How to Play Roulette: Complete Beginner's Guide

TL;DR: Roulette

A ball spins around a wheel and lands on a numbered slot — that's the entire game
No skill or strategy affects the outcome — every spin is independent
American roulette (double zero) has a 5.26% house edge — nearly twice European roulette's 2.7%
Always choose European or French roulette if available
Betting systems like the Martingale cannot overcome the house edge

What Is Roulette?

Roulette is one of the oldest and most recognizable casino games in the world. A croupier spins a ball around a rotating wheel. The ball lands in a numbered slot. Players who bet on that number or a group containing that number win.

That's it. There are no decisions that affect the outcome. No strategy, no skill. Pure chance.

Roulette originated in 18th-century France. The word means "little wheel." It spread across Europe and then to American casinos, where a second zero was added to the wheel — increasing the house edge significantly.

Basic Rules & How to Play

The Wheel

European roulette: 37 slots — numbers 1–36 (alternating red and black) plus one green zero (0).

American roulette: 38 slots — numbers 1–36 plus two green zeros (0 and 00).

The extra zero in American roulette is purely a house advantage. It has no other purpose.

How a Round Works

Players place chips on the betting layout
The croupier spins the wheel and launches the ball in the opposite direction
The ball slows and drops into a numbered slot
Winning bets are paid; losing bets are collected
Process repeats

Types of Bets

Inside Bets (placed on specific numbers):

BetDescriptionPayoutStraight UpOne number35:1SplitTwo adjacent numbers17:1StreetThree numbers in a row11:1CornerFour numbers in a square8:1Six LineSix numbers (two rows)5:1

Outside Bets (placed on groups of numbers):

BetDescriptionPayoutRed/Black18 numbers1:1Odd/Even18 numbers1:1High/Low (1–18 or 19–36)18 numbers1:1Dozen (1–12, 13–24, 25–36)12 numbers2:1Column12 numbers2:1

Understanding the Odds

The House Edge

The house edge in roulette comes entirely from the zero (or zeros). On a European wheel, there are 37 slots but bets pay as if there were 36. That gap is the house's profit.

European roulette house edge: 2.7% on all bets American roulette house edge: 5.26% on all bets

The five-number bet in American roulette (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) is even worse at 7.89%. Never make it.

What the House Edge Means Practically

If you bet $10 on red 100 times ($1,000 total wagered):

European wheel: expected loss = $27
American wheel: expected loss = $52.60

Same game. Different wheel. Nearly double the cost.

Every Spin Is Independent

The roulette wheel has no memory. If red has come up 10 times in a row, black is not "due." Each spin has exactly the same probability as every other spin. This is one of the most misunderstood facts in gambling.

The scoreboard showing recent results that many casinos display serves one purpose: to encourage gamblers to believe in patterns that don't exist.

Strategy & Tips for Beginners

There Is No Strategy

Unlike blackjack, there are no decisions in roulette that affect the mathematical outcome. No betting pattern, no "system," no way to read the wheel changes your expected loss.

Always Choose European Roulette

This is the only meaningful choice you can make. European roulette's 2.7% house edge is half that of American roulette. If both wheels are available, always sit at the European table.

French roulette is even better — it offers the "La Partage" rule, where you get half your even-money bet back when the ball lands on zero. This reduces the house edge to 1.35% on even-money bets.

Betting Systems Don't Work

The Martingale system tells you to double your bet after every loss, so one win recovers all losses. It sounds logical. It fails for two reasons:

Table limits prevent infinite doubling
A long losing streak wipes out your bankroll before you can recover

Other systems — Fibonacci, D'Alembert, Labouchere — all share the same fatal flaw: they can't change the underlying mathematics. The house edge applies to every single spin regardless of what happened before.

Responsible Gaming Reminder

Roulette is purely a game of chance. There is no skill involved, no way to improve your odds, and no system that works long-term. The house edge guarantees that the longer you play, the closer your results will be to the expected loss.

Play roulette for entertainment. Set a budget. When it's gone, leave. Never chase losses on a game where your decisions make no difference.

Need Help? If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available 24/7: National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700

Sources:

Wizard of Odds — Roulette: https://wizardofodds.com/games/roulette/
American Gaming Association: https://www.americangaming.org

Last Updated: March 2026