How to Play Roulette: A Guide to the Roulette Rules

How to Play Roulette: A Guide to the Roulette Rules

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Welcome to my guide for roulette players. The game, which is also called Online roulette is one of the most popular casino games of all time. The rules of the game are very easy to understand, but without some understanding of rules & terms you will never know how to play roulette professionally.

Go directly to the topics with one click

• Roulette basics
• European Roulette
• American roulette
• Roulette variants
• Frequently asked questions

In the coming sections I will introduce you to the world of roulette, starting with the basics of this fascinating game. I explain the most important rules and betting options so that you are well prepared. I then turn my attention to European roulette, which offers better chances of winning with its single zero and is popular in many casinos around the world.

I will then discuss American roulette , which differs in that it has an additional double zero and requires different strategic considerations. This variant is particularly common in the USA and offers a slightly different gaming experience.

Finally, I will introduce you to some interesting roulette variants that you may not know yet. From mini roulette with fewer numbers to innovative online variants with unique rules and betting options - I'll show you what options there are and how you can spice up your roulette game. Be excited about the variety that this classic casino gambling has to offer!

How Roulette Works – The Goal of the Game

So that you can easily understand the roulette rules, you first need to understand the basics. The aim of the game is to bet on the correct number or the correct combination of numbers. Once you place a bet, the ball is thrown along the edge of the spinning wheel. It is important to note that the boiler is divided into number compartments. If the ball lands on the number you bet on, you win. If it doesn't land on the selected number or combination of numbers, you lose.

The roulette wheel

The name ‘Roulette’ comes from French and means something like ‘small wheel’. By the way, in German we speak of the so-called roulette wheel. As you can probably imagine, this cauldron is the most important part of this popular casino game. It is available in casinos in all sizes imaginable, with the classic variant consisting of 37 number fields, which are arranged alternately in the colors black and red, apart from the number 0, which is displayed on a green field. The numbers 1-36 are not in numerical order. Only when the bowl is rotated does the table leader throw the ball along the edge in the opposite direction. The reason for this is that an attempt is made to preserve randomness. For this reason, the direction of rotation also changes after every coup or after every second coup.

With this casino game of chance you have no influence on the course of the game. The only thing that is in your hand is how much money you want to bet and, above all, on which numbers or combinations of numbers.

The number zero – the house edge

Each variant has a green number compartment with the number zero in roulette. The American roulette differs from the classic European/French version in that it has two number compartments with zero (0/00). This number compartment is extremely important because it essentially represents the casino's house edge. If this compartment were missing, the odds of winning on the outside bets would be 50/50, which would result in the casino consistently losing money when multiple players are playing at the table at the same time. The house edge of playing with one zero is 2.7%, whereas the house edge of playing with two zeros is 5.3%.

The setting field – tableau

The field on the gaming table covered with green material is called the betting field or tableau. Here you bet by placing the casino chips on the number, color or number combination of your choice. In the middle of the board you will find the numbers 1-36. The easy opportunities are outside. For example, you bet on red/black or columns. A column consists of a dozen and includes, for example, the numbers 1 - 12 or the first row that starts with 1 and ends with 34. You can place as many bets as the table limit allows.

I will go into more detail about the payouts and wagering requirements further down in my roulette explanation. The arrangement of the numbers on the betting field is not identical to the arrangement of the numbers in the wheel. So familiarize yourself with the cauldron before you start a real money game.

Summary: Players place their bets on the green betting field. You can either bet on specific numbers or on certain properties (red/black). In this case we also speak of inside bets or simple chances of outside bets. Also keep in mind that the numbers on the betting field are not positioned in the same order as in the roulette wheel.

Basics of Roulette Betting Rules and Odds of Winning

One of the few things a player can decide in roulette is his choice of bet before the croupier says “Rien ne va plus”. And with the popular cauldron game you have a lot of betting options to choose from. Although the many options can seem overwhelming at first, they are ultimately very easy to understand. Basically there are only two types of bets: inside bet and outside bet, the latter of which is also referred to as simple chance. These simple chances mean the options that are outside the numerical field and affect the properties of the numbers or bundle them into a dozen. The inner bets, as the name suggests, concern the bets within the numerical field. There, for example, you bet on certain numbers or combinations of numbers. The payout ratios range from modest 1:1 values ​​to large 35:1 winnings.

If you want to play roulette, it is very important to understand the basic rules of the game. You should know which betting options you have available and what the respective payout rates are. So that you have everything you need to know at a glance, you can download the roulette rules as a PDF below.

PDF Download

A simple rule that you should remember is that the amount of the payout percentage depends on the probability of winning. The higher your chance of winning, the lower the payout rate or, in other words, the lower your chance of winning, the higher the payout rate. A single bet on a specific winning number pays out at a ratio of 35:1. If you have bet on two numbers, the odds are halved to 17:1 and so on. A bet on black/red or even/odd pays your winnings at a ratio of 1:1. Let's say you bet ₱ 300on red and win, then you get paid out ₱ 300That's why it's probably best to focus on the easy odds, as you'll have a higher chance of winning there.

It's best to take a look at the table below to get a complete overview of the payout rates. As you may notice, some bets have a French name, which is because they were created by the French roulette variant were taken over, but this has no influence on the bet or the payout rate.

Table limits

For every roulette game, the casino shows you the minimum and maximum table limits. It is now common practice for each game to assign individual limits for each bet. These limits protect the casino from having to pay out a million euro bet at odds of 35:1.

Although most online casinos now offer players all betting options (from stakes starting at €0.10 up to High roller tables ), not every table or betting limit is suitable for experienced players who know how to play roulette or follow a betting strategy. Most betting strategies focus on the easy odds because the probability of winning is higher there. As a result, it is advisable for more experienced players to select tables that have a high limit for outside bets, as there is a higher chance that their roulette strategy will be successful.

Once you understand the roulette rules, you can also use mine Roulette strategies familiarize. There you will learn how to use roulette to play strategies and tactics in order to win in the best case scenario. On the page I have presented the systems to you in graphics so that you can understand the strategies as easily as possible. The aim of this guide is to help you find the strategy that is right for you.

Summary: Each roulette game has its own table limits, although it should be noted that each bet within the game also has its own limit. However, these betting limits only affect players who play with a strategy or high rollers who like to bet a few thousand euros on a spin.

Explanation of the La Partage and En Prison Rule

You won't find these rules in all cauldron games, but they are also not exclusive to French Roulette, as the name might suggest. In some American versions the term ‘Surrender’ appears, which is synonymous with the La Partage rule. To find out whether any of these rules appear in the game, I encourage you to read the game description. In land-based casinos, the croupier can explain this to you.

These rules concern the number zero and the simple odds. If the ball lands on zero, everyone loses their outside bet. La Partage means so much splitting and offers the player the opportunity to get half of their stake back if the ball lands on zero.

En Prison means that if the ball lands on zero, your bet will be blocked from the next roll. If you lose the next coup, your bet is gone. However, if you win, your bet will be unlocked, but will remain on the betting field. If you win the next round with your unlocked stake, you will get your stake back. This rule is beneficial for players and increases the chances of winning even further in a game that already has a high RTP. The house edge on outside bets drops to 1.35% with the En Prison rule.

Summary:

La Partage: Easy chances are half-paid back to the player if the ball lands on zero.

En Prison: Should the ball land on zero, the player's outside bet will be blocked for the next coup. If the player wins the next round, their bet will be unlocked again. If the bet then wins the next round, the player receives his stake back, but without any winnings.

European Roulette Rules

Understandably, many new players are initially a little confused about the differences between European and French Roulette. This primarily has to do with the fact that there are actually no differences. The European Roulette rules are the same as the French version and only have one zero, unlike the French version American variant. To explain it even more simply: the differences between these two variants are purely visual. For example, the betting fields of the colors are not next to each other, but are opposite each other, or in the French version they are not marked in color, but instead have the terms noir and rouge (French for black and red). If you want to bet on even or odd, you have to look for the terms pair/impair on the betting field in French Roulette. Another difference is when betting on high/low numbers. While the fields 1-18/19-36 can be found in European roulette, in the French version these are written out as passe/manque.

European Roulette betting field:

In European Roulette the terms are in English. The colors red and black are displayed in the form of checks. The dozen fields are arranged above the outside bets and easy odds.

French Roulette betting field:

In this variant many terms are in French. Instead of the colored diamonds you will often find the names Rouge (red) and Noir (black). You can find the dozen bets at the end of the betting field behind the columns.

A big difference between these two variants concerns the dozen bets. In European play, these betting fields are between the numbers and the easy odds. They are listed as 1st 12 (first dozen), 2nd 12 (second dozen) and 3rd 12 (third dozen). In the French variant you will find these fields at the end of the betting field under the names P12 (première douzaine, 1 - 12), M12 (moyenne douzaine, 13 - 24) and D12 (dernière douzaine, 25 - 36).

In French In this variant, the terms of the inner bets are also given in French, but if you have any questions, just take a look Table above, because everything is listed there, in German and French. By the way, the table is very helpful when you learn the rules of the roulette game.

Summary: The difference between European and French Roulette is purely visual. The bowl is the same and the betting options are also the same. The only difference is that the French version also uses French terms.

American Roulette – game rules at a glance

The biggest difference between the American Roulette rules and the European Roulette rules is that the former has an additional number compartment with the zero: the so-called double zero. This increases the house edge a little, so that the theoretical payout rate (RTP value) is 94.7%, instead of the usual 97.3% for the French or European variant. This RTP value (Return-To-Player) indicates the theoretical value that is paid out to players as winnings. In the American version, for example, ₱ 2000is paid out as winnings when ₱ 3000is deposited. Theoretically, of course. Therefore, one of my roulette tips for beginners is: For this reason, I can honestly say that there is no reason to play the American version of the game if winning is important to you and you have the option to choose the other two versions. It's actually only worth it for players who are looking for a thrill and are happy to take an additional risk.

American roulette

European Roulette

The double zero behaves similarly to the other number compartments and players can also bet on them accordingly. A bet on the zero and double zero is equivalent to adjacent numbers/cheval from the French or European versions and therefore has a payout ratio of 17:1. If you bet on three numbers with one chip (0,1,2/ 00,2,3/0,00,2), it has the same odds as a transverse row, namely 11:1. There is actually only one exception and that concerns the bet on the top five numbers. The so-called Top Line bet has odds of 6:1 and does not exist in the other two variants. However, you should remember that this type of bet has a higher house edge and is therefore less attractive for players. Therefore, my roulette tip for beginners is: avoid this type of bet.

A crucial difference to the other two variants is the positioning of the numbers. The colors red and black also alternate in the American kettle, but the numbers are arranged completely differently. You can clearly see the difference in the two pictures above.

Summary: American Roulette has a double-zero number slot, which is not found in the European and/or French versions. The double zero increases the house edge from 2.6% to 5.46% and also influences the payout percentage. Otherwise the rules of the game are the same. If possible, avoid this version. The increased house edge makes the American version less attractive to players than the French or European game.

My Roulette Tips – How to find the best game

When it comes to choosing the best roulette game, the strategy should be to find the game with the rules that give you the best payout rate. The following steps will show you what you should pay attention to if you decide to do this Roulette for real money wanting to play.

Step 1: Play European Roulette

The first thing you should do if you want to play roulette is to take a closer look at the roulette wheel. If you only find a zero, you are correct and you have found either a European or French variant. However, if you spot a zero and a double zero, quickly run away. Therefore, my tip for roulette beginners: stay away from the American version as much as possible.

The double zero is of no use to you because in the end it only increases the casino's house edge. If you have found a cauldron with only one zero, you can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Appropriate table limits for roulette strategies

Next, advanced players should consider the respective table and betting limits. Players who, for example progressive betting strategies should choose a game where smaller table limits are allowed, but there is also a very high limit for easy chances. Fans of the Martingale strategy know only too well how frustrating it can be when the easy odds only allow small betting limits. For this reason, it is best to choose a gaming table that allows small limits but is progressive upwards.

Games with high betting limits for easy odds are ideal for progressive strategies.

Although many games only offer smaller limits on outside bets, you can see above that some also allow limits of ₱ 100and high roller tables even allow much higher limits (where the minimum betting limit is likely to be correspondingly high). The table serves as an example of progressive betting strategies, as the table limit is very low and high stakes can still be placed with the simple odds.

Step 3: Find a game with La Partage/En Prison

As mentioned in my roulette explanation, you should find a roulette game that uses the La Partage or En Prison rule, especially if you like to place outside bets. The reason is obvious: the player benefits because the house edge decreases with easy chances. Although the terms are in French, you won't necessarily find these rules unique to French Roulette and I have also found them in European Roulette, although that is not common.

Roulette tip for advanced players: If you are a strategic player, it is better to always choose the table with the better table limits than a table that has one of the two rules. I recently played at a table with the La Partage rule that had an outside betting limit of ₱ 2000and it turned out to be extremely inconvenient for strategy. Keep this in mind when looking for the perfect roulette game.

Step 4: Other rules

Although the following rules are not necessarily the most important, it is extremely pleasant for players to find them. This means the possibility of saving betting strategies, a race track that is available, or the option of a quick game. The latter is particularly recommended for players who don't need any fancy animations and just want to play. A racetrack is a nice idea because the numbers there are arranged in the same order as in the wheel and you can therefore bet on neighboring numbers more clearly, although the rules of a roulette game are identical to racetrack. The ability to save betting strategies is an absolute plus, especially for experienced players who have developed their own system.

Step 5: Play with good manners

As with all casino games, there are unspoken rules in roulette that affect the behavior and behavior of the players. If you're playing online, most of this won't affect you, but it still doesn't hurt to know what to expect if you want to try out the casserole game at a land-based casino. First of all, be polite to your fellow players and the croupier. If you Play live roulette If you want to, you should never make inappropriate comments in the chat. If you do, there is a high chance that you will be removed from the game. Another unspoken rule that particularly affects land-based casinos: never touch another player's chips. If you want to make the same bet, politely ask the croupier to place your chips. This still applies even if the round has already ended. If you win, you wait until the dealer gives you the chips again. By the way, every croupier is happy about a tip and at many live casinos you now also have the opportunity to give a tip. And don't forget: Pay attention when the croupier says “Rien ne va plus”.

More roulette variants and rules

Online casinos now have their offerings Online Casino Play significantly expanded. Nowadays there are countless companies that develop game titles for online casinos. This means that there are tons of fun, interesting and innovative variants. Some only differ visually, while others change the rules completely.

Here are some of the most popular and unique online roulette games you can find right now. There is an overview on my roulette page all online roulette variants.

Other roulette games

If you search online for alternative roulette variants, you will probably find more than you can count. In some variants, the table limits are the main focus and are what makes the game so special. Be it in the sense that you can play with a small stake, like in Penny Roulette with a stake of €0.01, or up to ₱ 6000per round in Video Roulette. If you want to learn more about the history of roulette, you should play card roulette, after all, for a long time it was the only way to play roulette legally.

Important note about the variants There are tons of fun and creative online variants of roulette. Although these games have a high entertainment factor, they don't often offer you the chance to win. So if you are looking for roulette games that give you the best chance of winning, I definitely recommend a variation that is played according to European rules.

Roulette News

Whether new variants, big winnings or profitable betting strategies. Here you will find all the latest news about roulette and if you follow the link you will find the best roulette bonus offers.

News

• Caesars Entertainment opens new Caesars New Orleans Casino after over 25 years of renovations by Matthias Friess, October 28, 2024
• Illegal gambling in the backroom: raids in Mönchengladbach and Stuttgart by Mark Seibert, June 30, 2023
• Bavaria's casino world is becoming more and more attractive by Mark Seibert, December 7, 2018

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Author: Mark Seibert First published of this article: 12/15/2015 Last modified: November 2026 Average rating: 4.692% of readers rated this page 5.0 Rate now! (212)

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