Roulette Rules

Roulette rules are simple and it is one of the easiest games in a casino to learn. There are a lot of betting options within the table diagram, but they are quickly understandable. We’ll introduce you to the different types of Roulette games, how the wheel works, the various betting options and the fundamentals of how to play Roulette.

Roulette is generally considered one of the classier games in the casino, often thought to attract the ritzier types with excessive bankrolls. Roulette has an interesting history and is known as the “game of kings” – a nickname derived from its origins, when only members of French nobility were allowed to play – nowadays any casual casino player is welcome to join in.

One of the many popular games that players can find in online casinos today is American and European roulette. This game is extremely popular due to it being so easy to learn and the excitement that comes from having the outcome of whether a player wins or loses tons of money riding on a little white ball spinning around a large wheel.

But many people who have yet to play the game seem to be intimidated because it looks much more complicated than it really is. However, the thought that roulette is a difficult game to learn couldn’t be farther from the truth as there are fewer games out there easier to learn than the game of roulette.

And to prove that point, we have listed the objective and all of what you need to know to learn the game, have fun and maybe even win some money in the process.

Rules for Online Roulette

The whole idea behind the game of roulette is to place a wager on the roulette board whether it’s a single number or one of the many outside bets in hopes that when the ball stops rolling around the wheel it stops on one of the numbers or colours that the player wagered on. Each of the different bets kinds of bets will offer a different payout based on the odds of how likely it is to win using that bet.

Each of the different kinds of bets is listed for you below.

Inside/Outside Bets: Inside bets are simply bets that are made on any of the numbers from 1 to 36, and 00. Most casinos will have a minimum that has to be met to play which can be done by betting on one number or multiple numbers with no cap to how many numbers a player can wager on.

Outside bets are bets made on one of the many options including the colour that the ball will land on, whether the number will be odd or even or wagers on columns of numbers. Basically any bet that is made outside of the numbers are considered ‘outside’ bets.

Straight Bets: Straights bets are bets that are made on one of the numbers. These bets have a payout of 35 to 1. An example of a straight bet would be a wager on the number 15, 22 or even the number 30. Any bet that is on a number is a ‘straight’ bet.

Split Bets: When a player makes a split bet, they are making a wager between two different numbers. This offers another avenue or better odds to win at odds of about 17 to 1. For example, a bet placed between 2 and 3 would pay 17 to 1 if the ball landed on either two or three on the wheel.

Street/Trio Bet: A street bet is a bet placed on a row of numbers such as 1 thru 3, 6 thru 9 and so forth. This type of bet offers odds of 11 to 1.

Six Line Bet: A six line bet is similar to a street bet except instead of wagering on only one line, it’s a wager on two lines. This type of wager offers odds of 6 to 1.

4 Number Bet/Corner Bet: Also known as a square bet, a 4 number or corner bet is a bet that is placed between 4 different numbers. For example, a corner bet would be a bet placed between the numbers of 14, 15, 17, and 18. If the ball lands on any one of these numbers the player will be paid the odds of 8 to 1.

Even Bet: An even bet will pay a player when the ball lands on any even number. This bets pays the odds of 1 to 1.

Odd Bet: Odd bets are the opposite of even bets. Players will be paid when the ball lands on an odd number at the rate of 1 to 1.

Red Bet: Just as it sounds, a bet placed on ‘red’ will pay players any time the ball lands on a red number. This has odds of 1 to 1.

Black Bet: A black bet has odds of 1 to 1 and will pay whenever the ball lands on a black number.

Low Bet: Low bets are a bet made on the 1 thru 18 area on the roulette board. This will pay out at odds of 1 to 1 whenever the ball lands on any number 1 thru 18.

High Bet: High bets are bets made on the 19 thru 36 area on the board. Similar to the low bet, this has odds of 1 to 1 and pays whenever the ball lands on the number 19 thru 36.

Dozen Bet: A dozen bet is a bet made on one of the areas that is listed as 1st 12, 2nd 12 or 3rd 12 and pays out odds of 2 to 1.

Column Bets: When a player makes a column bet, they’re making a bet on the area that says 2 to 1. For example, one of the rows consists of the numbers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31 and 34. When a bet is placed here and one of the numbers is landed on the player will be paid at the rate of 2 to 1.

European Roulette vs American Roulette

As you may know, there are regional variants of Roulette. The most popular are American Roulette and European Roulette. The difference is nothing more than a single zero (0) in the European version, while American has the single zero (0) and double zero (00). Doesn’t seem like it matters much right?

Wrong

If you place a wager on a single number in European Roulette, such as 15, the odds of that number hitting are 37:1, with a payout of 35:1. In American roulette, the odds are 38:1, but the payout is the same, 35:1. The key to choosing better casino games is understanding the house edge. You should always go where the house edge is lowest, and that’s European Roulette. You won’t often find European Roulette in the US, but its always available at online casinos.

Because European Roulette is the most preferred variant of the game, we’ll be using it in the rest of this introduction to Roulette.

The Roulette Wheel

The Roulette Wheel is where all of the real action takes place. There are 37 pockets, numbered 0-36. The numbers seem to be scattered at random around the wheel, but if you study it, there is actually a method to its madness. Low numbers are across from high numbers, odd across from even, black and red alternating. Numbers 1-12 are scattered about, just like 13-14 and 25-36. The Roulette wheel gives no advantage to the players when placing bets.

Once every bet has been placed, the wheel is spun. A small ball is dropped into the wheel tossed in the opposite direction. The pocket this ball finally comes to a rest in will depict the winning number and colour.

The Roulette Table

The roulette table is a rectangular display of all possible bets. The diagram offers all numbers, 0 and 1-36, with each backdropped in the same colour as found on the wheel. Players will place their chips in the area of the table that corresponds with their desired bets.

Roulette Bets – Inside Bets

Inside Bets are those made on the actual numbers, within the inside of the table’s betting diagram. These are all listed below.

Single Number Bet [Pays 35:1] A bet on a single number.
2 Number Combo Bet [Pays 17:1] A bet on two adjacent numbers.
3 Number Combo Bet [Pays 11:1] A bet on 3 numbers in a column.
4 Number Combo Bet [Pays 8:1] A bet on 4 intersecting numbers.
Street Bet (6 Numbers) [Pays 5:1] A bet on 6 numbers in two adjacent columns.

Roulette Bets – Outside Bets

Outside Bets have smaller payouts, but a lower house edge. We’ll list each of these below.

Black [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be Black.
Red [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be Red.
Low [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be 1-18.
High [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be 19-36.
Odd [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be Odd.
Even [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be Even (0 not included).

1st 12 [Pays 2:1] A bet that the winning number will be 1-12.
2nd 12 [Pays 2:1] A bet that the winning number will be 13-24.
3rd 12 [Pays 2:1] A bet that the winning number will be 25-36.

First Row [Pays 2:1] a bet on 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31 and 34.
Second Row [Pays 2:1] A bet on 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32 and 35.
Third Row [Pays 2:1] A bet on 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36.

Learning How to Play Online Roulette

Hopefully we have proven that roulette is an exceptionally easy game to learn how to play once a player has an understanding of all the different bets that can be made.

Choose the bet type you would like to make, then place on chips on the area of the Roulette table diagram that corresponds with your bet. If the bet is won, you are paid, and your bet is returned. If the bet is lost, the chips are collected by clearing the layout of all losing bets.

Are There Winning Roulette Systems ?

Many players go about learning trying different betting systems to win kid themselves they can beat the house each time they sit down to play roulette.

The reality is that ALL betting and roulette systems are flawed, you simply cannot beat the mathematical house edge on roulette (or any other casino house game) in the long run. You can however get lucky and win which is why we all play off course – It’s a gamble.

Remember the roulette wheel offers actual odds of 37:1 on landing in one of the pockets (or 38:1 on a double zero wheel), while only paying out at 35:1 on winning bets. The house takes all bets that lands on green (0 & 00) giving them a small but consistently profitable edge on the game, regardless of anyone playing a “winning” system.

The only possible way that roulette can be beaten is if you spot a physically biased roulette wheel which because of wear and tear or a flaw it favours a certain area of the wheel over others.