Roulette is one of the oldest casino games still in play, and if you have come across it while researching casino apps you may have noticed it does not come in just one form. This guide sets out the plain facts: how a spin works, what each bet pays, and how the three main versions — European, American and French — actually differ. It is written to inform, not to promote. Nothing here suggests roulette is a way to make money, and every version is built so the casino keeps a profit over time.
How a spin of roulette works
Roulette uses a spinning wheel divided into numbered pockets and a small ball. You place chips on a betting layout to predict where the ball will settle — on a single number, a group of numbers, a colour, or odd versus even. When the wheel stops, winning bets are paid at a fixed rate and everything else is collected by the house.
Online, there are two ways the result is produced. Standard digital roulette uses a random number generator (RNG) — software that generates an unpredictable outcome for every spin, independent of the last one. Live dealer roulette instead streams a real croupier spinning a physical wheel. If you want to see how a streamed table differs from the software version, our guide to live dealer roulette covers the format in detail.
Two numbers describe the maths behind any roulette table. The return to player (RTP) is the share of all money wagered that a game pays back over the long run, and the house edge is the built-in advantage the casino keeps — the two add up to 100%. In roulette the edge comes entirely from the green zero pocket (or pockets): the payouts are calculated as if the zero did not exist, but the zero is still on the wheel, so it quietly tilts every bet in the casino’s favour. You can read more about how RTP works in our explainer on RTP in casino games.
Inside bets, outside bets and payouts
Every roulette bet falls into one of two groups. Inside bets cover one number or a small cluster of numbers; they pay more but win less often. Outside bets cover large groups such as a colour or a dozen; they pay less but win far more often. Payouts below are written on a “to one” basis, meaning the profit you receive on top of your returned stake.
Bet Types and Payouts
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout | Approx. win chance (European wheel) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.7% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.4% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.1% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.8% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.2% |
| Dozen or Column | 12 | 2:1 | 32.4% |
| Red/Black, Odd/Even, 1–18/19–36 | 18 | 1:1 | 48.6% |
On a single-zero (European) wheel the house edge is 2.70% on all of these bets. On an American double-zero wheel the same payouts apply but the edge rises to 5.26%.
Inside bets
- Straight up — one number, pays 35:1.
- Split — two adjoining numbers, pays 17:1.
- Street — a row of three numbers, pays 11:1.
- Corner (or square) — four numbers meeting at a corner, pays 8:1.
- Six line (double street) — two adjacent rows, six numbers, pays 5:1.
American wheels add one extra inside bet, the five-number bet (also called the basket), covering 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. It pays 6:1 and carries a far worse house edge than any other bet, so it is widely regarded as the single weakest wager in the game.
Outside bets
- Red or Black, Odd or Even, 1–18 or 19–36 — each covers 18 numbers and pays 1:1 (even money).
- Dozen (1–12, 13–24 or 25–36) — 12 numbers, pays 2:1.
- Column — one of the three vertical columns, 12 numbers, pays 2:1.
Importantly, the zero is not counted as red, black, odd, even, high or low. When the ball lands on zero, all even-money and most outside bets lose — which is exactly where the house edge lives.
The three main types of roulette
The rules of play are almost identical across versions; what changes is the number of zero pockets and a special refund rule on some tables. That small difference has a large effect on the odds.
Roulette Types Compared
| Feature | European | American | French |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero pockets | Single zero (0) | Double zero (0 and 00) | Single zero (0) |
| Total pockets | 37 | 38 | 37 |
| House edge (all bets) | 2.70% | 5.26% (7.89% on the five-number bet) | 2.70% |
| House edge on even-money bets | 2.70% | 5.26% | ~1.35% where la partage / en prison applies |
| Special rule | None | None | La partage / en prison refund on zero |
| Where you see it | The default at most online casinos | Mainly US-facing tables | Single-zero tables that offer French rules |
European roulette
European roulette uses a wheel of 37 pockets: the numbers 1 to 36 plus a single green zero. Because there is only one zero, the house edge is 2.70% on every bet. This is the version most online casinos offer by default, and it is the baseline other variants are measured against.
American roulette
American roulette adds a second green pocket — a double zero (00) — for a wheel of 38 pockets. The payouts are unchanged, but the extra pocket almost doubles the house edge to 5.26% on virtually all bets (and 7.89% on the five-number bet). For a player, American roulette is simply a worse-value version of the same game; if a European table is available, there is no mathematical reason to choose the American one.
French roulette
French roulette is played on the same single-zero, 37-pocket wheel as European roulette, so the base house edge is also 2.70%. What sets it apart is a refund rule that applies to even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36) when the ball lands on zero:
- La partage (“the sharing”) — you get half of your even-money stake back when zero hits.
- En prison (“in prison”) — your even-money bet is held for one more spin instead; if it wins next time, you get the stake back with no winnings.
Either rule roughly halves the loss on zero, which cuts the house edge on even-money bets to about 1.35% — the best odds available anywhere in standard roulette. The catch is that the rule only applies to even-money bets, and not every table labelled “French” actually offers it. Always check the table rules before assuming la partage or en prison is in force.
French call bets and the racetrack
French and many European tables also offer call bets (sometimes shown as a “racetrack” on the screen) — shortcuts that cover a run of numbers as they sit next to each other on the wheel, rather than on the number grid. The main named sectors are:
- Voisins du zéro (“neighbours of zero”) — a 17-number sector around the zero.
- Tiers du cylindre (“third of the wheel”) — 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from the zero.
- Orphelins (“orphans”) — 8 numbers left over in two small groups that the other sectors miss.
These are convenience bets only: each is just a bundle of ordinary splits and straight-ups placed in one action. They do not change the odds — the house edge stays at 2.70% — and they do not improve your chances of winning. They mainly appear on French-style and live tables with a racetrack display.
Odds, betting systems and common mistakes
Comparing the versions on house edge alone, the order is clear: French roulette with la partage is best for even-money bets (about 1.35%), followed by European (2.70% on all bets), with American (5.26%) the poorest value. No bet type “beats” the others — a straight-up bet and a red/black bet on the same single-zero wheel carry the identical 2.70% edge; you are simply trading a bigger, rarer payout for a smaller, more frequent one.
A few points trip up newcomers. Betting systems such as doubling after a loss do not change the house edge; they only reshape how wins and losses are spread out, and table limits and your own bankroll cap how far they can go. Past results tell you nothing about the next spin, because each spin is independent. And if you are playing with a bonus, check the terms: roulette often contributes little or nothing towards casino bonus wagering requirements, so a bonus advertised for “casino” play may not count your roulette bets at all.
Online roulette and New Zealand players
New Zealand is in the middle of a major change to how online casino games are regulated. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026 and created the country’s first licensing regime for online casino gambling, run by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). Up to 15 licences are to be awarded through a staged, competitive process, and the DIA states the new system is being phased in and is not expected to be fully operational until 2027.
Until a casino appears on the DIA’s register, any licence it advertises — for example from the Malta Gaming Authority or Curaçao — is overseas regulation, not New Zealand protection. The safest approach is to treat current status as something to verify rather than assume, and to check the DIA directly. For help services and a plain overview of the rules, see our page on responsible gambling in New Zealand, the broader list of online casinos available to New Zealand players, and — if you are comparing software — the rundown of blackjack and roulette apps.
Disclaimer and responsible gambling
This article is general information about how roulette works and how its versions differ. It is not gambling advice and does not encourage you to play, deposit or sign up with any operator. Roulette is designed so the house wins over time; no version, bet type or system removes that edge, and you should never stake money you cannot afford to lose. Roulette is an R18 activity in New Zealand.
If gambling is causing you harm, free and confidential support is available. Contact the Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655, or the Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand. For the current legal status of online casinos in New Zealand, check the Department of Internal Affairs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a betting system like the Martingale beat roulette?
No. Systems that tell you to raise your stake after a loss change the pattern of wins and losses but not the underlying house edge, which stays the same on every spin. Table limits and the size of your bankroll also stop the sequence before it can “guarantee” a recovery, so over time the casino still keeps its percentage.
Does a number or colour being “due” make it more likely?
No. A random number generator and a physical wheel both treat every spin as independent, so previous results have no effect on the next one. Believing that a long run of red makes black “due” is a well-known mistake called the gambler’s fallacy.
Is online roulette fair?
Licensed RNG roulette is tested so results are statistically random, and live dealer roulette uses a real wheel you can watch on camera. Fairness depends on the operator being properly licensed and audited, which is why it is worth confirming a casino’s licensing before playing rather than taking it on trust.
Which roulette version should I look for if I want the lowest house edge?
Look for a single-zero wheel. European roulette has a 2.70% edge on every bet, and French roulette with the la partage or en prison rule lowers that to about 1.35% on even-money bets. Avoid American roulette, whose extra double-zero pocket pushes the edge to 5.26%.
