Roulette Rules | Learn the Rules of Roulette

Roulette is one of the most popular table games in a casino, and it’s easy to see why. Roulette rules are pretty easy to learn. There are no special skills to master, and the game even comes with a (fairly) low house edge. No wonder everyone from beginners to the real high rollers likes to spend a little time at the roulette table.

The way that the game works is quite straightforward. The wheel is split into 36 numbered spaces, all of which are red or black, along with one or two zero spaces (exactly how many depend on the version you’re playing), which are green. You place your bets on the roulette table, the dealer spins the wheel, and as the wheel stops, the ball lands in one of the wheel’s numbered pockets. If it lands on a space you placed a bet on, you win. It really is that simple.

One thing that could be just a tad confusing is that the roulette wheel and the roulette table are two different things. The table is where you place your bets, by putting your chips in specific places, depending on the bet you want to make, and the wheel is what spins to determine whether you’ve won or not. You can play roulette games online or in a real-life casino, and the game comes in a few different versions. We’ll go into detail about some of the different types of roulette games below.

The rules of roulette – the basics

When you play roulette in a land-based casino, you’ll be playing with chips that you purchase in advance. When you play online, your casino credits will be virtual, but the basic rules remain the same. Here are a few roulette dos and don’ts to keep in mind:

Do learn the various different bets you can place and what the pros and cons are.
Do understand the payouts you can get and what the odds on different bets are.
Do set a playing budget in advance, and stick to it.
Do follow basic casino etiquette – be polite to the dealer and other players, tip your dealer, don’t drink too much alcohol, and don’t have your phone out at the roulette table.
Do learn exactly where to put your chips on the table in order to place your bets.

And the don’ts?

Don’t get carried away and bet more than you originally planned.
Don’t chase losses – learn to quit while you’re behind, if necessary.
Don’t be distracted by what other players are doing – they may have a bigger budget, more experience and a different objective from you.
Don’t jump between different versions of the game if you’re a beginner – learn one version properly first.
Don’t start with outside bets – inside bets are simpler and more likely to pay out.

Inside bets are the more straightforward bets with a low house edge, such as red/black, odd/even, or high/low. Outside bets are more complicated bets such as split, street and square bets, and single-number bets. They have a much higher house edge, and they’re generally best left to more experienced players, in particular those with plenty of money to play with.

Roulette minimum bet rules

Each roulette table will have a minimum and maximum bet amount that will be posted on or near the table. Pay attention to this! There will be different minimum and maximum bet amounts allowed for inside and outside bets, and yes, the rules must be followed.

Often, the minimum bet is around £5, but there are exceptions. Here at LeoVegas, we like to offer something for everyone, so you can also play 20p Roulette. Yes, believe it or not, you really can place wagers of just £0.20 in an online casino variant.

French roulette rules

As far as we (and other people who have studied it) can tell, the game of roulette started in France, so it’s fair to argue that French roulette is the original version of the game. It’s similar to American roulette and even more similar to European roulette, but there are a few differences.

The table in French roulette is bigger, the number boxes are all red, and the words written on the table are in French. There are also some ‘extra’ rules in French roulette, such as La Partage, which lets players get some of their money back if the ball lands on zero, and En Prison, which means that a player can ‘carry over’ a lost bet, just the once, and replay with the same stake to see if they can win next time.

American roulette rules

In American roulette, the table is smaller, and the numbers are marked in black and red. The rules mentioned above don’t apply either, which is a shame. The biggest difference that most players notice, though, is that there are two green spaces: a zero and a double zero.

You don’t have to be a gambling genius to work out that the second zero space is an advantage for the house, not the player. Think about it. The most common bets are red/black, odd/even, high/low, columns and dozens. If everyone bets on these, and the ball lands on 0 or 00, nobody wins except, of course, the casino.

European roulette rules

European roulette has a similar table to American roulette. Everything is in English, and the French roulette rules such as La Partage and En Prison don’t apply. Like French roulette. However, it only has one zero space, so the odds of winning are better than in American roulette, and that annoying but unavoidable house edge is lower.

Lightning Roulette rules

This version is pretty popular, and it’s really not hard to see why. It’s similar to standard versions of roulette, but there’s a lightning multiplier that really ups the excitement, and the stakes.

In each round of Lightning Roulette, up to five lucky numbers are ‘struck by lightning’, which means that they pay out with a multiplier, which can be anything from 50x to a whopping 500x! Not all casinos have this version of the game, but when they do, expect it to be one of the more in-demand versions of the game.

Roulette game rules when playing online

When you play roulette online, the normal rules apply, and just like at a land-based casino, the different versions of the game follow their own set rules. The only difference is, you may find even more variants available online.

Here at LeoVegas, we‘ve really gone to town when it comes to roulette options, offering loads of different versions of the game, and even different versions of the versions! You can try your hand at European Roulette Pro, American Roulette FP, Roulette Diamond or Royal Roulette. We also have lots of live roulette options, so take a look around and see which game you fancy trying.

Roulette rules FAQs

How do I place bets in roulette?

When playing roulette at a land-based casino, there’s a certain way to place your bets, by physically putting the chips on the table in specific places. For example, a split (two-number) bet is placed between the two numbers you are betting on, and a square (four-number) bet is placed where the four numbers intersect. You can watch games online, or at a real-life casino, to see exactly where players place their chips in a real game.

Is there a maximum amount you can win at roulette?

Yes, and this is dictated by the maximum bet amount allowed on each type of bet, which will be posted by the table. Remember, many casinos have an overall cap on how much you can win, and in a land-based casino, expect to draw attention from the house if you are on a lucky streak and raking in unusually big wins. There will often be low-limit tables and high-limit tables in the same casino, so take a look around and make sure that you’re playing at the best table for you.

What should I do if I’m not sure about the rules of roulette?

It just makes sense to learn the rules of each game before you play. However, it’s fine to politely ask the dealer to clarify anything you’re not sure about. Dealers are aware that there are different versions of the game and understand that you might be confused if you’re trying a new variant.

Which version of roulette should I play?

This really is up to you, but remember to consider that American roulette rules and payouts are different from European, and not as favourable to the player. The house edge is lower in French and European roulette because of the single zero, so most players prefer those versions. Novelty versions such as Lightning Roulette may also appeal to lots of new players, but some players prefer a more classic game, even when the novelty options are available. It’s a matter of personal taste.