the volatility of the outcome.
What is the difference between European and French Roulette?
French Roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European Roulette but typically includes La Partage as a standard rule rather than an optional one. The betting layout is also presented differently, with outside bets on both sides of the grid. The house edge on even-money bets under La Partage is 1.35%, making French Roulette the best standard roulette variant available.
Are there any numbers that come up more often?
In a fair game, no. Each of the 37 pockets on a European wheel has an equal probability of 1/37 on every spin. Short-term variance creates what appear to be hot and cold numbers, but these are statistical noise. The wheel has no memory and no bias in a properly maintained game.
What is the house edge on the 5-number bet in American Roulette?
The 5-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) on an American wheel carries a 7.89% house edge — nearly three times higher than any other bet on the table. It is the worst single bet in standard roulette and should never be placed. Every other bet on the American wheel carries 5.26%.
Can online roulette be rigged?
At licensed, regulated casinos, no. RNG roulette games are certified by independent testing labs (eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI) to confirm each spin outcome is genuinely random and matches the stated probability distribution. Live dealer roulette uses a real physical wheel on camera. Always play at licensed operators where the software is independently audited.
