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Learn how to play roulette: basic rules explained

Last updated: 01.08.2024 by Chris Mwangi

Welcome to the ultimate guide to teaching complete roulette beginners the basics. This guide will catch you up on everything you need to know about the game to get started. We factor in some of the basic variants that it’s good to understand and also which ones to choose. Refer to our FAQ section to really catch yourself up to speed in no time at all.

What’s the Goal of Roulette?

The goal of the game is actually very simple. You need to guess where the ball will lend in the wheel, where 36 numbers are based. They are denominated from 0 to 36 and come in red and black colors. The zero is a bit of an outlier as it comes in green. This is really it. You just need to predict where the ball will end up by placing bets or combinations of bets. Each of these has a different chance and payouts. We will talk more about this momentarily.

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How to Play Roulette Step by Step

Since this is your first time with roulette, we have found it best to just guide you gently through the entire process. The game is played indefinitely – for as long as you like. You just place a bet, try to predict the sector by placing chips on the table and then the wheel spins, producing an outcome. You collect your money as per the result displayed by the wheel. Here is a closer look.

Algorithm casino game
  1. place a bet
  2. Croupier launches wheel spin
  3. Get results of the round
  4. Start new round or stop game

Step 1: Make a Bet

The first step is clearly the one where you actually place a wager. There are many betting options – in fact up to 36 straight bets (the bets on a single number) you can do here. There are many chips that come in different denominations and signify the amounts you are willing to risk per each wager. One small thing to know is that you don’t know how much the bet is supposed to pay. This should be taught beforehand or referenced somewhere. Put simply, a straight bet pays 35:1 and an odds/even bet pays 1:1.

Select Bet Type
Select Bet Type
Select Bet Type

Announced Bets

It’s important to understand how Announced Bets work. They are also referred to as “French bets” and they are made by simply telling the dealer what sector you wish to be covered, picking from those special bets. Then, the live dealer will note down that the place has been bet but won’t take chips from the player. Even though no chips have been placed, the bet is still very much on and players may win or lose chips depending on the outcome. This is usually the etiquette in live casinos. In online casinos, the Announced Bets will always be noted down by placing actual chips on the selection that players made. It’s just the way these things work.

Select Bet Type
Select Bet Type
Select Announced Bet Type

Table and Bet Limits

It’s good to find out about this as early on as possible. Each roulette table will have an actual betting limit, which is actually pretty generous. Essentially, the game has a minimum and maximum bet you can place. It’s important to note that not all games of roulette come with the same betting limits (which enables you to pick a table and a game that is better adjusted to your budget).

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The minimum bet is the minimum amount you can bet to enter a round. The maximum is the maximum amount you can ever bet on a single round – either as a single bet or a combination of other wagers. These limits are important to players because it’s always best for players to pursue betting opportunities that actually reflect their wagers more accurately. If you are playing with a strategy, such as Martingale, for example, you want to make sure that the progression of bets won’t leave you without options too soon! You only want to go after the high maximum bet limit roulettes.

But table limits are not all there is. Tables may come with their own specific ranges. For example, a roulette table may have limits set from anything between $1 and $5,000. But this betting limit may change depending on whether you are betting on the Inside or Outside Bets. Outside Bets usually have reduced maximum bets for example if such rules actually apply. To better grasp how this works, we thought it best to offer you a quick insight into the table.

European Roulette (Gaming1) Golden Chip Roulette (Yggdrasil)
Bet Min Max Min Max
Straight up 0.1 80 0.1 100
Split 0.1 80 0.1 200
Street 0.1 80 0.1 300
Corner 0.1 80 0.1 400
Six Line 0.1 80 0.1 600
Column 0.1 80 0.1 1000
Dozen 0.1 80 0.1 1000
Even/Odd 0.1 80 0.1 1000
Red/Black 0.1 80 0.1 1000
High/Low 0.1 80 0.1 1000

Step 2: Time to Spin

You do nothing during this step because it will be the live dealer who will announce “No more bets” which is the phrase which means that betting is closed and you cannot place any more wagers or try to sneak one in after the fact. Players are never allowed to touch the wheel – if this happens, the round is not valid and all bets are refunded.

Step 3: Wait to See Results

As you wait for the wheel to stop spinning, you are preparing to either collect or lose your stakes. Once the wheel comes to a stop and the ball does its last bounces, it’s time to see what the outcome is. Collect your money based on the outcome or consider betting again if you want to in case you have lost. A payout is based on the amount you wagered ($100) multiplied by the payout, for a straight bet that’s 35. So a potential payout from betting and getting a straight bet would be $3,500. The chances are slim though.

Bet Payout Example (initial bet $10)
Straight up 35:1 10+35*10=360
Split 17:1 10+17*10=180
Street 11:1 10+11*10=120
Corner 8:1 10+8*10=90
Basket 6:1 10+6*10=70
Six Line 5:1 10+5*10=60
Column 2:1 10+2*10=30
Dozen 2:1 10+2*10=30
Even/Odd 1:1 10+1*10=20
Red/Black 1:1 10+1*10=20
High/Low 1:1 10+1*10=20

If a straight bet is not what you are after, then you can simply refer to any of the other combinations of bets and see what payout they offer. No need to look elsewhere, just check out the table below.

1) What if result number is 8?
  • bet 100 on black wins, you get 100*1 + 100 = 200
  • 5 on corner (7,8,10,11) wins, you get 5*8 + 5 = 45
  • 25 on six line does not win
  • 5 on corner (23,24,26,27) does not win
In sum you win 245
2) What is result number is 10?
  • bet 100 on black wins, you get 100*1 + 100 = 200
  • 5 on corner (7,8,10,11) wins, you get 5*8 + 5 = 45
  • 25 on six line wins, you get 25*5 + 25 = 150
  • 5 on corner (23,24,26,27) does not win
In sum you win 395
3) What is result number is 27?
  • bet 100 on black does not win
  • 5 on corner (7,8,10,11) does not win
  • 5 on corner (7,8,10,11) does not win
  • 5 on corner (23,24,26,27) wins, you get 5*8 + 5=45
In sum you win 45
Example Bet

Step 4: Play Again or Fold

As mentioned before, there is no obligation for you to play or not play. The game runs indefinitely, but you can only join those rounds you want to. So, when you see the result in Step 3, make the decision that feels best to you.

Basic Versions of the Game

Essentially, there are three main versions around which all others are built. This includes American, French and European. These three games are the basis for all other game rules.

  • European Roulette

    • House edge 2,7%
    • 37 numbers
    • One zero
    European Roulette
  • American Roulette

    • House edge 5.26%
    • 38 numbers
    • Additional double zero
    • Surrender rule may apply
    • 5 number bet ("Basket") available
    American Roulette
  • French Roulette

    • House edge 1.35%
    • 37 numbers, one zero
    • "La partage" and "En prison" avilable
    • French writing on the table
    French Roulette

What Other Betting Rules Are There?

Did you know? Roulette actually features a number of other cool rules. Let’s take a look at this.

Surrender

In American Roulette, you can actually “Surrender” which means that half of your bet is returned if you hit 0 and 00 but haven’t bet on those.

En Prison

If you are playing French roulette and the ball lands on zero without betting on zero, you will have an extra round to play without losing the wager (but also without changing it).

La Partage

La Partage is a rule where you are refunded half of your bet if you bet on an outside bet and the bet fails to win. It’s a good way to boost the house edge to around 1.35%.

Roulette Betting Systems

Roulette strategies are a big part of your experience at a casino. Therefore, picking them that understands how roulette works are necessary if you want to approach your game with insight and read into the deeper patterns at play. A game system does not necessarily mean that you will win in 100% of the cases, but it will be an excellent way to play in a controlled and restrained manner that balances out luck and a proven scheme that could bring you a good profit in the long-term.

What methods you pick will also depend on what your current bankroll is. Playing progressive strategies may pose a more significant challenge for those playing with smaller bankrolls, as these usually require you to keep doubling down your base units. The best game plan is usually those that will work and help you add consistently to your bankroll while minimizing potential abrupt losses.

If you would like to discover a complete guide on all available roulette strategies from Roulette77 experts that covers detailed steps, testing results, and pros and cons, please follow the link and enjoy!

Roulette Tips and Tricks

So, there are many roulette betting strategies. Whether they succeed will be a part of how lucky you get, how much money you have, what base units you pick, and if you remember to quit while you are ahead. All of this sounds somewhat vague, but it’s the best way to learn how to play roulette at casino. Making judgment calls while realizing how much you depend on luck would be best.

Do Not Bet on High-Risk Wagers

The first rule we can call roulette rules for dummies is to never bet on the highest-risk bets if you expect or hope to win. Yes, you may eventually luck out, but if you seek to play consistently that brings you closer to victory with each spin, you are best advised to stick with even-pay bets that pay 1:1.

Do Not Trust a “Winning” System

There is a bit of misunderstanding when discussing game methods that let you win. Some players think that if they pick one system or another and play based on its rules, they will end up winners. The key to winning using roulette strategies is to know when to stop. A progression can increase your bankroll by a fair bit – if you consider the increase substantial, you may leave and try a new game plan.

Learn All about Roulette Casino Rules

Make sure you understand roulette rules and always stick to them. Perhaps no piece of advice is more important than this one.

Money Management in Roulette

Perhaps the most important piece of advice in roulette is how you manage your money. Any system is just that – a game algorithm. However, you need to be smart about your money. You need to pick the right game plan that will help you make the decisions that benefit you the best in the long term.

Summary

In general, we have described the basic concept of playing roulette and which aspects to pay attention to. And really hope that this information will help grow your roulette experience. Therefore, before you start playing for real money, make sure that you understand the game's basic rules, odds, and payouts. Also, don't forget that you can always test your knowledge and strategies in the demo version. And the main thing to remember is that to achieve success, in the case of roulette, it's winning; you must continually improve your knowledge and practice. But at the same time, do not forget that roulette is primarily a game of chances, so fortune will not always be on your side. Good luck, and do keep in mind the other pieces of advice we shared with you.

FAQs

What do you call house edge in roulette?

The house edge is your chance to win in a game of roulette. Roulette basically tells you that you have a chance of failing with each spin – how much will depend on the house edge. But if you bet $100 on roulette with a house edge of 2.70% you can in theory only expect to win back around 93.30%. This is in theory.

What is the RTP in roulette?

The RTP is similar to the house edge. It’s basically what you win back. So an RTP of 97.30% means that the casino has a house edge of 2.70%. You win $97.30 for every $100 you bet.

How to calculate payouts in roulette?

You just multiply the bet’s payout by the number of units you have a bet. A 35:1 bet means that you multiply 35 by the amount you have a bet. If this is $1, you can expect $35 + your wager as the final outcome of the bet.

Which is the most profitable roulette version?

French roulette. This is the most worthwhile roulette you may play because of the La Partage rule which reduces the house edge to just 1.35%. It’s a great game and one you may want to try it first.

What are cold and hot numbers in roulette and do they matter?

Hot and cold numbers in roulette are numbers that haven’t come in a while or they have come too often when talking about “hot numbers”. However, no matter what the cold and hot roulette numbers are, there is no reason to believe they actually will appear because they haven’t appeared – or appear again because they have appeared multiple times before.

What do you call an Even Money bet?

An Even Money bet is a bet that pays 1:1. These bets are red/black, low/high and odd/even. That is pretty much all.

What’s the payout of a 0?

It’s a straight bet – 35:1. Meaning that if you bet $10, you get 35x10 = $350 back.

What does 00 pay in roulette?

The roulette wheel works based on pure chance. The table in physical casinos is perfectly balanced to provide completely independent outcomes for each role. The online roulette is predicated on a Random Number Generator.

What is the highest number on a standard roulette wheel?

Quantum roulette is predicated pretty much on the standard European roulette wheel. The difference here is that it’s played in a live setting and that some of the pockets are enhanced by adding multipliers to the straight-up bets. If you choose a straight-up bet and the bet wins, you will get a multiplier that exceeds 35:1, namely 500:1

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