Roulette is the most instantly recognisable casino game in the world — a ball, a wheel, and 37 or 38 pockets deciding your bet's fate. Unlike blackjack, no strategic decision changes your odds during play: everything comes down to the bets you choose before the ball drops.
This guide covers the rules, variants and bet types so you can play with confidence on Slott, Celsius and RingoSpin. For the strategy side (Martingale, Fibonacci, Paroli), check our dedicated roulette strategy guide.
1. Roulette basics
The principle is simple: a dealer (or online software) spins a numbered wheel and throws a ball in the opposite direction. When the ball lands on a pocket, all matching bets are paid out.
- The wheel — Numbered from 0 to 36 (37 numbers), plus an extra 00 on the American version (38 numbers).
- The colours — Every number (except zero, which is green) is red or black, alternating.
- The betting layout — A grid where you place your chips on numbers, groups of numbers, colours or odd/even.
On Celsius, favour "European Roulette Live" tables — they only have a single zero, which lowers the house edge. Avoid American tables (00) unless you're specifically after that variant.
2. The 3 variants: European, French, American
Not all roulette wheels are equal. Here are the key differences:
- European roulette — 37 pockets (0 to 36), a single zero. The most common online, 2.70% house edge.
- French roulette — Identical to European, but with the "La Partage" and "En Prison" rules, which cut the house edge to 1.35% on even-money bets when zero comes up.
- American roulette — 38 pockets (0 and 00), 5.26% house edge. Best avoided if you want to optimise your odds.
3. Bet types and payouts
There are two broad families of bets: inside bets (on specific numbers, high payout but low probability) and outside bets (on groups, low payout but high probability).
| Bet type | Description | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | A single number | 35:1 |
| Split | 2 adjacent numbers | 17:1 |
| Street | 3 numbers on a line | 11:1 |
| Corner | 4 numbers in a square | 8:1 |
| Double street | 6 numbers (2 lines) | 5:1 |
| Dozen / Column | 12 numbers | 2:1 |
| Red/Black, Odd/Even, Low/High | 18 numbers (even money) | 1:1 |
4. House edge: why the variant matters
The house edge represents the average percentage the casino keeps over the long run. The lower it is, the better for you:
- French roulette (La Partage rule): 1.35% on even-money bets
- European roulette: 2.70%
- American roulette: 5.26%
In practice, on €1,000 wagered over time, you lose on average €13.50 at a French table, €27 at a European one, and €52.60 at an American one. So the table you choose has a direct impact on your playing budget.
5. How a round unfolds
- Place your bets — You usually have 15 to 30 seconds to place your chips on the layout.
- "No more bets" — The dealer announces the close of betting and spins the ball.
- The ball lands — On a pocket, determining the winning number and colour.
- Payout — Winnings are credited automatically based on the bet type.
6. Where to play roulette online?
All our partner casinos offer several roulette variants, both RNG (random number generator) and live with a real dealer:
- Slott — European Roulette RNG and Live, stakes from €0.20 to €2,000
- Celsius — French Roulette Live by Evolution Gaming (La Partage rule), stakes from €0.50
- RingoSpin — European and American Roulette, VIP tables up to €10,000
🎡 Ready to spin the wheel?
Play European roulette from just €0.20. Welcome bonus at every partner casino.
Play on Slott →