Roulette Guide: Rules, Odds, House Edge & Table Types
Roulette is one of the simplest casino games to learn, but the details of the rules, odds and table types quietly decide how quickly your balance rises or falls. This guide walks through the basics so UK players can choose better tables, place smarter bets, and avoid the worst traps.
How Roulette Works
Roulette is built around a spinning wheel with numbered pockets and a betting layout on the table. You place chips on the layout to back individual numbers or groups of numbers, the dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball, and when the ball lands in a pocket the winning bets are paid and the rest are cleared.
In an online casino, the software handles spins and payouts automatically, but the structure is identical to a land‑based table. Each spin is independent – past results do not change the odds on the next round, even if the same number has just hit three times.
Basic Rules You Need To Know
A round of roulette follows a simple sequence. The dealer (or software) opens the betting, you place your chips, “no more bets” is called, the wheel spins, and then winners are paid out before the next round begins.
Key points for new players:
- You can place multiple different bets on the same spin as long as you meet the table minimum.
- You are not forced to bet every spin – sitting out is allowed and often sensible.
- Layouts can look complex, but every chip you place is simply backing a particular number or set of numbers.
Treat the table as a menu of ways to predict where the ball will land: single numbers, colours, odd/even, ranges, and specific patterns.
Inside and Outside Bets
Roulette bets fall into two main categories that balance risk and reward differently.
Outside Bets (Lower Risk, Lower Payouts)
Outside bets sit around the edges of the number grid and cover larger groups of numbers.
- Red or Black – backs all red or all black numbers; pays 1:1 on a win.
- Odd or Even – backs all odd or all even numbers; pays 1:1.
- Low or High – backs 1–18 or 19–36; pays 1:1.
- Dozens – backs 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36; pays 2:1.
- Columns – backs one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers; pays 2:1.
These options hit more frequently but return smaller profits, which is why they are often used in roulette “systems” built around even‑money bets.
Inside Bets (Higher Risk, Higher Payouts)
Inside bets sit on the main number grid and target fewer numbers at bigger prices.
- Straight Up – a single number; pays 35:1.
- Split – two adjacent numbers; pays 17:1.
- Street – a row of three numbers; pays 11:1.
- Corner (Square) – four numbers meeting at a corner; pays 8:1.
- Line (Six Line) – six numbers in two adjacent streets; pays 5:1.
The fewer numbers you back, the less often you win but the larger each individual payout becomes, which is why straight‑up bets are high variance but can deliver eye‑catching hits.
Roulette Odds Explained
Every roulette bet has a true probability based on the number of pockets on the wheel, and a fixed payout set by the casino. The gap between those two is where the house makes its profit over the long term.
On a European wheel with 37 pockets (numbers 1–36 plus a single zero):
- A straight‑up bet has a 1 in 37 chance (about 2.70%) of landing but pays 35:1.
- An even‑money bet like Red has 18 winning pockets out of 37 (about 48.65%) but only pays 1:1.
On an American wheel with 38 pockets (1–36, 0 and 00), those chances drop slightly because of the extra green pocket: 1 in 38 for a single number, 18 in 38 (about 47.37%) for an even‑money bet.
For players, the practical takeaway is simple: the payouts stay the same, but the extra pocket makes every bet slightly harder to win, which adds up quickly over many spins.
What Is the House Edge in Roulette?
The house edge is the built‑in percentage advantage the casino holds on every spin, regardless of how you bet. It comes from the fact that payouts are calculated as if there were no zero pockets, while the presence of zero (and double zero) makes every outcome slightly worse for the player.
Typical house edge figures:
- European Roulette (single zero): about 2.7%.
- American Roulette (double zero): about 5.26%.
- French Roulette with La Partage / En Prison on even‑money bets: about 1.35% on those outside bets.
Because the zero is neither red nor black, odd nor even, high nor low, it causes all those popular outside bets to lose together when it hits. Over time this edge is what ensures the casino wins on average, even though players can absolutely get short‑term winning sessions.
For your readers at The Online Betting Club, the clear advice is: prefer single‑zero games and look out for French‑style rules that refund part of your stake on zero.
Roulette Table Types and Variants
Choosing the right table is one of the few meaningful edges a roulette player can give themselves. The key difference between variants is the number of zeros and any special rules that reduce losses.
European Roulette
European roulette uses a single‑zero wheel with 37 pockets.
- Layout: numbers 1–36 plus one green 0.
- House Edge: approximately 2.7% on all standard bets.
- Availability: common across UK‑facing casinos and usually the default version online.
This is generally the best mainstream option for UK players who want reasonable odds without hunting for niche tables.
American Roulette
American roulette adds an extra double zero pocket, giving 38 pockets in total.
- Layout: numbers 1–36 plus 0 and 00.
- House Edge: around 5.26% on most bets, almost double European.
- Extras: sometimes includes specific bets like the 0–00–1–2–3 “basket” with an even higher edge.
Because of the extra zero and higher edge, American tables are usually best avoided if you have access to European or French roulette instead.
French Roulette
French roulette uses the same single‑zero wheel as European but adds player‑friendly rules on even‑money bets at some tables.
- Layout: 37 pockets, single green 0.
- Special Rules: La Partage and/or En Prison can return part or all of your stake on even‑money bets when zero lands.
- House Edge: as low as around 1.35% on affected even‑money bets.
When available, this is generally the most favourable version of roulette from a purely mathematical perspective