How to Play Roulette: Step-by-Step Bets and Payouts

Editor: Argyll Cyrus Geducos Updated

To play roulette, put a chip on the number or group of numbers you want to cover, confirm the amount before betting closes, and wait for the ball result. A winning bet earns the payout shown in the game’s rules. A losing bet loses its stake. That basic process is short; the details that matter are where the chip lands, how much the whole layout costs, and whether the displayed payout includes your stake.

This guide follows a round from the first rules check to the final balance. The examples use units rather than a particular currency, so you can follow the arithmetic without confusing a chip denomination with a peso amount. For an overview of wheels and bet categories, see our roulette guide; for terminology, use the roulette glossary.

Check these details before placing a chip

The actual wheel

A conventional single-zero wheel has 37 pockets: 1–36 and 0. A conventional double-zero wheel has 38: 1–36, 0 and 00. Count the green pockets or read the rules rather than judging by the table’s name or background design.

The actual paytable

The standard payouts below describe conventional roulette. Multiplier, bonus and other special tables can change payouts or charge additional amounts. Open the specific game’s information panel before treating a familiar-looking layout as a standard game.

The limits and currency

Check the account currency, chip values, minimum accepted bet and maximum limits. A minimum may apply differently to inside and outside bets. Limits can also apply to particular positions; a large overall balance does not make every chip placement valid.

Your session amount

Choose a spending limit and a time limit before starting. Keep essential expenses outside that amount. Demo credits are useful for learning the screen, but their results do not establish what a later money session will return.

A single-zero wheel has a lower mathematical house edge than a standard double-zero wheel when ordinary payouts are otherwise the same. This affects long-run expected results, not which wheel will win your next spin. Our roulette types guide explains the differences between table families.

How a roulette round works: seven steps

1. Open the rules and identify the game

Find the help, information or paytable control before joining a round. Confirm the zero pockets, payouts, betting limits and any special settlement rule. On a live table, also check that the stream, result display and betting panel are working. A familiar casino brand can offer several roulette games with different rules.

If a session is already running, watch a completed round first. Locate the timer, accepted stake, previous result and balance. Watching is for understanding the interface; the previous result is not a prediction.

2. Select a chip denomination

The chip value is the amount added by one placement. If a 10-unit chip is selected, one tap on a number normally places 10 units there. Three placements can therefore create 30 units of exposure. Some interfaces stack chips or retain the last selected denomination, so look at the displayed amount rather than counting chip pictures.

Changing the selected chip usually changes future placements, not the chips already on the layout. Use the undo or clear controls while betting is open if you need to correct an entry, and verify what remains afterward.

3. Place the chip on the intended position

A chip in the centre of a numbered square is a straight-up bet. A chip on a shared border can be a split, and one on a four-square junction can be a corner. An outside bet is placed on its labelled area, such as red, black or the second dozen. Placement is part of the bet: being near 17 is not necessarily the same as betting only on 17.

Use the interface’s highlighted numbers or confirmation label to check coverage. On a small screen, enlarge the layout with the game’s own controls if available instead of making a hurried guess at a border.

4. Read the total stake before the countdown ends

Add every accepted bet on the layout. Ten units on a number plus 20 on black costs 30 units for that round. Separate chips can overlap in the numbers they cover, but the amounts still add together. The total stake is the amount that can be lost if none of the selected bets wins.

A repeat or double button can restore or increase a whole layout in one action. Check the total after using it. Do not assume the selected chip value is the total cost of the round.

5. Confirm the bet was accepted

Once betting closes, wait for the result. Live dealers may spin the wheel while the betting window is still open, so the moving ball alone is not the acceptance signal. The game’s betting status and accepted-bet record are what matter.

A late click, connection interruption or limit error can leave a bet rejected. If a number wins after a rejected placement, that does not turn the rejected entry into an accepted wager. Avoid repeatedly tapping when the status is unclear.

6. Match the result to each bet

Check the announced number and colour, then settle each position separately. More than one bet can win on a spin. A straight-up bet on 17 and a bet on black both win when the result is 17, because 17 is black. A red bet loses on that same result.

Use the round history if the result display disappears quickly. Distinguish a winning bet’s payout from the net result across all the chips you placed. The worked example below shows both figures.

7. Decide whether to finish or start a new round

Check the new balance and your remaining session limit. Start another round only as a fresh decision. Repeating a losing layout does not make it more likely to win, and increasing the next stake does not recover a previous loss automatically.

Closing the table after settlement is different from interrupting a round in progress. If a round is unresolved, use the game history and support process to establish its recorded outcome before placing another bet.

Where to place roulette chips

The numbered betting grid is arranged differently from the wheel. For ordinary inside bets, adjacency means squares touching on the betting layout, not pockets sitting next to one another around the wheel. The small extract below shows three neighbouring streets on a conventional layout.

Layout illustration only: these squares explain positions and do not accept bets.

Single number

Place: Centre of 17.
Covers: Only 17.
Standard profit payout: 35:1.

Split

Place: Border between 17 and 20.
Covers: 17 and 20.
Standard profit payout: 17:1.

Street

Place: Outside edge of the 13–14–15 row.
Covers: 13, 14 and 15.
Standard profit payout: 11:1.

Corner

Place: Junction of 17, 18, 20 and 21.
Covers: Those four numbers.
Standard profit payout: 8:1.

Six line

Place: Outside junction of two adjacent rows.
Covers: 13 through 18.
Standard profit payout: 5:1.

Outside group

Place: Labelled BLACK box.
Covers: All 18 black numbers.
Standard profit payout: 1:1.

A street is one row of three consecutive numbers, such as 13–14–15. A six-line bet covers two adjacent streets, such as 13–14–15 and 16–17–18. The clickable area for these positions can be small. Read the highlighted selection before relying on the apparent chip location.

For outside bets, the first dozen is 1–12, the second is 13–24 and the third is 25–36. A column instead follows one of the three vertical columns of the grid. Both cover 12 numbers and normally pay 2:1 profit, but they do not select the same sets. Low means 1–18 and high means 19–36. Zero belongs to none of these outside groups.

Conventional payouts and layout categories are also explained in MGM Resorts’ roulette guide. The specific table paytable remains the reference for a special or modified game.

Worked round: 10 on 17 and 20 on black

Imagine a conventional roulette table with a 10-unit straight-up bet on 17 and a separate 20-unit bet on black. The total stake is 30 units. This is an arithmetic example, not a recommended betting plan. Both chips are charged for the round regardless of which result arrives.

If the result is 17

The 10-unit straight-up bet earns 350 units of profit at 35:1 and returns its 10-unit stake: 360 returned. Black also wins, returning 40 units including its 20-unit stake. Total returned is 400. Subtract the full 30-unit stake to get 370 units net profit.

If the result is another black number, such as 20

The bet on 17 loses. Black returns 40 units, made up of 20 profit and the 20 stake. Total returned is 40, against 30 staked, so the round makes 10 units net profit. The winning colour bet’s 20-unit profit is not the whole-round profit because the number bet lost 10.

If the result is a red number, such as 14

Neither chip wins. Nothing is returned and the net loss is 30 units. Covering black and one black number has not covered red.

If the result is zero

Under ordinary rules without a qualifying zero concession, both chips lose and the net loss is 30 units. A special rule could change the settlement of the black bet, but it would not make the straight-up bet on 17 a winning bet.

The useful calculation is net round result = total amount returned − total amount staked. A 1:1 payout describes profit on a winning bet; it does not mean the original stake disappears from the return. Conversely, a screen announcing a large payout may be showing a gross return that includes stakes.

What happens when zero lands?

Green zero is not included in red or black, odd or even, low or high, dozens or columns. On a standard single-zero wheel, a colour bet covers 18 of 37 pockets, approximately 48.65%. On a standard double-zero wheel, it covers 18 of 38, approximately 47.37%. An even-money payout therefore does not mean a fifty-fifty chance.

With conventional payouts, the ordinary single-zero house edge is about 2.70%, compared with 5.26% for ordinary double-zero bets. The American five-number basket is a separate exception with a higher edge. These are long-run mathematical averages over stakes, not a promise that a short session will lose exactly that percentage. See the calculations in Wizard of Odds’ roulette analysis.

La partage and en prison need an explicit rule

Where la partage applies, a qualifying even-money bet normally gets half its stake back when zero appears. En prison can instead hold a qualifying stake for settlement on a later spin. Neither should be assumed solely because a game has a French name. Check eligible bets, repeated-zero treatment and whether any alternative or special settlement applies.

Changing from a straight-up bet to a colour bet changes how often that bet wins and how much it pays. On a conventional single-zero table with ordinary settlement, it does not remove the house edge. The distinction matters when a frequent small return feels safer than an occasional large payout.

Playing on a phone or a live dealer table

The result and payout process is broadly familiar across online roulette, but the controls and timing vary. A computer-generated game may let you take your time between rounds. A live table usually has a shared betting window. Learn the screen before the countdown becomes a distraction, particularly if the video and betting layout occupy separate panels.

Check placement before changing screens

On a phone, a finger can cover the exact border being selected. Confirm the highlighted numbers, selected chip value and accepted total. Switching orientation or opening the video panel should not be treated as confirmation that a bet was placed. Use the recorded stake display. Our mobile casino guide covers broader device and connection checks.

Understand undo, repeat and favourite layouts

Undo may remove the most recent chip rather than the whole round. Clear may remove all unaccepted placements while betting remains open. Repeat can restore several separate bets at once. Saved layouts make entry quicker, but they also make it easier to repeat a larger amount than intended. Read the final total each time.

Handle interruptions through the round record

If the stream freezes, do not infer the outcome from the last visible frame. Check whether the wager was accepted and whether the round has a recorded result. Save the round identifier if a dispute needs support. The game’s disconnection rules determine how accepted wagers are handled; reopening the page does not by itself cancel a bet.

Casino welcome offers: check roulette eligibility

These are general casino welcome campaigns. A headline offer does not establish that roulette is available, eligible for the bonus or counted at the same rate as slots. Before claiming, check the game list, roulette contribution, maximum permitted bet, expiry and withdrawal conditions on the linked landing page.

21+ only. Affiliate links may earn us a commission. Confirm eligibility, currency, wagering, maximum bets, expiry and withdrawal conditions before claiming an offer. A listing does not confirm support for a particular game or payment method.

Compare the structure of welcome bonuses and match bonuses before opting in. If roulette is excluded from a particular campaign, placing roulette bets may not advance its wagering requirement and may breach its terms. Funding and withdrawal methods are covered separately in our banking guide.

A short practice routine before a money session

If a free demonstration is available, use it to learn one action at a time. Place one chip in a number’s centre, then clear it. Place a split and check both highlighted numbers. Try an outside bet, read the total stake and watch one settlement. Finish by locating the history and exit controls. The aim is to understand the interface, not to find a winning sequence.

Keep a simple record of three figures: total staked, total returned and the difference. Practise with a losing round as well as a winning one. This makes it easier to recognise when a payout notification is being mistaken for profit or when repeated small bets are adding up to a larger session cost.

A run of red results does not make black due. Nor does a number’s absence make it more likely on a fair independent next spin. Read our roulette betting systems guide for the cost of stake progressions. For other game rules, return to the casino games hub.

How to play roulette FAQs

How do you play roulette for the first time?

Read the table rules and limits, choose a chip value, place a bet on the numbered layout or an outside group, and check the total stake before betting closes. The ball result determines which accepted bets win. A free demonstration is useful for learning the controls before considering money stakes.

Where do you put a chip for a single-number roulette bet?

Place it in the centre of the numbered square. A chip on a border can create a split, while a chip on the intersection of four squares can create a corner. Check the game’s highlighted coverage and bet confirmation before accepting the placement.

What does a 35:1 roulette payout mean?

A winning standard straight-up bet pays 35 units of profit for each unit staked, and the winning stake is returned as well. A 10-unit winning bet therefore returns 360 units in total. Other losing bets from the same round must still be deducted when calculating the round’s net result.

Does zero count as an even number in roulette betting?

No. Zero is excluded from the even and odd betting groups, and it is also excluded from red, black, low, high, dozens and columns. Double zero is excluded from those groups too. Any special treatment of qualifying bets must be stated in the table rules.

Can several roulette bets win on the same spin?

Yes. If the result is 17, for example, both a straight-up bet on 17 and a bet on black win. The game settles each accepted bet separately. Adding bets also increases the total amount staked, so a winning bet does not necessarily mean that the whole round made a profit.

Are red and black bets a fifty-fifty chance?

No. A standard single-zero wheel has 18 red pockets, 18 black pockets and one green zero, so either colour has an 18-in-37 chance. An ordinary double-zero wheel adds another green pocket, making either colour an 18-in-38 chance.

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 in the standard numbered layout. Each covers 12 numbers and normally pays 2:1 profit, but the sets of numbers are different.

Can you change a bet after betting closes?

No new or changed bet should be assumed accepted after the betting window closes. Check the accepted-bet display rather than relying on a tap animation. If a late tap was rejected, it is not a wager on that round even if the number subsequently wins.

Does every French roulette table return half a bet on zero?

No. La partage must be included in the actual table rules, and it normally applies only to qualifying even-money bets. En prison is a different rule that can hold a qualifying stake for a later spin. Read the game’s treatment of repeated zero and settlement before playing.

Can a roulette betting system make a losing number due?

No. On a fair independent wheel, previous results do not change the probability of the next result. Increasing stakes, repeating a layout or selecting a number that has not appeared cannot remove the house edge, and stake progressions can increase losses quickly.