There’s no table game quite as unique as Roulette, with its lack of playing cards or dice and focus on its central wheel. The relative simplicity of its design and gameplay have made Roulette a firm casino staple for centuries now. 

But, before you play a game of online, land-based or live Roulette, it’s good to have a proper understanding of how a game works. So, read on as we lay out all that you need to know to understand the classic game of Roulette. 

Understanding the Roulette wheel 

At the centre of any Roulette game is the wheel. This single piece of equipment is the core component of the game, with players wagering on the details of which of the numbered pockets a ball will stop in. 

But not every game has the exact same wheel design. There are two major Roulette wheel formats – the European and the American – which are similar but crucially distinct. Where the European Roulette wheel has a total of 37 pockets, the American wheel has one more, for a total of 38. 

That additional pocket makes a big difference, as the presence of the double zero pocket raises the house edge from 2.70% to 5.26%. This is why it’s worth paying attention to which type of Roulette wheel a game is using before joining a table. 

The specific layout of numbers differs between the European and American wheels, but that doesn’t have any material impact on the overall odds of the game. 

Understanding Roulette bets 

The table layout in a game of Roulette sets out the various betting options available to players. Within the layout there is a division between two kinds of bet, known as inside and outside bets.  

Inside bets are placed on individual or small groups of numbers, meaning that they tend to come with higher potential payouts. Outside bets are placed on more general characteristics of the pocket – such as high/low, odd/even or red/black – and will usually offer a lower payout thanks to their relative odds. 

In terms of inside bets, a player’s options are: 

• Straight-up – betting on a single number 

• Split – betting on two adjacent numbers (such as 11-12 or 25-26) 

• Street – betting on a row of three numbers 

• Corner – betting on four numbers that form a square on the layout 

• Line – betting on two adjacent rows, for six numbers in total 

• Column – betting on one of the layout’s three central columns  

Understanding Roulette gameplay 

A game of Roulette starts with all players at the table placing their bets, putting their chips down on the specific spots on the layout. In live Roulette games and those played in land-based casinos there is generally a time-limit on this phase of play, allowing the game to proceed at a reasonable pace. 

Once all wagers have been made, the croupier will spin the wheel in one direction and spin the ball around its rim in the opposite direction. As the wheel’s motion slows, the ball will lose its momentum, coming to a stop in one of the numbered pockets. 

When the ball stops, the game ends, with the croupier announcing the result and resolving the wagers on the table. 

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Once you understand the basics behind the table’s betting layout and the different types of Roulette wheel, it’s simple to grasp the overall game.