The Rules of Roulette

Perhaps one of the main reasons why roulette has proved to be
an incredibly popular casino game for so long is the fact that
it’s so easy to learn. The rules are incredibly simple, yet the
wide range of bets that can be placed means the game is still
very interesting to play.

Because the bets all have different odds, you can choose
whether to go for long shots and a potentially big win or the
safer bets that pay out less but are more likely to win. On this
page we explain the basic rules of roulette, including details
of all the bets you can place.

Basic Roulette Rules

Roulette is played on a game table featuring a numbered wheel
and a betting board. The wheel itself is divided into
compartments, or pockets, each of which is numbered. The numbers
1-36 are on every roulette wheel, and each is either red or
black. Depending on which variation of the game is being played,
there will be either one extra pocket (a green zero) or two
extra pockets (a green zero and a green double zero).

Players place their wagers on the betting board. All possible
bets are represented by boxes and players simply place their
chips on their desired bet, or bets. We cover the different bets
below, but they include options such as betting on a single
number or whether the number will be low (1-18) or high (19-36).
We have an example of what a game table looks like in an online
casino.

The roulette wheel is spun and a small ball is dropped into
the wheel. The ball bounces around inside the wheel before
eventually falling into one of the numbered pockets. The number
in which it lands determines which bets win and which do not.
When each roulette spin is complete, all winning bets are paid
out and all losing bets are collected by the house.

Betting Options

The available roulette bets are divided into two categories:
inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets are those that are
placed on the main number grid on the inside of the betting
board. Outside bets are those placed on the boxes outside the
main number grid. Each bet covers either a single number or a
group of numbers, and there are varying pay outs for each bet.

The available inside bets are as follows.

• Straight Up: a bet on any one single number,
  paying out at odds of 35:1.
• Split Bet: covers any two numbers that are
  adjacent on the betting board. Odds of 17:1.
• Street Bet: a bet on any of the rows of three
  numbers (1-3, 4-6 etc.). Odds of 11:1.
• Corner Bet: covers of group of four numbers.
  Odds of 8:1.
• Line Bet: covers two rows of three for a total
  of six numbers. Odds of 5:1.

The available outside bets are as follows, none of which
cover the zero (or the double zero if there is one).

• Columns: the grid is divided into 3 columns of
  12 numbers, and you can bet on one or more of these columns.
  Pays out at 2:1.
• Dozens: you can bet on the low dozen (1-12),
  mid dozen (13-24), or high dozen (25-36). Pays out at 2:1.
• Colors: an even money bet on whether the number
  will be red or black.
• Odd/Even: an even money bet on whether the
  number will be odd or even.
• High/Low: an even money bet on whether the
  number will be high (19-36) or low (1-18).

In roulette you can place any possible combinations of the
above bets, and there’s no limit on the amount of different
bets you can place. In some variations, there are also some
additional special bets that can be placed that cover specific
groups of numbers. If you are playing in a brick and mortar
casino, you can ask the dealer to explain them to you. If you
are playing in an online casino, published rules allow you read
about the special bets.