Casino rules
roulette rules
How roulette works and what the bets pay
In roulette you bet on where a ball will land on a spinning numbered wheel. You can bet on a single number, a group of numbers, or simple even-money options like red/black or odd/even. The dealer spins the wheel, drops the ball, and whichever pocket it settles in decides every bet.
European roulette has numbers 0–36; American roulette adds a second zero (00), which raises the house edge. Below are the bet types and their standard payouts. For sharper play afterwards, see our roulette strategy notes.
The wheel and the table
The wheel holds pockets numbered 0 to 36 (plus 00 on American wheels). The matching betting table lets you place chips on individual numbers or on larger groupings. The single zero is why the game has a house edge — on the even-money bets, zero means the house still wins a share over time.
Inside bets
Bets placed on specific numbers are inside bets, and they pay more because they're less likely — lower chance, bigger payout:
| Bet | Covers | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 number | 35:1 |
| Split | 2 numbers | 17:1 |
| Street | 3 numbers | 11:1 |
| Corner | 4 numbers | 8:1 |
| Line | 6 numbers | 5:1 |
Outside bets
Bets on big groups are outside bets — they win more often but pay less, the opposite trade-off to inside bets:
| Bet | Covers | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36 | 18 numbers | 1:1 |
| Dozens and columns | 12 numbers | 2:1 |
Want to know which bets are "best"? See roulette strategy notes.
How a round of roulette is played, step by step
- Place your chips Bet on numbers (inside) or groups like red/black (outside) before the spin.
- Dealer spins The wheel turns one way and the ball is released the other way.
- No more bets The dealer calls 'no more bets' as the ball slows.
- The ball lands The pocket the ball settles in is the winning number.
- Winning bets are paid Each bet pays its fixed rate, such as 35:1 for a single number.
Frequently asked questions
What does a single number pay in roulette?
A straight-up bet on one number pays 35:1. It's the biggest payout because it's the least likely result.
What's the difference between European and American roulette?
European wheels have numbers 0–36; American wheels add a second zero (00). The extra pocket roughly doubles the house edge, so European roulette is the better-value version.
What are the safest roulette bets?
The even-money outside bets — red/black, odd/even and 1–18/19–36 — win close to half the time but only pay 1:1. They're lower-variance, not a way to beat the house edge.