If you’re thinking of playing roulette at a UK-licensed casino, it’s important that you understand how the game works first.
Betting without any prior knowledge about the rules surrounding a game of Roulette could potentially lead to a severe dent in your bankroll.
Read our roulette guide for information about the rules, bets, and odds, in Roulette below.
Master the rules & odds of roulette
Roulette is a game of chance, and winning depends purely on luck, so getting familiar with the rules and odds is likely to provide you with a better chance at winning. Below are some things to understand before getting started.
The objective
One of the most common questions among new UK roulette players is, ‘What precisely is the objective of roulette?’ Well, the answer to the question is pretty straightforward, whether you’re playing a European, French or American variant; you need to correctly guess which numbered pocket the small ball will land on after spinning the roulette wheel.
Important terms you need to know
Though playing a game of roulette is simple, understanding the terminologies used in the game is crucial to understanding what is happening around you. This section will introduce the essential terms you need to know.
- Pockets – This term refers to the spaces on the roulette wheel where the ball is likely to land. Each pocket comes with a unique number, usually between 1 and 36. Half of the pockets are coloured black, while the other half are red, and the zeros are green.
- Zero – This refers to a pocket on the roulette wheel marked with “0” that can be found on all Roulette wheels.
- Double Zero: This is the pocket on the roulette wheel marked with “00” that is found only in American Roulette. These wheels are also called “double zero”-wheels.
- Layout: This signifies the arrangement of the roulette wheel, which is either single-zero or double-zero. The American-style layout has a double-zero, but the European and French layouts use a single-zero.
- Carr – This is the French word for a corner bet.
- Cheval – This is the French word for a split bet.
- Croupier – This is the casino employee who oversees the Roulette table. They can also be called a dealer, but croupier is a more accurate term.
- Biased Wheel This is a wheel on which not all the numbers have equal chances of winning.
- Marker– This is the apparatus used by the croupier to indicate the winning number after each round.
- No Action – All bets are cancelled when the croupier calls no action during a spin. The casino will repeat the action from the beginning. Wagers can be removed after “no action” is called out.
Roulette bets
Roulette bets are divided into two primary categories – inside and outside bets. While each bet comes with different odds and payouts, they are subject to the same House Edge. It’s also important to note that European and French variants have a similar House Edge.
Inside bets
Inside roulette bets are the bets placed on the numbers within the roulette wheel. These bets have lower odds of winning, but their payout is high. Examples of inside bets are discussed below.
- Straight Up
This is a wager placed on a single number. For example, you can place your chip on the number 5 or 11. The probability of winning with this particular bet is 2.7% in European Roulette and 2.6% in American Roulette. It’s also called a single-number bet, and the payout is 35:1.
- Split
This is a wager on two adjacent numbers. You can place the chip on the line that divides the two numbers. The probability of winning is set to 5.4% in European Roulette and 5.3% in American Roulette.
- Street / Row
A Street bet is also called a Row bet. It’s a bet placed on a row of three numbers. For example, you can bet on the numbers 6, 5, 4. The probability of winning with this bet is set to 8.1% in European Roulette and 7.9% in American Roulette and pays out 11: 1.
- Trio
This is a bet placed on the corner connecting three numbers. It usually incorporates the pocket 0 on a European Roulette table and 00 on an American Roulette table and the two numbers that join them. The bet pays out 11:1.
- Corner / Quad
This is a bet made on the corner connecting four numbers. It’s also called square bet or quarter bet. It has offers a winning probability of 10.8% in European Roulette and 10.5% in American Roulette and pays out 8:1.
- Double Street
A Double Street-bet is also called a Line bet and requires you to place your bet on two adjoining rows of numbers (six numbers in total). It offers a winning probability of 16.2% in European Roulette and 15.8% in American Roulette. The bet pays out 5 to 1.
- Basket / First Five
In this bet type, you will be placing your wager on five numbers – 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. The probability of winning is 13.2% in American Roulette and can’t be found in European or French Roulette.
Outside bets
Unlike inside bets, outside roulette bets are placed on the additional area of the table. These bets are the best option for new UK roulette players. Additionally, outside bets have higher odds of winning, but their payout is smaller than inside bets.
- Even / Odd
Even / Odd is a wager on eighteen even or odd numbers. The bet pays 1:1. Just look for a spot on the table labelled “Even” or “Odd”, place your chip, sit back and then watch the wheel spin.
- Red or Black
Red or Black is an outside bet that allows players to wager on eighteen red or black numbers. Placing your chip on the red will cover all the red pockets while placing your chip on black covers all the black pockets. It also pays out 1 :1.
- High 18
High 18 is a bet type that allows you to bet on numbers from 19 through 36, and it’s also an even money bet that pays 1:1.
- Low 18
Low 18 is the reverse of high 18, and it allows you to bet on numbers from 1 through 18. Like High 18 and Red or Black, it also pays out 1:1.
- Column
In Column bet, your winnings will payout at 2:1 if the ball lands on the number within the column that you choose.
- Dozens
A Dozens bet pays out 2:1 when the ball lands on either the first dozen (1 through 12), second dozen (13 through 24), or third dozen (25 through 36).
Announced/Call bets
As a UK roulette player, you will likely come across more European roulette at UK-licensed online casinos, so you can play something known as a ‘called bet’. Examples of announced bets include:
- Neighbours of Zero – It’s a wager on all the 17 numbers close to the green Zero.
- Thirds of the Wheel – This is a bet on the 12 numbers adjacent to the Neighbours of Zero.
- The Orphans – The orphans is a bet type that allows you to bet on all numbers that are not covered by the other bets.
- Zero Game – This is a bet on seven numbers close to the green Zero.
Final bet
In the final bet, players will be betting on the last digit. So if you make a final 5 bet, it means you are placing your bet on all numbers that end in 5 – 5, 15, 25, 35,45, and so on.
Full complete/complete/maximum bet
A complete bet is a bet that covers all inside bets. This type of bet is for high-rollers, and it’s also known as a maximum bet. To play the bet at a casino, you need to “call” it. For example, you can call “complete on bet 17” or “17 to the maximum”.
For instance, if there is a £2000 maximum wager on straight-up bets, then you can place the following:
- £4000 on split bets (pays 17:1)
- £8000 on corners (pays 8:1)
- £6000 on streets (pays 11:1)
- £12000 on six lines (pays 5:1)
The odds and payouts
To understand roulette payouts, you need to understand the difference between American roulette and European and French roulette.
American roulette includes an additional 00 pocket, which reduces the odds of landing a single number. On the other hand, European and French roulette only have only a single-zero pocket, which reduces the casino’s advantage.
| Roulette Bet Type | Example Roulette Bet | Potential Payout | European Roulette Odds | American Roulette Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Column | Any number in the third column | 2:1 | 32.40% | 31.6% |
| Dozen | Any of 13 to 24 | 2:1 | 32.40% | 31.6% |
| Even bets | Black over red | 1:1 | 48.60% | 47.4% |
| Single number | 7 | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.60% |
| Two numbers | Either 18 or 19 | 17:1 | 5.4% | 5.3% |
| Three numbers | Any of 28, 29, or 30 | 11:1 | 8.1% | 7.9% |
| Four numbers | Any of 5, 6, 8, or 9 | 8:1 | 10.8% | 10.5% |
| Five numbers | Any of 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3 | 6:1 | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| Six numbers | Any of 4 to 9 | 5:1 | 16.2% | 15.8% |
The House Edge is the mathematical advantage that the casino has over the players. American Roulette offers a 5.26% House Edge, while European and French Roulette both offer a 2.7% House Edge. This is also why European Roulette is preferred among players in the UK, and around the world.
Rule variations
There are different Roulette variations, and each comes with varying rules.
- European & American roulette rules
The European, French and American roulette rules are somehow similar. The only difference is that American Roulette features an additional double-zero (00) pocket that increases the House Edge.
European and French Roulette have 37 numbered pockets as opposed to American Roulette, which has 38 numbered pockets.
- ‘En Prison’ rule
The ‘En Prison’-rule applies to even-money bets and can be found in European roulette although it’s far more common in French variants.
En prison triggers when the ball lands on 0. Here, the money you bet will be available in the next spin. If the ball lands on an even number on the next spin, then you will win your money back. However, if it lands on an odd number, you lose your bet.
- ‘La Partage’ rule
The La Partage’-rule translates to “divide” in French and applies to even-money bets. This can also be found in some European games, but is more common in French Roulette.
La Partage triggers if the ball lands on 0, just like in En Prison. Here, the bet is divided into two parts. If a win occurs with this bet, the casino takes half, and the player takes the other half.
How to play roulette online – Breakdown of a round
Now that you have understood the game’s rules, it’s time to learn how to play the Roulette game online. Once you have registered at a UK-licensed casino, follow the below steps on how to play roulette online:
- Fund your balance
First, you need to fund your balance at your desired UK casino. Go to the “Cashier” section, choose your preferred payment method and input the amount you want to deposit.
- Decision time: Place your bet
If you’re a new UK Roulette player, we recommend that you stick to outside bets because of the higher odds of winning. Remember that Roulette is a game of chance, so only bet with what you can afford to lose.
Read more about how to manage your playing habits in our Responsible Gambling section.
- The croupier will now spin the wheel
Once all the players have placed their bets, the croupier will spin the wheel and throw a ball onto the spinning wheel.
- Results and payouts
If the ball lands on the pockets or number you place your bet on, then you win, otherwise, you will lose your bet. The payout depends on the type of bet you place. You can find information about different bets and their payouts in the table above.