Roulette Glossary A–Z: 76 Terms and Betting Examples

Editor: Argyll Cyrus Geducos Updated

Roulette terms describe three different things: the position of a chip, the rules used to settle it, and the way money is counted. Mixing those up can turn a simple instruction into the wrong bet. A split follows the numbered grid, a neighbours selection follows the wheel, and a 35:1 payout describes profit rather than the chance of winning.

Use this searchable glossary to look up a label on a table or a phrase in a game’s rules. Definitions explain conventional roulette unless a special rule is named. For a round in order, read how to play roulette. For wheels, bets and odds together, use the roulette hub.

Four roulette terms that are easy to confuse

Payout and profit

A 10-unit bet paid at 35:1 earns 350 profit and returns 360 including its stake. If other chips lost in the same round, subtract those too before calling the whole round profitable.

Grid and wheel

17 and 20 touch on the numbered grid and form a split. Wheel-neighbour bets use the circular pocket sequence instead. Always check which numbers the interface highlights.

Even money and equal chance

A 1:1 payout is even money. Red and black each cover 18 pockets, but green zero leaves an extra losing result on a conventional single-zero wheel. Equal payouts are not equal winning and losing probabilities.

French name and French rule

A game label does not establish that la partage or en prison applies. Open the rules and check which stakes qualify and how zero is settled before relying on either concession.

Amounts below use units to keep examples separate from any account currency. A unit means the base amount you choose; it is not necessarily one peso. Standard payout examples assume conventional settlement without multipliers or additional fees.

A

Accepted bet

A wager confirmed by the game before betting closes. A tap animation alone is not proof of acceptance: check the recorded stake or round history. A rejected late entry does not become valid because its number subsequently wins.

Action

The amount wagered over a round or session. Reusing the same 10 units on ten spins creates 100 units of action, even if the starting balance was only 10. It is different from the amount deposited.

American roulette

Usually the conventional double-zero game with 38 pockets: 1–36, 0 and 00. Ordinary bets have a 5.26% house edge with standard payouts. Check the actual wheel because names and special editions do not guarantee a particular rule set.

Announced bet

A named combination of bets requested or selected together, often covering a wheel sector. An online racetrack can place the component chips automatically. Its total cost depends on all the chips placed, rather than just the number of selected labels.

B

Bankroll

Money set aside for a gambling session or period. It is a spending allocation, not a forecast of winnings. A roulette balance can fluctuate sharply, and increasing the bankroll does not improve the probability of an individual spin.

Basket bet

The American five-number combination covering 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. With the conventional 6:1 profit payout, its house edge is about 7.89%, higher than ordinary double-zero bets. It is also called a top-line or five-number bet.

Betting window

The period during which the game accepts new bets or changes. A live wheel may already be moving while this window remains open. Once it closes, use the accepted-bet display to establish which wagers belong to that round.

Black bet

An outside bet covering the 18 black numbers from 1–36. It normally pays 1:1 profit. Green zero and double zero are not black; a black bet therefore has less than a 50% chance on a conventional wheel.

C

Call bet

A spoken request for a bet. Usage and acceptance rules differ between casinos; do not assume an unpaid verbal instruction is binding. Online games usually implement named combinations through funded on-screen selections rather than a conversation with the dealer.

Chip denomination

The value represented by a selected chip. A 5-unit chip placed four times produces 20 units of stake. Changing the selected denomination usually changes subsequent placements rather than automatically changing chips already on the layout.

Column bet

An outside bet on one of the three vertical columns in the numbered grid, covering 12 numbers and normally paying 2:1 profit. The column containing 3 also contains 6, 9 and successive multiples of three through 36. Zero is excluded.

Corner bet

An inside bet placed where four numbered squares meet. For example, 17, 18, 20 and 21 form a corner on the conventional grid. It normally pays 8:1 profit. The four numbers must meet on the layout, not simply be nearby on the wheel.

Coverage

The set of winning results included in a bet or layout. Covering more pockets can increase the frequency of a return, but it can also increase the total stake. A return on one component does not guarantee a profitable round.

Croupier

The dealer operating a roulette table, managing the game and announcing results. On a live online table, the betting interface records your chips; speaking to the dealer or typing in chat is not a substitute for an accepted wager.

D

Demo roulette

A demonstration using practice credits rather than withdrawable money. It can help you learn placement, payouts and controls. A favourable demo session does not establish that a later money session will produce the same results.

Double zero

The separate green 00 pocket on a conventional American wheel. It is distinct from 0, so a straight-up bet on 0 does not also cover 00. Neither pocket belongs to the colour, parity, high/low, dozen or column groups.

Dozen bet

A bet covering 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36. Each group contains 12 numbers and normally pays 2:1 profit. The label second dozen refers to 13–24, not the second vertical column of the grid.

E

En prison

A rule that can hold a qualifying even-money stake after zero instead of immediately losing it. Later settlement and repeated-zero treatment depend on the table. It is not a general promise that every losing bet gets another chance.

European roulette

The conventional single-zero format with 37 pockets, numbered 1–36 and 0. With ordinary payouts and settlement, the house edge is about 2.70%. A special game using a single-zero wheel can still have different payout rules.

Even bet

An outside bet on 2, 4, 6 and the remaining positive even numbers through 36. Zero does not count for this bet, despite being even in ordinary arithmetic. A winning conventional even bet pays 1:1 profit.

Even-money bet

A bet paying 1:1 profit when it wins, such as red/black, odd/even or low/high. A winning 20-unit bet returns 40 units including the stake. The phrase describes the payout, not a fifty-fifty probability.

Expected loss

The mathematical average loss associated with a given total stake and house edge over many comparable wagers. At a 2.70% edge, 1,000 units wagered has an expected loss of about 27 units. Actual short-session results can differ substantially.

F

Fibonacci system

A stake progression based on the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and so on. Particular versions use different reset and step-back rules. Changing the stake sequence does not change the underlying roulette probabilities or remove the house edge.

Finals bet

A selection covering numbers with the same final digit, where offered. For example, final 7 can cover 7, 17 and 27. Check the precise included numbers, component stakes and total cost instead of assuming every final requires the same number of chips.

Flat betting

Keeping a chosen stake constant instead of raising or lowering it according to previous results. It makes spending easier to track than a progression, but a constant stake does not make the next spin more favourable.

French roulette

A roulette format commonly associated with a single-zero wheel, French betting labels and optional zero concessions. La partage or en prison must be confirmed in the actual rules. A French name alone does not establish that either concession applies.

G

Gambler’s fallacy

The mistaken belief that previous independent results make an opposite result due. Ten reds do not increase black’s next-spin probability on a fair independent wheel. A recent-results display records what happened; it does not rebalance the next spin.

Green pocket

A pocket used for zero or zeros on the wheel. Conventional single-zero roulette has one green pocket; double-zero has two. These results sit outside the ordinary red/black, odd/even and high/low groups and affect the game’s expected return.

Gross return

The total credited back from a winning bet, including its returned stake. A winning 10-unit straight-up bet at 35:1 returns 360 units. Net profit on that bet is 350; other losing chips reduce the whole-round result further.

H

High bet

An outside bet on 19–36, normally paying 1:1 profit. It may be labelled 19–36 or passe on a French layout. Zero and double zero are outside the group, and 18 belongs to low rather than high.

Hit frequency

How often a selected bet or event wins. A dozen wins more frequently than a straight-up number, but pays less when successful. Frequency alone does not establish better value; payouts, stake size and game rules also matter.

Hot and cold numbers

Labels for numbers appearing more or less often in a selected recent sample. They describe the sample rather than a reliable forecast. A cold number is not owed a result, and a hot number does not gain a higher independent next-spin probability.

House edge

The casino’s mathematical advantage expressed as a percentage of stakes. It describes long-run expected loss under specified rules, not the chance of losing one spin. Ordinary single-zero roulette is about 2.70%; actual game rules must match that calculation.

I

Independent spin

A spin whose probabilities are unaffected by the outcomes of previous spins. On a fair conventional single-zero wheel, each pocket has a 1-in-37 chance on each independent spin, whether or not it appeared recently.

Inside bet

A wager placed within or along the numbered grid, such as a straight-up, split, street, corner or six line. Each covers a specific number set. Read the chip position and highlighted coverage because borders change which bet is being made.

J

Jeton

A French word for a gaming chip or token. In a roulette interface, the important practical detail is its assigned denomination. A stack of chip graphics does not necessarily tell you the stake without reading the numerical value beside it.

L

La partage

A zero rule that normally returns half a qualifying even-money stake when zero lands. It does not normally apply to straight-ups, dozens or columns. Confirm eligibility in the paytable; it is not an automatic feature of every single-zero game.

Layout

The betting grid and labelled areas used to select wagers. Its number order differs from the order around the wheel. A split requires neighbouring positions on this grid, while a wheel-neighbour selection follows the wheel sequence.

Live dealer roulette

Roulette streamed from a physical table with wagers entered through an online interface. Betting windows, acceptance records and disconnection rules matter. A frozen video does not prove that an accepted wager was cancelled or that the round stopped.

Low bet

An outside bet on 1–18, normally paying 1:1 profit. It may be labelled 1–18 or manque. Zero is not low for settlement purposes, even though its numerical value is below one.

M

Martingale

A loss progression that commonly doubles an even-money stake after each loss and resets after a win. Stakes rise rapidly during losing runs, and balance or table limits can stop the sequence. It cannot guarantee recovery or eliminate the house edge.

Maximum bet

The largest permitted stake under a table’s rules. Different limits can apply to individual numbers, groups or total exposure. A button allowing a larger chip selection does not establish that every possible placement of that chip will be accepted.

Minimum bet

The smallest accepted stake under the relevant table or bet rules. Inside and outside positions can have different requirements. If a placement is below the limit, check whether it was rejected rather than assuming a small visible chip is an active wager.

Multiplier roulette

A broad label for games adding payout multipliers or special bonus mechanisms. Base payouts, fees or eligibility may differ from conventional roulette. The standard 35:1 straight-up explanation should not be applied without checking the specific game’s rules.

N

Neighbours bet

A selection covering a chosen pocket and a stated number of adjacent pockets in wheel order. Two neighbours on each side usually means five numbers in total. It is different from a split between adjacent squares on the numbered betting layout.

Net result

Total money returned minus total money staked for the period being measured. If a round costs 30 units and returns 40, the net result is a 10-unit profit. Count losing components as well as the chip that won.

No more bets

The announcement or status indicating that the betting window has closed. Do not assume a late click was accepted. The confirmed wager display and recorded round information take precedence over a chip animation that may have appeared during a delay.

O

Odd bet

An outside bet on 1, 3, 5 and the other odd numbers through 35, normally paying 1:1 profit. Zero and double zero are excluded. It may appear as impair on a French-labelled layout.

Orphelins

The eight pockets outside the traditional voisins and tiers wheel sectors. Interfaces can offer different chip arrangements for covering them, so inspect the displayed component bets. The number of covered pockets does not necessarily equal the number of chips required.

Outside bet

A bet on a labelled group outside the main numbered grid: colours, odd/even, high/low, dozens or columns. These cover more numbers than individual inside bets, but they can still lose and do not automatically offer a lower house edge.

P

Paroli

A win progression that increases stakes after wins, sometimes with a reset after a target number of successes. It is often described as a reverse Martingale. A previous win does not make the larger next bet more likely to win.

Payout odds

The profit paid relative to a winning stake, commonly written 35:1 or 1:1. They differ from the probability of winning. A 35:1 straight-up payout on a 37-pocket wheel does not mean that only 35 outcomes can lose.

Pocket

The compartment on the roulette wheel where the ball finishes. The result is the pocket’s number, not its apparent position on the video screen. A straight-up bet covers one pocket; group bets cover several possible pocket results.

Probability

The mathematical chance of an event under stated assumptions. A straight-up number has a 1-in-37 chance on a fair single-zero wheel. Expressing the same chance as about 2.70% does not mean that number must appear once in every 37 spins.

Push

Settlement in which a stake is returned without profit. Ordinary roulette bets usually win or lose, but special rules can produce a stake-return outcome. Do not import blackjack’s tie rules into roulette or assume zero is an automatic push.

R

Racetrack

An oval wheel-order betting display used for neighbours and sector selections where available. It is a control layout, not another wheel with separate probabilities. Check how many component chips a selection places and their combined stake.

Red bet

An outside bet on the 18 red numbers, normally paying 1:1 profit. The red numbers are fixed; they are not simply all odd numbers. For example, 12 is red and even, while 17 is black and odd.

Repeat bet

A control restoring a previous wager or layout for a new round. Several separate chips may be restored together. Check the total stake, chip positions and acceptance status rather than treating repeat as a single small additional bet.

RNG

Random number generator: a mechanism used to produce outcomes in computer-generated roulette. This identifies the broad game format, not proof of a particular site’s certification. Rules, testing claims and provider information must be checked separately.

Round history

The record of previous rounds, often including the result, wager, return and round identifier. Use it to check settlement or a connection dispute. It can help establish what was recorded, but previous outcomes do not predict the next independent spin.

S

Sector bet

A combination covering a section of the wheel, often selected through a racetrack. The component bets determine cost and settlement. A sector containing several numbers is not necessarily a single wager with one simple payout ratio.

Single-zero roulette

A wheel format with one zero and numbers 1–36, giving 37 pockets in total. The conventional rules produce about a 2.70% house edge on ordinary bets. Special payouts or zero concessions can change the expected return for eligible wagers.

Six-line bet

An inside bet covering two adjacent streets, or six numbers, normally paying 5:1 profit. An example is 13 through 18. It is sometimes called a double street; the chip sits at the outside junction of the two rows.

Split bet

An inside bet covering two adjacent numbers on the betting grid, normally paying 17:1 profit. A chip on the border between 17 and 20 covers those two numbers. Wheel neighbours are a different concept and do not define ordinary split eligibility.

Stake

The amount risked on a bet. A round’s total stake is the sum of all its component wagers. A 10-unit chip on a number and a 20-unit chip on red cost 30 units, regardless of any overlap in coverage.

Straight-up bet

A wager on one exact number, placed in the centre of its square. It normally pays 35:1 profit. A winning 5-unit straight-up bet therefore returns 180 units including the 5-unit stake, before accounting for any other bets in the round.

Street bet

An inside bet covering one row of three consecutive numbers, such as 13–14–15, normally paying 11:1 profit. It is usually entered at the outside edge of that row. Three arbitrary chosen numbers do not automatically form a street.

T

Table limit

A stated restriction on permitted wagering at a table. Read whether a quoted maximum applies per position, bet category or round. A progression can become impossible when its required next stake exceeds either a limit or the remaining balance.

Tiers du cylindre

A traditional announced sector bet covering 12 pockets opposite the zero area on a single-zero wheel. It is commonly entered as six split bets. The displayed combination and total stake should be checked before confirming it.

Total return

The sum paid back from all settled winning or stake-returning components. It can be less than the total staked despite a win on one chip. Compare the return with the full round cost to establish the net outcome.

U

Unit

A chosen base stake used to describe betting amounts without fixing a currency. If one unit is 5 pesos, a six-unit layout costs 30 pesos. A unit is a planning convention, not a limit on the losses a progression can create.

V

Variance

The mathematical measure of how widely results can spread around their average. In practical roulette discussions it helps explain fluctuations. A bet that pays rarely and heavily can have a different result pattern from an even-money bet despite sharing an ordinary house edge.

Voisins du zéro

A traditional sector combination covering 17 pockets around zero on a single-zero wheel. It uses several component bets, rather than one chip on every covered number. Its total price and individual settlements should be read from the actual selection.

W

Wagering contribution

The percentage of an eligible game’s stakes counted toward a bonus requirement. Roulette may contribute less than slots or be excluded entirely. Read the specific promotion; a welcome headline does not establish that roulette advances its wagering requirement.

Wheel order

The sequence of pockets around the wheel. It differs from the numerical sequence on the betting grid. Neighbour and sector controls use wheel order; streets, corners and conventional splits use positions on the grid.

Z

Zero

The green 0 pocket. It can be selected directly as a number, but it is outside ordinary red/black, odd/even, high/low, dozen and column bets. A special concession changes only the eligible bets described in that table’s rules.

Put the terms into context

Learn the playing sequence

See chip placement, accepted wagers and a complete worked settlement in the roulette playing guide. The examples separate the full round cost from the return on individual winning chips.

Compare wheel rules

Use roulette types to distinguish wheel formats and special tables. Then read the actual paytable: a familiar name does not guarantee the same payouts, concessions or limits.

Understand stake progressions

Our roulette systems guide explains the difference between changing a stake and changing the probability of winning. Martingale and Paroli are staking patterns, not guarantees.

Check promotion conditions

A casino bonus can have a game contribution, maximum bet and exclusion list. A roulette win and progress toward a promotion are separate questions. Check the campaign terms before opting in.

For primary explanations of standard table vocabulary, see MGM Resorts’ roulette guide. Named wheel-sector examples are described in PokerStars’ European roulette rules. These explain terminology; they do not establish availability or eligibility at another casino. Return to the casino games hub to compare other games.

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These offers are separate from the game guide. Check game availability and promotion eligibility with the operator; a listing does not confirm that the game described above is offered.

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Roulette glossary FAQs

What does straight-up mean in roulette?

A straight-up bet covers one exact number. On conventional roulette it normally pays 35:1 profit, so a winning 10-unit bet returns 360 units including the original stake.

What is the difference between inside and outside bets?

Inside bets cover individual numbers or small combinations on the numbered grid. Outside bets cover labelled groups such as red, black, odd, even, dozens and columns. Larger coverage changes win frequency and payout but does not automatically remove the house edge.

Does even money mean a fifty-fifty chance?

No. Even money means a 1:1 profit payout. A standard single-zero colour bet covers 18 of 37 pockets, so its chance is about 48.65%, rather than 50%.

Are wheel neighbours the same as a split bet?

No. Wheel neighbours follow the sequence of pockets around the wheel. A conventional split covers two adjacent numbers on the numbered betting grid. Those are different arrangements.

What is the difference between a dozen and a column?

A dozen covers one consecutive group: 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36. A column covers one of the three vertical columns on the numbered layout. Each normally covers 12 numbers and pays 2:1 profit, but the selected number sets differ.

Does zero count as low, even or black?

No. Zero belongs to none of those betting groups. It is excluded from ordinary colour, odd/even, high/low, dozen and column bets. Double zero is excluded too. Any special concession must be stated in the rules.

What is the difference between payout and net profit?

A payout description may refer to profit odds or a total credited return, depending on the display. Net round profit is the total returned minus every stake placed in that round, including losing components.

Do all French roulette games have la partage?

No. La partage or en prison must be explicitly included in the table rules. These concessions generally concern qualifying even-money bets, not every chip on the layout.

What is an announced roulette bet?

It is a named combination of component wagers, often covering a wheel sector. An online racetrack can place those chips together. Check the component stakes, covered pockets and total cost before confirming.

Do hot or cold numbers predict the next spin?

No. They describe a selected sample of previous results. On a fair independent wheel, a number’s recent frequency does not change its probability on the next spin.