How to Play Roulette Online
Roulette is the iconic casino game synonymous with glamour, excitement, and big wins. A spinning wheel, a small ball, and your bet — the rules are simple but the strategy runs deep. This guide covers everything from basic bets to the best variants.
All Roulette Bet Types
| Bet Type | Description | Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | Bet on a single number | 35:1 | 2.7% |
| Split | Bet on 2 adjacent numbers | 17:1 | 2.7% |
| Street | Bet on 3 numbers in a row | 11:1 | 2.7% |
| Corner | Bet on 4 numbers in a square | 8:1 | 2.7% |
| Red/Black | Bet on color (even money) | 1:1 | 2.7% |
| Odd/Even | Bet on number type | 1:1 | 2.7% |
| High/Low | 1-18 or 19-36 bet | 1:1 | 2.7% |
| Dozen | Bet on 12 numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd) | 2:1 | 2.7% |
Roulette Variants Compared
European Roulette
American Roulette
French Roulette
Lightning Roulette
Pro Tip: Always Choose European
European Roulette has a house edge of 2.7% vs American Roulette's 5.26%. Over time, this makes a significant difference to your bankroll. French Roulette offers the best odds (1.35%) thanks to the La Partage rule which returns half your even-money bet when the ball lands on 0.
Roulette FAQ
European vs American roulette — which has better odds?
European roulette has a 2.70% house edge (single zero). American roulette has 5.26% (double zero). Always play European or French roulette online — the house edge is nearly halved.
What is the La Partage rule?
On French roulette, if you place an even-money bet (red/black, odd/even, high/low) and the ball lands on zero, you get half your stake back. This cuts the house edge from 2.70% to 1.35% — the lowest in the game.
Is the Martingale system safe?
No. Doubling after every loss seems logical but a streak of 7–8 losses (statistically common over a long session) requires bet sizes that exceed table limits or your bankroll. Use it only with strict loss caps.
What's the best bet in roulette?
Even-money outside bets on French roulette (with La Partage). They offer the lowest house edge at 1.35%, give the highest hit frequency (~48%) and let bankrolls survive variance the longest.
Does roulette history predict future spins?
No. Each spin is independent — the wheel has no memory. Tracking past results (the "gambler's fallacy") gives no predictive value on RNG or fairly-spun wheels.