How To Play Roulette
Roulette is one of the most iconic and easy-to-understand games in any casino. At its core, roulette is a game of chance. A wheel spins, a ball drops, and players bet on where they think that ball will land. It’s fast-paced and offers plenty of ways to win, and all it takes is a few chips and a lucky guess. It has become one of the most popular titles at our online casino, and players based in Ireland have plenty of tables to choose from.
How Does Roulette Work?
A roulette wheel consists of numbered pockets from 1 to 36, with the numbers alternating between red and black. Depending on the version of roulette, the wheel will also contain either one green 0 or both a 0 and 00.
Before each spin, players place their chips on the corresponding areas of the betting layout. You can bet on an individual number, a colour, whether the winning number will be odd or even, or larger groups such as a dozen or column.
Once betting closes, the dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball. When the ball comes to rest in one of the pockets, the winning number and colour are determined. Losing bets are removed from the table, while winning bets are paid according to the applicable payout.
The number of zeroes on the wheel is important because it affects the house edge. Standard European roulette has one zero and a house edge of 2.70%, while American roulette has both 0 and 00 and a house edge of 5.26% on standard bets. French roulette also uses a single-zero wheel but can offer additional rules that reduce the house edge on even-money bets.
Roulette Table Layout
Real and online live casino roulette tables are divided into different sections, each representing a type of bet. While the layout can look complicated at first, the main betting areas are easy to understand once you know what each one covers.
The central section contains the numbers 1 to 36, arranged across three rows. The numbers are coloured red or black, while the zero is shown separately in green. American roulette also includes a green 00. Outside the main number grid are several bets that cover larger groups of numbers:
- Red or Black (1:1): Bets on the winning number being red or black.
- Odd or Even (1:1): Bets on the winning number being odd or even.
- Low or High (1:1): Bets on numbers 1–18 or 19–36.
- Dozens (2:1): Covers one of three groups of 12 numbers.
- Columns (2:1): Covers one of the three columns of 12 numbers.
You can also place chips between numbers to make inside bets. These include straight-up bets on a single number, as well as split, street, corner and six-line bets covering two, three, four or six numbers, respectively. Once all bets have been placed, betting closes, and the dealer spins the wheel. The position where the ball lands determines which bets win and which are lost.
What is the House Edge?
Every casino table game has a built-in advantage for the casino. This number typically indicates the benefit that the casino has over the player. In European Roulette, the house edge is 2.7%, while for American Roulette, it is higher at 5.26%. The casino has a better advantage in American Roulette. This is due to the presence of 0 and 00, which decreases your chances of making a correct prediction in each round.
Different Types of Roulette
Before you dive into a game of online roulette, it helps to know which version you’re playing, because, believe it or not, that little difference can make a big impact on your odds. There are three main types of roulette you’ll run into, and while the core idea is the same (spin the wheel, guess where the ball lands), each one has quirks.
European Roulette
European roulette is the most popular version of the game and the one you will find in essentially every casino in the world. There are 37 numbers on a European roulette wheel, numbered 0 to 36. The green pocketed zero is the house edge because there is only one of them, but it is still a lower edge than most casino games. European roulette is the easiest table game to play and gives you the best chance of winning!
American Roulette
American roulette is almost identical to European roulette, but with one difference. An American roulette wheel introduces a green ‘00’ as well as a ‘0’ to tip the house edge further in its favour. While your chances of winning drop slightly compared to European, your payouts remain the same. If you’re playing in Vegas or at an American-style online casino, you’ll probably come across this one.
French Roulette
French roulette is less common than European and American, but it is worth trying. Like European roulette, there are 37 numbers, and all the side bets are the same. What makes this game so fun are the extra rules, which can help you. ‘La Partage’ and ‘En Prison’ kick in when you place even-money bets (like red/black or odd/even) and the ball lands on zero. Instead of losing your whole bet, you either get half your money back (La Partage) or your bet is “imprisoned” for the next spin (En Prison). It gives you a bit of a safety net, which is always a nice bonus!
Online Roulette Betting Tips
Betting on roulette is fun once you know what you’re doing. However, that does not mean there is a guaranteed strategy for winning; it just helps you enjoy the experience if you understand what is going on. To help new players get up to speed, we have created some online roulette betting tips to help you not just learn how to play roulette but also to aid you in making winning bets. These tips apply whether you play online, live, or in person.
- Set a Budget: Decide how much you are comfortable spending before you start playing. Treat this amount as the maximum you are prepared to lose and avoid increasing your budget to chase losses.
- Understand the Odds: Different roulette bets offer different payouts and probabilities. Outside bets such as red or black cover more numbers and pay less, while straight-up bets cover a single number and offer a much higher payout. Understanding this relationship can help you choose bets that suit your preferred level of risk.
- Choose Your Roulette Variant Carefully: The type of roulette you play affects the house edge. Standard European roulette has a 2.70% house edge, compared with 5.26% for standard American roulette. French roulette with La Partage can reduce the house edge on qualifying even-money bets to 1.35%.
- Don’t Chase Losses: A losing spin does not make a particular number, colour or bet more likely to win next time. Increasing your stake to try to recover previous losses can quickly increase the amount you risk.
- Take Regular Breaks: Roulette can move quickly, particularly when playing online. Taking breaks can help you stick to your budget and avoid making impulsive decisions.
- Remember That Roulette Is a Game of Chance: There is no reliable way to predict the winning number. Betting systems such as Martingale may change how much you stake, but they do not change the underlying probabilities or eliminate the house edge. Treat roulette as entertainment rather than a way to make money.
