Roulette Rules UK: How to Play Online Roulette
Roulette is a game of chance in which you place chips on a numbered betting layout before the wheel is spun. The ball settles in one pocket, and every bet covering that winning number is paid according to the table paytable.
The wheel you choose matters. European Roulette uses one zero and a 2.70% standard house edge. American Roulette adds 00 and raises the edge to 5.26%. French rules can reduce the edge to 1.35% on qualifying even-money bets when La Partage applies.
Roulette Rules in 60 Seconds
- Choose a chip valueSet the value of each chip and keep track of the total amount placed on the layout.
- Place valid betsPut chips inside number boxes, on dividing lines or in the labelled outside-bet areas.
- Betting closesA live dealer calls no more bets. RNG games lock the layout before producing the result.
- One pocket winsThe physical wheel or game system produces a single winning number and colour.
- Bets are settledLosing chips are removed and winning chips receive the paytable profit plus the returned stake.
Choose the Wheel Before You Place a Bet
The number of green pockets changes the standard cost of the game. Inside and outside bets may feel very different, but the normal bets on the same wheel usually retain the same underlying house edge.
| Wheel type | Pockets | Green pockets | Standard RTP | Standard house edge | Rule to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Roulette | 37 | 0 | 97.30% | 2.70% | Standard single-zero rules |
| French Roulette | 37 | 0 | 97.30% normally; 98.65% on eligible La Partage bets | 2.70% normally; 1.35% on eligible La Partage bets | Confirm whether La Partage or En Prison applies and how repeat zero is handled |
| American Roulette | 38 | 0 and 00 | 94.74% | 5.26% | Avoid confusing the 6:1 five-number basket with a normal 8:1 four-number bet |
Where to Place Chips on a Roulette Table
The wheel determines the result. The betting table is where you define which pockets your stake covers. A chip inside one number box is a straight-up bet; a chip on a line, cross or outside label creates a different wager.
Roulette Casinos to Check After Learning the Layout
Game catalogues, limits and country access can change. Open the current lobby, count the green pockets and read the information panel before placing a real-money bet.
Mr Jones
Check the current live and software Roulette tables, zero count and limits before staking.
Swift Casino
Browse the present Roulette list and read each table’s rules, paytable and stake range.
Aztec Paradise
Open the mobile lobby and confirm the wheel type, current access and available table limits.
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Inside Bets and Outside Bets
Inside bets
Inside bets cover one to six pockets on the main number grid. They hit less often and pay more, so the balance tends to move in larger jumps.
- Straight-up, split, street and trio
- Corner, six-line and first four
- American five-number basket around 0 and 00
Outside bets
Outside bets cover larger groups and pay less. They hit more often and usually create smaller short-term swings, but they do not remove the house edge.
- Red or black, odd or even, low or high
- First, second or third dozen
- One of the three table columns
Roulette bet payouts and European probabilities
| Bet | Pockets covered | Profit payout | Single-zero hit probability | Where the chip goes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% | Inside one number box |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% | On the line between two adjacent numbers |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% | On the outer edge of one three-number row |
| Trio | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% | At the zero junction covering 0-1-2 or 0-2-3 |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% | On the cross where four numbers meet |
| Six-line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% | On the outer edge between two neighbouring streets |
| First Four | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% | At the 0-1-2-3 junction on a single-zero layout |
| American five-number | 5 | 6:1 | 13.16% on a 38-pocket wheel | At the 0-00-1-2-3 junction; this bet carries a 7.89% house edge |
| Dozen | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% | In the 1st 12, 2nd 12 or 3rd 12 box |
| Column | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% | In a 2 TO 1 box at the end of a number column |
| Red or black | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | In the red or black outside box |
| Odd or even | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | In the odd or even outside box |
| 1-18 or 19-36 | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | In the low or high outside box |
Zero is excluded from all six even-money selections. On an American wheel, both 0 and 00 lose red, black, odd, even, 1-18 and 19-36 bets.
How Roulette Payouts, House Edge and RTP Work
A quoted payout such as 35:1 states the profit, not the full amount returned. The original winning stake is returned separately.
A winning number pays £35 profit and returns the original £1 chip.
The chip covers two adjacent pockets and wins if either one lands.
The 1:1 payout matches the stake, then the original £5 is returned.
Theoretical RTP is a long-run mathematical measure. It does not mean a £100 session will return exactly £97.30, and it does not predict whether one player will finish ahead or behind.
For deeper probability tables and calculators, use the dedicated Roulette odds and payouts guide.
Live Dealer, RNG and Auto Roulette
The core bets can be the same, but the result source, pace and controls differ.
RNG Roulette
Software produces the result through the game’s random-number system. Rounds can be quick and the player often controls when to spin.
Live Dealer Roulette
A dealer spins a physical wheel in a streamed studio. The table has a fixed betting window and its own limits and rules.
Auto Roulette
An automated physical wheel is streamed without a dealer. Do not confuse it with a software-only Turbo Roulette game.
Compare named versions in the Roulette games directory, or see how studio tables work in the live Roulette guide.
Can a Roulette Strategy Improve the Odds?
| System | What it changes | What it cannot change | Principal pressure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martingale | Doubles the next stake after a full loss | House edge and next-spin probability | Exponential stake and bankroll growth |
| D’Alembert | Moves the stake by one unit after results | Expected value | Exposure during an unfavourable sequence |
| Fibonacci | Uses a number sequence to set stakes | Wheel independence | Rising turnover and larger later bets |
Can you win at Roulette?
You can finish an individual spin or session in profit. What you cannot do is turn the standard game into a positive-expectation bet through a staking pattern. Over a sufficiently large amount of play, the house edge gives the casino a mathematical long-run advantage.
See the full Roulette strategy hub for worked progressions and their failure points.
What to Check Before You Choose a Roulette Table
One zero means single-zero maths. A second 00 pocket normally raises the standard edge.
Confirm the exact RTP, straight-up payout, multiplier rules and whether La Partage or En Prison applies.
The table maximum may be much higher than the cap on one number. Compare low-stakes tables and high-limit Roulette separately.
Roulette may contribute less than slots or be excluded. Check the current Roulette bonus rules before opting in.
Faster RNG and Auto tables can increase turnover quickly even when the stake per spin looks small.
The wheel and table guide includes number order, zero-area bets and racetrack sectors.
How This Roulette Guide Was Checked
We checked the standard wheel pocket counts, conventional payouts, bet coverage, European and American probabilities, La Partage limitation and the placement shown in the labelled table diagram. We also checked the current RouletteUK specialist pages so this guide summarises each subject rather than replacing the detailed answer.
For regulation and online-game wording, we used the Gambling Commission’s current remote casino licence, random-outcome and RTP guidance. Casino catalogues, limits and country access can change behind a login, so the commercial rows direct readers to check the current lobby rather than publishing a permanent game count.
Roulette Rules FAQs
What are the basic rules of Roulette?
Choose a chip value, place valid bets before the table closes, wait for one winning pocket and receive the published payout on every bet that covers that result.
What is the difference between the Roulette wheel and betting table?
The wheel contains the numbered pockets that produce the result. The table reorganises the same numbers into a grid and labelled outside areas so players can define which pockets a chip covers.
Do outside bets have a lower house edge than inside bets?
Not on a standard table. Outside bets cover more pockets, hit more often and pay less, but normal inside and outside bets usually retain the same underlying house edge on the same wheel.
What does a 35:1 Roulette payout return from a £1 stake?
A winning £1 straight-up bet produces £35 profit and returns the original £1 stake, so £36 is returned in total.
Is French Roulette always a 1.35% house-edge game?
No. The standard single-zero edge is 2.70%. The 1.35% figure applies only to qualifying even-money bets when La Partage or an appropriate En Prison rule is active.
What is English Roulette?
Today the term usually means British-played European single-zero Roulette. A historical British no-zero version used different rules for a limited period.
Can a betting system improve Roulette odds?
No. Martingale, D’Alembert, Fibonacci and other systems alter stake size, not the probability of the next result or the house edge.
Can a player win at online Roulette?
Yes, an individual spin or session can finish in profit. The game still has negative expected value under standard casino rules, so no outcome or recovery is guaranteed.
Is online Roulette legal in Great Britain?
Operators offering remote casino gambling to consumers in Great Britain need the appropriate Gambling Commission licence. Check the operator and licence that apply to the site you use.
What is the difference between live and RNG Roulette?
Live Roulette streams a physical wheel, normally with a dealer and a fixed betting window. RNG Roulette is software based and often lets the player control the pace.
Responsible Gambling and UK Support
Roulette has a mathematical long-run casino advantage. Set an entertainment budget, take breaks and do not increase stakes to chase a previous loss.
Free UK support is available through the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, GamCare, GambleAware and GAMSTOP.
Affiliate disclosure: RouletteUK may receive commission when a reader visits a casino through a commercial link. This does not change the rules, maths or editorial explanations on this page.