How to play roulette

Start with the wheel

Roulette begins with a bet on where a ball will land. A European wheel has 37 pockets, numbered 0 to 36. An American wheel adds 00 for 38 pockets. The green zero pockets matter because they belong to neither red nor black, odd nor even, low nor high. A red bet covers 18 pockets, rather than half of either wheel.

Place a practice bet

Choose a chip value and a position on the layout before the round closes. A chip centered on one number is a straight-up bet. A chip on a valid shared line covers two numbers. Outside areas offer groups such as red, black, a dozen or a column. Start with one position so you can follow what wins and what loses. Read the bets and payouts guide before combining positions.

Read the result

The ball lands in one pocket and each wager settles against that number. A winning red bet pays 1 to 1 in profit and returns the stake. With 10 chips on red, a win returns 20 chips in total. A loss returns zero. A winning straight-up bet pays 35 to 1 in profit. Zero loses an ordinary red bet even on a single-zero wheel.

Keep the session bounded

Choose a practice-chip budget and a stopping point before the first round. A run of black results does not make red due on a fair, independent next spin. Raising stakes changes the size of wins and losses, without changing that probability. The payout calculator shows one bet at a time. Compare European and American roulette when you want to understand the effect of the extra pocket.

Follow the balance through one round

Start with 100 practice chips and place 5 on red. Your available balance is 95 while those chips are on the table. Betting closes, one pocket wins and each wager settles.

Those rows show alternatives for the same starting round, rather than consecutive spins. A screen may display a 10-chip return on the red win even though net profit is 5. Read the output label before comparing games.

At a physical table, let settlement finish before reaching near the winning-number marker. Ask about minimums and chip denominations before joining the next betting window. Our table etiquette guide covers those details.

Continue with inside bets for small numbered groups or outside bets for colors, dozens and columns. The practice simulator gives you a simulated-chip round to follow; the glossary translates unfamiliar terms.