Roulette Rules: How the Wheel, Bets and Payouts Work — Updated 2026

Last updated: November 3, 2026

Roulette is easy to follow once you know what the table markings mean, but a few details can affect what a winning bet returns. Before playing, check whether the wheel has a single zero or a double zero, learn how inside and outside bets are placed, and confirm the table’s limits and special rules. This guide explains the standard game so you can read the layout and understand a round before staking anything.

How a roulette round works

A croupier spins the wheel in one direction and sends a small ball around it in the opposite direction. Players place chips on the betting layout before betting closes. The ball eventually settles in a numbered pocket; the result determines which wagers win. The croupier then collects losing bets and pays winning ones before the next round.

Online roulette follows the same basic betting structure. The interface may show a spinning wheel, or a live dealer may operate one on camera. In either case, look for the game’s rules and paytable before playing. Different versions can have different wheel layouts or special rules.

Check the wheel before choosing a bet

A standard European-style wheel has 37 pockets: numbers 1 through 36 and one green zero. A standard American-style wheel has 38: the same numbered pockets plus a green zero and a green double zero. The numbered pockets are red or black; zero spaces are green.

This difference matters because the extra double-zero pocket makes the standard American game less favourable to the player. Under standard rules, the house edge is about 2.70% on a single-zero wheel and about 5.26% on a double-zero wheel. These figures describe the long-run mathematical advantage, not the outcome of an individual session. Special rules, such as a rule that returns part of an even-money bet when zero appears, can change the calculation. Check the stated rules rather than assuming every game uses the same version.

If you want to compare roulette formats, see this guide to choosing a roulette version.

Reading the betting layout

The main section of the table shows numbers 1 through 36 in three vertical columns. The zero, and the double zero on an American layout, sit separately. Additional marked areas around the numbered grid let you wager on groups of numbers or on number properties such as colour, parity and range.

Where you place a chip determines the bet. A chip in the centre of a number square is a bet on that number alone. A chip placed on a boundary or designated line covers a group. Online games usually let you select a chip value and click the relevant position; the interface should show which numbers the wager covers.

Inside bets and standard payouts

Inside bets cover individual numbers or small groups in the numbered grid. Their payouts are larger than those on broad outside bets because they cover fewer pockets. The figures below are the standard profit-to-stake payouts; when a bet wins, the original stake is also returned.

• Straight-up: One number; pays 35 to 1.
• Split: Two adjoining numbers, with the chip on their shared boundary; pays 17 to 1.
• Street: A row of three numbers, usually selected at the edge of the row; pays 11 to 1.
• Corner: Four adjoining numbers, with the chip at their shared intersection; pays 8 to 1.
• Six-line: Two adjoining rows, covering six numbers; pays 5 to 1.

For example, a winning one-unit straight-up bet earns 35 units in profit and returns the original one-unit stake, for a total return of 36 units. Confirm the paytable if the layout or game rules are unfamiliar, especially for bets involving zero pockets.

Outside bets and standard payouts

Outside bets cover broader groups printed around the grid. They are generally simpler to identify and have lower payouts, but the zero pocket or pockets still affect the chance of winning.

• Red or black: Covers the numbers of one colour; pays 1 to 1.
• Odd or even: Covers the corresponding numbers from 1 to 36; pays 1 to 1.
• Low or high: Low covers 1–18 and high covers 19–36; pays 1 to 1.
• Dozen: Covers 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36; pays 2 to 1.
• Column: Covers one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers; pays 2 to 1.

On standard rules, a zero is neither red nor black, odd nor even, low nor high. It is also outside the three dozens and columns. As a result, an even-money or group bet normally loses if zero appears, unless the game’s rules specify otherwise.

What happens at the table

At a physical table, players commonly exchange cash for chips used at that table. Roulette chips may be colour-coded to distinguish one player’s chips from another’s, and their value can be set by the table. Ask the dealer if you are unsure how the chips work. Before sitting down, check the minimum and maximum stakes and the limits on individual bets. More on that preparation is covered in this guide to table limits and live-game etiquette.

Once betting is open, place each chip clearly on the intended number or marked area. The croupier announces that betting is closed; after that point, do not try to add or move a wager. When the result is settled, wait for the dealer to finish collecting and paying bets before placing chips for the next spin. Online interfaces handle these steps differently, so follow the on-screen betting timer and game instructions.

You can place several bets in one round, but each is a separate wager. A red bet and a dozen bet, for example, may both win, both lose or have different outcomes depending on the number that lands. Adding more bets does not make the result predictable; it simply changes how much you have at risk and what combinations of results could pay.

Rules worth checking before you play

• Wheel type: Confirm whether the game uses one zero or two.
• Payouts: Check the displayed paytable, including how the game treats zero.
• Special zero rules: Some games may apply rules such as “la partage” or “en prison” to certain even-money bets. The exact treatment varies, so read the game’s explanation.
• Limits: Note the minimum and maximum for the table and for particular bets.
• Betting procedure: In a live game, follow the dealer’s instructions; online, pay attention to the countdown and confirmation indicators.

If you are learning, a free-play or demo option can help you practise reading the layout without staking money, when one is available. It does not make real-money outcomes more predictable. Roulette is a game of chance, and no betting pattern can ensure a win or remove the house edge.

Set a limit before the first spin

Decide in advance how much time and money you are prepared to spend, and stop when you reach either limit. Treat each stake as entertainment spending, not as a way to earn income or recover losses. If you feel pressure to keep playing, take a break rather than increasing your bets. For live-dealer formats, the basic wheel and bet types remain familiar, but the pace and interface can differ; this overview of live casino games explains that format more broadly.

The practical takeaway is straightforward: identify the wheel, understand what each chip position covers, and read the game-specific rules and limits before betting. Knowing the layout makes the round easier to follow; it does not change the random result.