Roulette
Roulette is the casino wheel game where a ball settles into one of the numbered pockets. The number of green zeros on the wheel sets the house edge — from about 1.35% under French rules to 5.26% on the American double-zero wheel.
| Type | Wheel game |
|---|---|
| Variants | European, American, French |
| Pockets | 37 (single zero) or 38 (double zero) |
| House Edge | 1.35%–5.26% by variant |
| Skill Vs Luck | Pure chance |
How roulette works
A dealer spins a wheel and releases a ball that eventually drops into one numbered pocket. Players bet on where it will land — a single number, a group of numbers, or broad categories such as red/black, odd/even or high/low. Inside bets cover specific numbers and pay larger odds; outside bets cover wide groups and pay close to even money. Winning bets are paid at fixed odds while losing chips are cleared.
Why the wheel matters
Every roulette payout is calculated as if the green zero (or zeros) did not exist, and that gap is the house edge. A single-zero European wheel has 37 pockets and a 2.70% edge on every bet. The American wheel adds a second green pocket (00) for 38 pockets, nearly doubling the edge to 5.26%. French roulette uses a single zero plus the La Partage or En Prison rules, which return half of an even-money bet when the ball hits zero — cutting the edge on those bets to about 1.35%, the best roulette odds available.
Frequently asked questions
Which roulette has the best odds?
French roulette with La Partage, where even-money bets carry only a ~1.35% edge. Single-zero European roulette (2.70%) is next; avoid the American double-zero wheel (5.26%).
Is roulette a game of skill?
No. Once bets are placed the outcome is pure chance. The only meaningful choice is selecting a lower-edge wheel and bet type.
Sources
- Published roulette rules
- Probability theory
- Standard house-edge tables