Roulette is played by betting on where a ball will land on a spinning wheel of numbered pockets, then letting the spin decide the outcome. The rules are simple enough to learn in a single round, which is a large part of the game’s appeal. This page walks through everything a beginner needs: the objective, the equipment, how a round unfolds step by step, the betting rules, how payouts work, and the special French rules that can change your result on an even-money bet.
This guide is informational and written for players in Canada. It explains the rules of the game; it does not review or recommend any casino.
What is the objective of roulette?
The objective of roulette is to predict which numbered pocket the ball will land in, and to back that prediction with one or more bets before the spin. You do not play against other players — every bet is placed against the house, and the winning number settles all bets at once.
You can bet on a single number, on several numbers at once, or on broad categories such as red or black, odd or even, or ranges of numbers. Where the ball lands determines which of those bets win and which lose. Because the result is random on every spin, roulette is a game of chance rather than skill: you control which bets you make and how much you stake, but nothing you do influences where the ball settles.
What equipment is used in roulette?
Roulette uses three pieces of equipment: a spinning wheel, a betting table (the layout), and a set of chips. The wheel decides the result, the layout is where you place bets, and the chips represent your stake.
The wheel
The wheel is a spinning disc divided into numbered, coloured pockets, and its design sets the odds of the game. A European wheel has 37 pockets — the numbers 1 to 36 in red and black, plus a single green zero (0). An American wheel has 38 pockets — the same 1 to 36, plus a green zero (0) and a green double zero (00). That single extra pocket does not change any payout, but it adds another losing outcome, which is why the American wheel is more expensive to play over time.
The numbers are not arranged in order around the rim; they are deliberately scattered to balance red and black, odd and even, and high and low around the wheel. For the full number order and how the wheel and layout line up, see the roulette wheel and table. For how the single-zero and double-zero wheels compare in detail, see roulette variants.
The table layout
The layout is the printed betting area where you place your chips, and its positions mirror the numbers on the wheel. The main grid shows the numbers 1 to 36 in three columns, with the zero (and double zero on American tables) at the top. Around the grid sit the boxes for the outside bets — red, black, odd, even, the dozens and the columns.
Every betting position on the layout corresponds to a specific bet, and where you place a chip is what defines the bet. A chip squarely on one number is a bet on that number; a chip on the line between two numbers is a bet on both.
The ball and chips
The ball is a small ball that the croupier spins around the track above the pockets. At a live table, you play with special “table chips” in a colour assigned only to you, so your bets are never mixed up with another player’s. You exchange these for standard casino chips (or cash) when you leave the table.
How do you play a round of roulette?
You play a round by buying chips, placing your bets before betting closes, and then waiting for the spin to settle the outcome. Every round follows the same short sequence, whether you play at a live table or online.
How a roulette round works, step by step
- 1 Buy in. Exchange cash for coloured “table chips” that are unique to you, so your bets are never confused with another player’s.
- 2 Place your bets. Put chips on the numbers or groups you want to back, on the betting layout, while the wheel is still open for bets.
- 3 Betting closes. The croupier calls “no more bets” and no chips may be moved or added after that point.
- 4 The spin. The croupier spins the wheel one way and releases the ball the other way; the ball slows and drops into a numbered pocket.
- 5 The result is marked. The croupier places a marker (the “dolly”) on the winning number and clears every losing bet from the table.
- 6 Winnings are paid. Winning bets are paid at fixed odds, the dolly is removed, and the table opens for the next round.
The whole cycle takes roughly a minute at a busy live table and can be faster online. The one rule that catches beginners out is the “no more bets” call: once the croupier makes it, you cannot add, move or remove a chip until the round is settled.
What are the rules for betting?
Roulette bets divide into two groups — inside bets on specific numbers, and outside bets on large groups of numbers — and you may place several of each in the same round. The only limits are the table’s minimum and maximum stakes, which are usually displayed on a sign at the table.
Inside bets
Inside bets cover one number or a small cluster of neighbouring numbers, and they carry the largest payouts. A straight-up bet on one number pays 35 to 1; a split on two numbers pays 17 to 1; a street of three pays 11 to 1; a corner of four pays 8 to 1; and a six-line of six numbers pays 5 to 1.
Outside bets
Outside bets cover large groups, so they win far more often but pay far less. Red or black, odd or even, and high or low each cover 18 numbers and pay 1 to 1 (even money). The dozens and the columns each cover 12 numbers and pay 2 to 1.
Announced (called) bets
Announced bets, also called call bets, are groupings based on where numbers sit on the wheel rather than on the layout, and you will mainly meet them on French and European tables. Names such as voisins du zéro (neighbours of zero), tiers du cylindre (third of the wheel) and orphelins (orphans) each cover a fixed section of the wheel, placed as one announced wager.
| Bet group | What it covers | Payout range | How often it wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside bets | One number or a small cluster of 2–6 numbers | 5 : 1 up to 35 : 1 | Rarely — but pays big |
| Outside bets | Large groups of 12–18 numbers: red/black, odd/even, high/low, dozens, columns | 1 : 1 up to 2 : 1 | Often — but pays small |
The house edge is the same whichever group you choose (2.70% on a European wheel). Inside and outside bets simply trade how often you win against how much you win.
For the exact chip positions of every bet and the complete payout chart, see roulette bets and payouts.
How are winnings paid out?
Winnings are paid at fixed odds, and those odds always sit just below the true chance of the bet — that gap is the casino’s built-in margin. A straight-up bet, for example, pays 35 to 1, but a European wheel has 37 pockets, so the true odds are 36 to 1 against. The one missing unit is where the house makes its money, and the same gap is built into every other bet.
In practice, a winning bet returns your original stake plus the payout. A CA$10 straight-up win returns your CA$10 plus CA$350; a CA$10 even-money win returns your CA$10 plus CA$10. For how these payouts translate into long-run odds and the house edge, see roulette strategy and odds.
What are the la partage and en prison rules?
La partage and en prison are French rules that soften the loss on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero, and they roughly halve the house edge on those bets. Both apply only to even-money wagers — red or black, odd or even, high or low — and only on tables that offer them.
Under la partage (“the division”), when the ball lands on zero you lose only half of an even-money stake; the other half is returned. Under en prison (“in prison”), the stake is instead locked in place for one more spin: if that next spin wins, your original stake is returned (with no winnings); if it loses, the stake is gone. Either rule lowers the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to about 1.35%, which is the best value in the game when you can find it.
Are the rules different for online roulette?
The core rules of online roulette are identical to the live game — the same wheel, the same bets and the same payouts. What differs is the delivery. Most online roulette runs on a random number generator (RNG), which uses certified software to produce each result instead of a physical wheel. Live-dealer roulette sits in between: a real croupier spins a real wheel in a studio, streamed to your screen, with your bets placed through the interface.
Online play also adds conveniences that live tables cannot: on-screen bet histories, a “rebet” button to repeat your last stake, and adjustable table limits that often start lower than a physical casino’s. The odds, though, are set by the wheel type, so a single-zero online wheel carries the same 2.70% edge as its live counterpart.
Roulette etiquette and table rules
A few unwritten rules keep a live roulette table running smoothly, and knowing them helps a first visit feel less daunting. Buy your colour chips at the table rather than using cash to bet, keep your hands away from the layout once “no more bets” is called, and wait for the croupier to clear the dolly and losing chips before placing your next bet. Let the croupier push your winnings to you rather than reaching across the layout.
Table limits also function as a rule you should check before you sit down. The sign shows the minimum and maximum stake for both inside and outside bets, and those limits matter — they are the reason bet-doubling systems eventually hit a wall.
Common beginner mistakes
The most common beginner mistake is misreading a payout as a probability — a 35 to 1 payout is not a 1-in-35 chance, and the difference between the payout and the true odds is exactly the house edge. A few others are worth avoiding from the start:
- Playing an American wheel when a European one is available. The extra double zero nearly doubles the house edge, from 2.70% to 5.26%, for the same game.
- Touching your chips after “no more bets.” Bets are locked once the call is made, and reaching in can void the bet or draw a warning.
- Overlooking la partage and en prison. On even-money bets at a French table, these rules halve your losses on zero, yet many players never look for them.
- Playing without a set budget. Roulette has a guaranteed long-run cost, so deciding a limit before you start is the only reliable way to keep it enjoyable.
Getting these basics right will not turn roulette into a winning game — no approach does — but it keeps your play correct, your costs as low as the maths allows, and the experience the way it is meant to be.
Responsible gambling. Roulette is entertainment with a built-in house edge, which means the game is designed for the casino to profit over time; it is not a way to make money. Only ever wager what you can afford to lose, set time and money limits before you play, and never chase losses. You must be of legal age to gamble in your province — 19 in most of Canada, and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. If gambling stops being fun, free and confidential help is available across Canada: contact the Responsible Gambling Council, call or text ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 (text CONNEX to 247247) via connexontario.ca, or dial 9-8-8 for the Suicide Crisis Helpline if you are in crisis. See our responsible gambling page for provincial programs and self-exclusion tools.
Reference sources
Frequently asked questions
Is roulette hard to learn?
No — roulette is one of the easiest casino games to learn. You place chips on the numbers or groups you want to back, the wheel is spun, and the pocket the ball lands in decides your bets. You can understand the whole game in a single round, though knowing the odds behind each bet takes a little longer.
What is the easiest roulette bet for a beginner?
The even-money outside bets are the easiest place to start: red or black, odd or even, and high or low. Each covers 18 of the numbers and pays 1 to 1, so they win close to half the time and are simple to follow while you learn the table.
Do you get your stake back when you win at roulette?
Yes. A winning bet returns your original stake plus the payout. For example, a winning CA$10 straight-up bet returns your CA$10 stake plus CA$350 in winnings, while a winning CA$10 even-money bet returns your CA$10 plus CA$10.
What is the difference between European and American roulette?
The European wheel has 37 pockets with a single zero, while the American wheel has 38 pockets with both a zero and a double zero. The extra pocket does not change any payout, but it raises the house edge from 2.70% on the European wheel to 5.26% on the American one, so the European wheel is the better value.
Can you play roulette online in Canada?
Yes. Roulette is available at licensed land-based casinos across Canada and online through regulated markets in Ontario and Alberta, as well as provincial platforms such as British Columbia’s PlayNow and Quebec’s Loto-Québec. The minimum age is 19 in most provinces and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.