There are few casino games as iconic as Roulette, which stands out among other table games as it doesn’t feature dice or cards. Instead, the game centers around the Roulette wheel and the ball spun around its rim.

It’s a very different kind of game compared to something like Blackjack or Poker, so let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the rules of online Roulette and how this classic game plays.

1. The Roulette wheel and table layout

    To start with, it’s most important to have a basic understanding of Roulette’s game components. These are the wheel itself and the table layout.

    The exact design of the Roulette wheel actually varies depending on which format you’re playing – American or European – but both designs feature numbered pockets running from zero to 36. If the wheel is American, it will have an extra pocket, the double zero.

    The other part of the design to pay attention to is the table layout, which is where players can place their wagers. There are two major categories of wagers that players can make, known as inside or outside bets.

    Players place their chips on the relevant part of the layout before the wheel is spun, indicating what outcome they are wagering on.

    2. The types of Roulette bets

      So, what are inside and outside bets? Any wager in a game of Roulette falls into one of these two categories, which are set apart by their relative probabilities and payouts.

      Inside bets are placed on the numbered part of the table layout, indicating a wager on either a single number or a small group of numbers. These have a lower probability attached but higher potential payouts.

      Outside bets are placed on more general characteristics or larger groups of numbers – like red/black or odd/even – with boxes sitting to the outside of the numbered grid on the layout.

      3. Roulette gameplay and rules

        In a game of Roulette all wagers must be placed before the croupier initiates the spin whether it’s an online or land-based game. The announcement of ‘no more bets’ marks the cutoff between when wagers can be placed on the table or not.

        At that point the croupier will spin the Roulette wheel and then spin the ball in the opposite direction along the rim of the wheel. Once the ball eventually stops spinning and comes to rest in one of the wheel’s pockets the result of the game is declared and all wagers are resolved.

        It’s important to place wagers in a timely manner in a game of Roulette, to respect the croupier and other players’ time.

        If you’re playing a game of French Roulette then there’s a couple of extra rules in play that are unique to this variety. The En Prison and La Partage rules apply when the ball lands on zero, reducing the house edge on even-money wagers – such as high/low or red/black.

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        Once you know the basic rules and setup of Roulette you can approach the game with a greater sense of understanding.