Bet it all on red!” It’s a common thing people say when someone wins a lot of money; play the roulette and put it on red (or black) for a chance to double it. Roulette is the name of the game, and any respectable casino in the world will offer it to its patrons.

Try your luck

A big wooden wheel at the top of a large green felt with numbers running from 0 to 36. Players frequently place bets before the dealer announces ‘no more bets.’

They watch on as the tiny white ball makes its way around the wheel. It loses momentum, hits a little obstacle called a canoe or fret, and bounces around the wheel until it lands on one of the numbers. Some players celebrate while others stand stoic, awaiting the dealer to grab all chips and pay out the winners.

Roulette an appealing game

What makes the game so appealing, is the simplicity. While you can come up with all sorts of strategies, even knowing nothing but how to bet leaves no room to make a mistake. Putting your chips anywhere on the table always gives you the same odds of winning. Whether you’re playing red or black, even or uneven, or you bet a single number, the odds are always the same. That makes it accessible to everyone, even those visiting a casino for the first time – online or brick and mortar.

Roulette in movies

The game has been a staple in popular culture, with its most famous showing in the movie Casablanca. The Oscar-winning film, still considered by some movie critics as one of the all-time best, famously featured a scene at the roulette wheel. Humphrey Bogart’s character Rick lets a young Bulgarian refugee couple win by suggesting they play the number 22 and let it ride for two spins. Similarly, in the movie Run Lola Run, Franka Potente’s character of Lola hits the roulette wheel and lets it ride to try and win enough money to save the life of her boyfriend.

Learn the rules

While the game is simple, the look of a roulette table might be daunting. HowtoCasino comes to the rescue with answers to all your questions.

Faq

How many types of Roulette are there?

The most famous Roulette variations are European and American. The European Roulette has 37 ball pockets and a single zero, while the American has 38 pockets with two zero pockets. Besides these two, there are also Double Ball Roulette, Mini Roulette, French Roulette, Multi-Wheel, and Live Roulette.

What are the most popular bets?

The most popular bets are outside and inside bets. The bets you place on the number grid are inside bets, while those placed outside the numbers are called the outside bets (odd/even, red/black, etc.).

What is the difference between European, American, and French Roulette?

American Roulette has two zeros and 38 ball pockets. European Roulette has a single zero and one ball pocket fewer, 37 in total. French Roulette is very similar to the European version, but if the ball lands on zero, the player can get back half of his money if he placed an outside bet. This rule is called “la partage” (from a French word meaning “to share”).

Can you win playing Roulette?

You can make huge profits with roulette in a short time. Over a longer period of time, roulette will always beat you simply because you as a player have a small disadvantage compared to the house (2.7%).

Do roulette systems work?

A roulette system gives you guidance when betting and playing. Your chance of winning increases a little bit here, but you’re still behind the house.

Can I play for free?

This is possible at most online casinos. At land-based casinos, you can also ask for an explanation about the game and play a few rounds for free that way.

How much do you get paid at roulette?

If you bet on a full number, you get 35 times your bet. In the how-to’s above these questions you will find all the payouts listed.

What is the 0 in the roulette game?

That’s just a number like any other. If you place a chip on the 0, you will be paid 35 times if it lands. The 0 does have a green color. So the bets on red and black lose if the 0 lands.

Can you keep doubling the bet if you play by color?

You may keep doubling until you reach the maximum of the table. If you play with 10 euros and the maximum is 500, you can double 5x. 10-20-40-80-160-320. At 640 you would go over the maximum amount.

How many numbers does a roulette have?

That can be different. In the European version you have 36 numbers with one 0. With the American version you have 36 numbers with a 0 and a 00. In Las Vegas you will even find roulette wheels with 36 numbers and 3 extra numbers.

What is a carré?

That is a bet on 4 numbers. You will then receive 8 times your bet if the ball lands on one of the 4 numbers.

Who invented Roulette?

The French inventor and physicist Blaise Pascal is believed to have invented roulette in 1655.

Are there numbers that land more often in roulette?

Viewed over a short period of time, a number may land more often. In the long run, each number will land the same number of times.

What are popular numbers in roulette?

The number 11 is a lucky number for many players. Furthermore, the numbers in the middle column are played more often. What is special is that number 13 also has an attraction for many players.

How much should you bet on 0?

It’s just a number like any other number. So you can put a chip on it or the maximum allowed amount and everything in between.

What country does the roulette game come from?

It was designed in France. After the first form developed in the 17th century, the improved version was played in France from the 18th century.

What is a corner bet?

That is a bet on 4 numbers, also called a carré. The payout is times 8.

What is a Street Bet?

That is a bet on 3 numbers. The payout is 11 times.

What is a split bet in roulette?

That is a bet on two numbers. The payout is 17 times.

What is a sixline bet?

That is a bet on 6 numbers. The payout is 5 times.

How big is the casinos advantage over the player?

In European roulette with one 0, the house edge is 2.7%. With an American roulette with 0 and 00 that is 5.26%.

What are neighbors at roulette?

Those are the numbers that are next to a number on the roulette wheel.

Can you also play online roulette?

Roulette is very suitable for playing online. The nice thing is that different forms of roulette are offered. You can even participate in live roulette. Here you play the game that is presented from a live studio. With online roulette you can also play with smaller bets, so you can enjoy your money for longer.

What is the zero in roulette?

Zero is the name of the number 0. It has green colour while all other numbers are red or black.

What does rien ne va plus mean?

If you translate rien ne va plus you get “nothing goes anymore”. It means that you are no longer allowed to bet. In America they say “no more bets”.

How many times can the ball land on the same color?

Because of the green 0, the chance that the ball will fall in a certain color is just slightly lower than 50%. Since the roulette wheel has no memory, the chance of each ball landing always remains the same. Black 20 times in a row or more can therefore just happen.

What is the exact chance that a ball will fall into a red pocket in roulette?

In European roulette, the probability is 48.65%. In American roulette, the probability is 47.37%. This is because the US version has two green numbers, the 0 and 00.

What does faites vos jeux mean in roulette?

“Mesdames et messieurs, faites vos jeux” is something you often hear at the roulette table in France. It is the moment when the croupier allows you to bet chips. The translation is “place your bet”.

How do you play drink roulette?

You have 8 red and 8 black shot glasses with numbers on them. Each player has their own glass and each shot glass has 2 or 3 different roulette numbers on it. You simply turn the roulette wheel and the ball will automatically fall into one of the numbers. The shot glass with the same color and number is emptied by the owner of the shot glass. Then you fill this shot glass again, so that it is full for the next drink. Once all the numbers on the shot glass have been played, it is no longer involved. You continue the game until there is a winner left! Probably there are a lot of drunk people after one or more games of drinking roulette.

Can multiple players bet on the same number in roulette?

Yes, the maximum bet on a number applies to each player separately. Every player can bet on a number, regardless of the bets of the fellow players.

What does the word roulette mean?

The translation from French for roulette is “small wheel”.

What are outside bets in roulette?

The bets on numbers are inside bets. All bets you make on the side of the playing field are outside bets. Think of playing by color, even/odd, high/low, columns and dozens.

What is the best strategy in roulette?

Not playing is good advice. If you like the game then you should read up on all the systems out there. Every round you are at a 2.7% disadvantage, so playing short and strong is preferable.

What is the best bet in roulette?

All bets have a 2.7% disadvantage. If you bet on 6 numbers, the payout is lower but the chance is greater. If you bet on 1 number, the payout is higher but the chance is smaller. Anyway, the downside is always 2.7%.

Why is there a maximum bet in roulette?

That is a security that casinos build in. If there was no maximum, players could keep doubling their bets until they win.

How old do you have to be to play roulette?

In the Netherlands you must be 18 years old. In America the minimum age is 21. Strange because they can send you to war there at 17 years old.

What is Russian Roulette?

Russian roulette is not a casino game, but a game played with a gun. The idea is that one bullet is loaded, the cylinder is spun and people take turns shooting their heads. They’re guessing whether or not that shot will be the one with the bullet. We recommend not playing this game for obvious reasons.

Can you use pen and paper when playing roulette?

Yes that is allowed. Nowadays pen and paper is not necessary to keep track of the numbers. The last 20 numbers can always be seen above the table. If you want to write down more numbers or keep track of other things, you can do that.

Should you tip at roulette?

It is not mandatory in the Netherlands, but it is appreciated. Normally 1 chip can be given for a payout on a full number. If you are in serious loss, you don’t have to do this. In Las Vegas, the croupiers depend on tips because this is their salary.

Do I need to download software to play roulette online?

That depends on the website you choose. You may need to download roulette software first. In many cases, online casinos offer both downloadable and non-downloadable software. In the latter case, you play directly via the browser of your website.

Why is the roulette called a devil’s game?

If you add the numbers 1 to 36 together you get the number 666. This number is associated with the devil.

What is a “Cheval”?

That is a bet on 2 numbers, also called split. The payout is 17 times.

What is a “Plein” in roulette?

That is a bet on a full number. The payout is 35 times.

What is a “transversale” in roulette?

That is a bet on 3 numbers. The payout is 11 times.

What is a “Transversale Simple” in Roulette?

That is a bet on 6 numbers and the payout is 5 times.

What are dozens in roulette?

The numbers 1 to 36 are divided into 3 dozen. 1 to 12, 13 to 24 and 25 to 36. The payout is 2 to 1 if you win.

What are columns in roulette?

You have 3 rows on the playing field that run from top to bottom. At the bottom of such a row (column) you can bet. You then play the entire row and the payout is 2 to 1.

Is roulette a popular game?

Yes, one of the reasons is that pretty much anyone can play with little to no experience. Secondly, it’s a fun, fast-paced game where you can interact with the dealer and fellow players.

Do you get chips with your own color in roulette?

At American roulette each player gets his own color chips. That way you always know what you have used.

What does “En Prison” mean in roulette?

This is a roulette rule that can only be applied to even money bets (French roulette). If a zero lands, the player has two options: 1. Win back half of the bet and lose the other half. 2. Leave the bet (caught) for the next round. If you win, the bet is released again.

What is the “La Partage” rule in roulette?

The la partage roulette rule is similar to the en prison rule, only in this case the player has no option when a zero appears and simply loses half of the bet.

Can you stop playing roulette at any time?

Yes, you can stop at any time. It is better to exchange your chips at the dealer for larger values.

If you bet on every number you always win, right?

You always get paid. However, this is not a gain. If you always play 10 euros on each number, you also lose 10 euros each round. You bet 37×10 and you get 35x back plus the bet remains.