Roulette

Roulette is the casino game almost as old as casinos themselves — invented in 18th-century France (“roulette” literally means “little wheel”) and now played in every casino on Earth. This European single-zero variant is the lower-house-edge version played throughout Europe and most online casinos. American Roulette adds a “00” pocket, doubling the house edge — avoid it if you have a choice.

How to play

• Pick a chip value (5, 25, 100, or 500 credits).
• Click on any spot on the table to place that chip value as a bet.
• Inside bets (specific numbers): pay 35:1. Highest single payout.
• Column bets: the three “2:1” columns cover their 12 numbers.
• Dozens: 1-12, 13-24, 25-36. Pay 2:1.
• Even-money bets: RED, BLACK, EVEN, ODD, 1-18, 19-36. Pay 1:1.
• Click Spin. The wheel randomly lands on 0-36. Any bet covering that number pays out.
• Zero loses all outside bets (RED/BLACK/EVEN/ODD/etc.) but pays straight-up zero at 35:1.

House edge math

European Roulette’s house edge is exactly 2.7% (1/37 of every bet) — and the same on every bet. A 35:1 straight number bet has the same expected value as a 1:1 RED bet. The wheel has 37 pockets (0-36); payouts are calibrated as if there were only 36. The 2.7% is the “missing” payout from the 0.

• House edge European: 2.70%
• House edge American (with 00): 5.26%
• French Roulette with “en prison” rule: 1.35% on even-money bets (you get half-back if zero lands)

Strategy (and why it doesn’t work)

• There is no winning strategy. Each spin is independent and random.
• Martingale doubles risk, not edge. Doubling after losses “guarantees” a win equal to your starting bet — only if you have infinite money and the casino accepts infinite bets. A single long losing streak wipes out months of “wins.”
• Fibonacci system. Bet according to Fibonacci sequence. Same math: doesn’t change house edge.
• D’Alembert system. Increase bet after losses by 1 unit. Same outcome: long losses bankrupt you.
• The only “strategy” is bet sizing. Treat roulette as entertainment, set a stop-loss, walk when you hit it.

Inside vs outside bets

• Inside (straight-up number): 35:1 payout, 1/37 = 2.7% probability per number.
• Split (2 numbers): 17:1 payout, 2/37 probability.
• Street (3 numbers): 11:1, 3/37.
• Corner (4 numbers): 8:1, 4/37.
• Line (6 numbers): 5:1, 6/37.
• Outside (1:1 bets): red, black, even, odd, 1-18, 19-36. Pay 1:1, win 18/37 (~48.6%).
• Same expected value across all bets. Different variance.

Roulette history

• 1655 — Blaise Pascal: creates an early roulette wheel during attempts to build a perpetual motion machine.
• 1796 — first reference: “La Roulette ou le Jour” describes the modern game.
• 1843 — single-zero introduced: Francois and Louis Blanc add the single-zero variant at Bad Homburg, Germany. Lower house edge attracts gamblers.
• 1860s — Monte Carlo: the Blanc brothers launch Monte Carlo Casino with single-zero roulette. Becomes iconic.
• Late 1800s — American casinos: introduce the double-zero (00) wheel, doubling the house edge.
• Modern: European (single-zero) standard everywhere outside North America.

Common mistakes

• Chasing losses. Increasing bets after losses leads to bankruptcy.
• Believing in patterns. “Red five times in a row, so black is due.” Red on the 6th spin has the same 18/37 probability.
• Playing American Roulette when European is available. Almost 2x house edge.
• Not setting a stop-loss. Roulette has no skill ceiling — any session can go terrible.
• Trusting “lucky numbers.” Birthdays, anniversaries — all equal probability.

Variants

• European Roulette. Single zero, 2.7% house edge.
• American Roulette. Single + double zero, 5.26% house edge.
• French Roulette. European + “en prison” rule (zero refunds half on even-money bets). 1.35% house edge.
• Mini Roulette. 13 numbers (0-12). Different math.
• Multi-wheel. Bet on multiple wheels simultaneously.

FAQ

• Q: Are all bets equally bad? A: Yes — all have the same 2.7% house edge in European Roulette. Different variance, same expected value.
• Q: Should I play American or European? A: European always. American’s double-zero doubles house edge.
• Q: Can I beat roulette? A: Not legally. Probability theory ensures the house wins long-term. Past outcomes don’t predict future spins.
• Q: What’s “en prison”? A: French Roulette rule — if zero lands, your even-money bet is “imprisoned” and refunded on the next spin if your bet wins. Lowers house edge to 1.35% on those bets.

For other casino games, try Blackjack, Video Poker, Slot Machine, or Yahtzee.