Roulette Rules – How to Play Roulette?
You're sitting comfortably at home in front of the screen, the roulette wheel starts to spin, the ball begins to roll, the tension rises – or are you not quite there yet because you don't know the roulette rules? Then you're in luck (which you'll also need when playing roulette), because we'll explain the rules to you in detail and in an easy-to-understand way, so that you can soon join in and collect your first winnings!
First off: Don't be intimidated by the many numbers and different colors. The roulette game rules are basically very simple and anyone can learn the game. In addition to the theoretical knowledge, you can of course also gain practical experience directly at the GOLDEN GRAND Online Casino, as we offer roulette in all possible versions, both as a table game and in the interactive live casino. So: Just keep reading and become a roulette pro!
Roulette – A Classic with a Long History
Before we explain the roulette rules to you, let's first address the question: What is roulette anyway? To fully understand the game, it's helpful to also familiarize yourself a bit with its background.
In fact, the game has a fascinating history that begins in the 17th century. It is believed that the mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal from France invented the game – by accident, while he was actually trying to create a perpetual motion machine. Probably a big disappointment for him, but a great stroke of luck for all those who now count the game among their absolute favorites in the casino. However, the game and the roulette rules only slowly developed into what we know today in the 18th century. The game of chance quickly made a name for itself, especially in the upper circles in France, and after a zero was added to the wheel in 1842, the most widespread variant to this day developed: European roulette.
But the development didn't stop here. In the USA, the later version with the double zero became particularly well-known, which is still played in many casinos today. In addition, French roulette enjoys great popularity – especially in France and Monaco.
So now you know: Roulette is a game that was created purely by chance and has now become the undisputed casino classic with its numerous different versions. This of course also means that the roulette rules are not the same for all variations. But don't worry: Our detailed roulette explanation provides you with everything you need to know – and you can put your newly acquired knowledge directly into practice with our table games or in the live casino.
Roulette Rules for Beginners – The Basics
Now let's address the big question "How does roulette work?". We're primarily referring to European Roulette here, as this version is by far the most widespread. The other variants usually only deviate slightly from these basic rules.
The game basically consists of two parts: There's the roulette wheel, also known as the roulette kettle, and a table with markings where you place your bets. But how many numbers are on the roulette wheel? There are 37 pockets on the wheel (38 in American Roulette) with numbers from 1-36 and a 0. These also have different colors. Half of the number pockets are red, the other half black; the pocket with the zero is green. Your task? You bet on which of these pockets the ball will land by placing your bet on the table. Simple, right?
However, there are several ways you can place your bet. You'll learn more about this in the following section, where we'll explain the roulette rules regarding your bet in detail.
Betting & Winning – But How?
You have the chips in your hand, the table in front of you, understood the basic roulette rules – but unfortunately have no idea what all the fields and markings mean? That's actually quite simple too. A distinction is made between so-called inside bets and outside bets, which we'll explain to you here in detail:
Inside Bets
- Straight Up (Plein): Here you can bet on a specific number (for example, on 7). You place directly on this number.
- Split (Cheval): You also have the option to bet on two adjacent numbers (for example, 7 and 8). For this, the chip is placed on the line between the two numbers.
- Street (Transversale Pleine): With this type of bet, you bet on three adjacent numbers on a horizontal line (e.g., 7, 8, and 9). To do this, place the chip at the beginning of the row, outside on the line.
- Corner (Carré): Alternatively, you can even bet on four adjacent numbers that form a square (like 10, 11, 12, and 13). The chip is placed at the intersection of the four number fields.
- Line (Double Street/Transversale Simple): With this, you bet on six numbers from two horizontal rows (for example, 7, 8, 9 and 10, 11, 12). Place the chip at the intersection of both rows, outside on the line.
Outside Bets
- Red/Black (Rouge/Noir): Here you bet on which color the number will be where the ball lands – black or red? To do this, place on the field in the respective color at the bottom edge of the table.
- Even/Odd (Pair/Impair): This bet is about whether the number will be even or odd. Place at the bottom of the table on Pair for even numbers and Impair for odd numbers.
- Low/High (Manque/Passe): Will the number be high or low? Place the chip on Manque for numbers 1 to 18 and on Passe for 19 to 36.
- Dozen (Douzaine): With Douzaine, you bet on a third of the numbers – i.e., 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. For this, you'll find the three corresponding boxes labeled "1st 12", "2nd 12", and "3rd 12" on the right side of the table.
- Columns (Colonnes): Here you can bet on a vertical column with twelve numbers (for example, 1, 4, 7, ... up to 34). The fields for this are usually located at the bottom edge of the column labeled "2:1" or "2 to 1".
With outside bets, you have higher chances of winning than with inside bets; however, the possible payout is also lower.
In addition to inside and outside bets, some versions in some casinos also offer special bets. These include the Zero bet, where you bet on 0, Neighbor bets, where you also bet on the neighboring numbers of the respective number on the roulette wheel, and Final bets. In the latter, you bet on all numbers that have the same digit in the ones place (e.g., 5, 15, 25, and 35). Whether these bets are available or not always depends on the individual roulette rules.
This is How the Game Proceeds
So now you know the basic roulette rules. But how does a round actually proceed? When do you place your bet? And what winnings can you receive? We'll explain that to you as well, of course.
In roulette, each round follows a clear and orderly sequence. First of all, the bets are placed. To do this, place your chips (chips) on the table according to the desired type of bet as described above. You don't necessarily have to decide on one bet, but can also place several at the same time.
Once all bets have been placed, the roulette wheel is spun. In table games, this happens automatically; in the live casino, it's the croupier's task. While the wheel is spinning, additional bets can usually still be placed until the dealer gives the final signal. Then it gets exciting: Where will the little ball land?
After the Ball Has Landed ...
... you know whether you've won or lost. The lost bets are now removed from the table according to the roulette rules and the winnings are paid out based on the respective bet and stake. By betting on multiple possibilities, you can thus win and lose simultaneously in one round.
Where the ball lands cannot be predicted. Although you can slightly influence your chances of winning through a clever betting strategy, all in all, roulette is and remains a game of chance. The big advantage of this: Every round is at least as exciting as the previous one; the game always runs fairly.
After the winnings have been paid out, it's already time to place the next bets. Bet the same as last time – or does your luck lie elsewhere? You decide!
Which Roulette Rules Apply to Winning?
You're now familiar with the roulette rules, but what about the winnings? Which bet can bring you which payout? Just take a look at our roulette winning table. This refers to classic European Roulette:
| Bet Type | Winning Chance in % | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Up (Plein) | 2.70 % | 35:1 |
| Split (Cheval) | 5.41 % | 17:1 |
| Street (Transversale Pleine) | 8.11 % | 11:1 |
| Corner (Carré) | 10.81 % | 8:1 |
| Line (Double Street/Transversale Simple) | 16.22 % | 5:1 |
| Columns (Colonnes) | 32.43 % | 2:1 |
| Dozen (Douzaine) | 32.43 % | 2:1 |
| Red/Black (Rouge/Noir) | 48.65 % | 1:1 |
| Even/Odd (Pair/Impair) | 48.65 % | 1:1 |
| High/Low (Manque/Passe) | 48.65 % | 1:1 |
The house edge is 2.7% due to these roulette rules – the zero makes the difference.
American and French Roulette – Rules That Differ
In addition to European Roulette, the American and French variants of the classic are also extremely popular, with the roulette rules deviating slightly in each case.
- In American Roulette, there is not just one zero, but two. So the wheel has a total of 38 pockets and the house edge is 5.26% due to the double zero.
- In French Roulette, the rules are a bit different: There are additional special regulations. With "La Partage", half of simple bets are returned on zero, and with "En Prison", the stake of a simple bet is locked for the next round on zero.
These deviating roulette rules of course also influence your chances of winning. Apart from that, the game always works the same: Place your bet, cheer along while the ball rolls over the wheel – and look forward to big winnings!
Play Roulette at GOLDEN GRAND – Try Your Luck!
When it comes to roulette, it doesn't matter whether you're a newcomer to the casino world or an experienced pro: The game is suitable for everyone! The roulette rules are easy to learn and with a little luck on your side – as well as a certain willingness to take risks – you can achieve high winnings here.
And if it shouldn't be roulette after all? Then countless online slot machines and other table games await you at GOLDEN GRAND (such as Blackjack or the classic Hold 'em), which provide hours of excitement and gaming fun! Just take a look around – your favorites are certainly among them too. And if you want to inform yourself more deeply about the individual games, you'll definitely find what you're looking for in our casino tips.
FAQ
What roulette variants are there?
The best-known variants are European, American, and French Roulette. But there are many more variations of the popular casino classic, including Mini Roulette with only 13 pockets and numbers from 0-12, Multi-Wheel Roulette (where players can bet on multiple wheels simultaneously), and Racetrack Roulette with additional betting options.
Can the roulette rules differ between casinos?
Yes, because it depends, among other things, on which version is being played. In addition, special regulations that deviate from the standard roulette rules are possible. For example, interaction times may be limited in live dealer games.
Are there special roulette strategies?
Yes – and no. Roulette is a game of chance and there is no strategy that can circumvent the house edge. However, there are a few approaches that are often used in roulette (Martingale, Fibonacci, D'Alembert, Flat Betting, and so on).
