Roulette Rules

Even folks who don't necessarily gamble often mention roulette as the game they'd like to play if they ever find themselves in a casino. Indeed, the excitement here is hard to replicate elsewhere and there's nothing like a spinning wheel to draw folks in!

Well, fortunately for those folks thinking of finally giving into this excitement, this is a pretty easy game to grasp. Centered around a basic table with a wheel and a ball, this game essentially offers participants the opportunity to wager on the number or color on which the spinning ball will finally end up. Minimum and maximum wagers vary quite a bit, so players must make sure to be aware of these limits - and corresponding payout options - at each site.

Like we have said, this is basically a game where players put their money on the table (with divisions for all of the different possibilities) and hope that the ball which bounces around that popular spinning wheel will ultimately end up on the number, color, or combination on which players made their bet. In a nutshell, that's really how it breaks down. Pretty to easy to grasp, no?

Payoffs - what everyone is interested of course, and what makes the game so exciting - depend on the type of bet a player makes and lots of choices exist here. It's possible, for example, to simply put your money down on 'odd' or 'even' numbers, red or black (or the green "zero" slot), groupings of numbers, and even columns and/or rows. As you can imagine, the smaller 'grouping' or the more specific target that you establish for your bet, the great the potential payout.

Before diving in and starting to play immediately, it might be a good idea to take advantage of some free online roulette opportunities - available at most sites - which represents a good way to get your feet wet and familiarize yourself with the rules and course of play.

Wagers and Payoffs

Below you can see a short description of the different sorts of bets that can be placed and their corresponding payoffs. For additional information on the finer aspects of this exciting game and other options, check out our Strategy and Probabilities pages.

Single: wagering on one number only. Payoff: 35 to 1.

Split: wagering on any two numbers by placing your bet on the line between them. Payoff: 17 to 1.

Trio: wagering on three numbers at their intersecting point (possible with either 0, 1, and 2 or 0, 2 and 3). Payoff: 11 to 1.

Corner: wagering on four numbers by placing your bet at their intersecting point. Payoff: 8 to 1.
Four numbers: wagering on the numbers 0, 1, 2, and 3 by placing your bet at the intersection of 0 and 3. Payoff: 8 to 1.

Street - wagering on a row of three numbers by placing your bet at the end of the row. Payoff: 11 to 1.

Line - wagering on two "streets" of numbers by placing your bet at the end of both rows, on the line between the rows. Payoff: 5 to 1.

Dozen - wagering on the "First 12," "Second 12," or "Third 12" boxes, as marked, covering 12 numbers each. Payoff: 2 to 1.

Column - wagering on a column of numbers by placing your bet in any of the three "2 to 1" boxes on the ends of the table. Like betting on dozens, columns cover 12 numbers. Payoff: 2 to 1.

High or low - wagering on the either the box marked "1 to 18" (low) or "19 to 36" (high). Payoff: 1 to 1.

Red or black - wagering only on which color will come up. Zero does not count for either! Payoff: 1 to 1.

Odd or even - wagering only on whether the number will be odd or even. Zero does not count for either! Payoff: 1 to 1.

European vs. American Wheels

For all of the beginners out there, it's important to point out the difference between 'American' and 'European' wheels. To make a long story short, if you have a choice, always play on a table with a European wheel. Why? Well, an American roulette wheel has an extra slot for a '00'. A European roulette wheel has the numbers 1-36, plus a slot for zero. but no double zero. This extra slot on the American wheel means that the odds of winning are slightly worse than on a European wheel. On both wheels, you may think that there is no rhyme or reason as to how the numbers are arranged, but in fact, the numbers are arranged so that the odds of landing on high, odd, low or even numbers are evenly distributed. The zero and double zero numbers are in green and on opposite sides of the wheel, the colors and odd/even numbers alternate, and the numbers themselves are randomly distributed. So, if you're ever face with a choice between the two wheels, always go for the European variety!

Inside vs. Outside Bets

It's important to know which type of bet to make in order to feel as confident and 'in control' at the roulette table. Confusing terminology and the pace of play can complicate decisionmaking so having a graps of the different bets is essential.

Each table will usually display the minimum and maximum bets. Such signs might say, for example, "$5 minimum inside bets, $5 minimum outside bets. $1,000 maximum outside, $100 maximum inside" or a variation thereof with different numbers. Generally, table maximums are lower on inside bets because of the higher payoffs available. The odds are exactly the same as on outside bets, but most casinos do not want to risk losing as much as $35,000 at one spot on a $1,000 bet on one number. Though the listed minimums are likely to be the same for inside and outside bets, they do not represent the same thing. A player who wagers the $5 minimum on inside bets is allowed to spread five $1 chips around on different inside bets/spots. However, the minimum for outside bets means the player must wager the entire amount on each outside bet. This is an important distinction as, for example, betting $1 on evens, $1 on red, $1 on the first 12, $1 on the first 18, and $1 on the first column doesn't satisfy the minimum for an outside bet.

Remember, the player may make any of the bets of course by putting his/her chip(s) on the appropriate location. However, the size of the table may make it difficult for players to reach some of the areas. If you'd like to place a bet and you can't reach the spot, place the chips on the table and ask the dealer to relocate them to the desired wager/spot that you're looking for.

Tips

Perhaps the first and most important tip of which you should be aware is that the game carries a very high house edge. Accordingly, playing at a full and busy table can be helpful as you get around thirty spins an hour which may help decrease the time your money is exposed to the house edge (and, simultaneously, increases your comp time!)

If the number on which you wish to wager is completely covered with chips - don't worry! You are allowed to stack your chips atop another person’s chips and, despite whatever superstitions you may have, it does not change the probabilities inherent to the game.

Don't believe in "betting systems". More and more folks these days (although it's been the case for years) are proposing "systems" which they argue "guarantees wins". Honestly, there is no system that can change the house edge in this game and allow you to win. So, do not waste time, money and effort on buying into any Roulette System!