European vs American roulette
A European roulette wheel has 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36. The single zero is green and the other numbers alternate between red and black, which is why it is also called single zero roulette.
An American roulette wheel has 38 pockets, adding a second green pocket marked 00. The payouts stay exactly the same, so that extra pocket simply makes the game worse for the player.
French roulette uses the European wheel. The differences are the French bet names and, at some tables, friendlier rules on zero, covered further down.
How a round of roulette works
- Players place chips on the betting layout until the dealer calls no more bets.
- The dealer spins the wheel one way and launches the ball the opposite way.
- The ball slows down and drops into a numbered pocket. That number wins.
- The dealer marks the winning number, clears the losing chips and pays the winners according to the payout table.
Every spin is independent. The wheel has no memory, so a number that has not come up in twenty spins is no more likely to hit on the next one.
Inside bets
Inside bets go on the numbers themselves. They cover only a few pockets, so they win less often but pay more.
- Straight up: one number, pays 35:1.
- Split: two adjacent numbers, chip on the line between them, pays 17:1.
- Street: three numbers in a row, pays 11:1.
- Corner: four numbers meeting at one corner, pays 8:1.
- Six line: two adjacent rows, six numbers in total, pays 5:1.
American tables also offer the five number bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 at 6:1. It carries the worst house edge on the layout, about 7.89 percent.
Outside bets
Outside bets sit around the edge of the layout and cover large groups of numbers. They hit more often and pay less.
- Dozen: 1 to 12, 13 to 24 or 25 to 36, pays 2:1.
- Column: one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers, pays 2:1.
- Red or black: 18 numbers, pays 1:1.
- Odd or even: 18 numbers, pays 1:1.
- 1 to 18 or 19 to 36: low or high, pays 1:1.
Zero and 00 belong to none of these. They are neither red nor black, neither odd nor even, and sit outside every dozen and column.
Roulette bets and payouts table
Here is every standard bet with its payout and the number of pockets it covers. A 35:1 payout means you win 35 chips and keep your original stake.
| Bet | Payout | Numbers covered | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 35:1 | 1 | 17 |
| Split | 17:1 | 2 | 17 and 20 |
| Street | 11:1 | 3 | 13, 14, 15 |
| Corner | 8:1 | 4 | 17, 18, 20, 21 |
| Six line | 5:1 | 6 | 13 to 18 |
| Dozen | 2:1 | 12 | 13 to 24 |
| Column | 2:1 | 12 | middle column |
| Red or black | 1:1 | 18 | all red numbers |
| Odd or even | 1:1 | 18 | all even numbers |
| 1 to 18 or 19 to 36 | 1:1 | 18 | 19 to 36 |
What happens when zero comes up
Under standard rules, when the ball lands on 0 (or 00 on an American wheel), every even money bet loses: red, black, odd, even, low and high. Those green pockets are where the house gets its edge.
Some European and French tables soften this. With La Partage you get half of your even money stake back. With En Prison the stake is held for the next spin and returned if that spin wins. Either rule cuts the edge on those bets to about 1.35 percent. Casinos vary, so neither rule is guaranteed.
The house edge in roulette
Payouts are set as if the wheel had only 36 numbers. The green pockets are the difference.
- European roulette: 1 pocket in 37, a house edge of 2.70 percent.
- American roulette: 2 pockets in 38, a house edge of 5.26 percent.
Over the long run, that is an average loss of about 2.70 credits per 100 wagered on a European table and about 5.26 on an American one. On the European wheel the edge is the same for almost every bet, whether you back one number or red.
Why Martingale and other systems fail
The Martingale tells you to double your even money bet after every loss so the first win puts you back ahead. It sounds airtight until a losing streak arrives. After ten straight losses the bet is 1,024 times the starting stake, and table maximums stop the doubling long before your luck turns.
No system, whether Martingale, Fibonacci, D'Alembert or Labouchère, changes the odds of a single spin or the payouts. It only reshuffles results into many small wins and occasional big losses. The house edge stays where it was.
Playing roulette on this site
Roulette here is played with virtual credits only. There are no deposits, no withdrawals and nothing to win. It is a calm place to learn the rules, test every bet and watch the house edge show up over hundreds of spins with zero risk.
If playing ever stops feeling like fun, take a break. The simulation exists to explain the game, not to push anyone toward gambling.
Common questions
How many numbers are on a roulette wheel?
A European wheel has 37 pockets, 0 to 36. An American wheel has 38 because it adds a 00 pocket.
What is the difference between European and American roulette?
The American wheel has an extra 00 pocket while paying the same odds. That raises the house edge from 2.70 percent to 5.26 percent.
What does a single number pay in roulette?
A straight up bet on one number pays 35:1, and you keep your original stake as well.
Do I lose my red bet if zero comes up?
Under standard rules, yes, every even money bet loses on zero. Some tables use La Partage or En Prison and return half, but casinos vary.
Can a betting system beat roulette?
No. Each spin is independent and systems like the Martingale change neither the odds nor the payouts, so the house edge remains.