Roulette
A spinning wheel, a ball and a table of bets: the rules of roulette, how the payouts work and why single-zero and double-zero wheels differ
Style: Live dealer · Big swings · Table feel
- House edge 2.7% to 5.26%
- Luck only
- Many players can bet on the same spin. Each player's bets are independent of the others
- Live tables commonly take around a minute per spin. Automated versions can be faster
Information only. 18+. The house edge means players lose on average over time. Real-money online gaming is restricted in India.
Overview
Roulette is a casino game in which a ball is spun around a numbered wheel and players bet on which pocket it will land in, or on groups of numbers such as red or black. European wheels have a single zero and a 2.70% house edge, American wheels have a double zero and a 5.26% edge. The result is pure chance and no betting pattern changes the odds.
Roulette is French for 'little wheel'. A dealer spins a wheel in one direction and a small ball in the other, and the ball finally drops into one of the numbered pockets. Players place chips on a table layout before the spin to bet on a single number, on small groups of numbers, or on larger groups such as red or black, odd or even, or low (1 to 18) and high (19 to 36). The more numbers a bet covers, the more likely it is to win and the smaller the payout.
There are two main wheel types. The European (and French) wheel has 37 pockets: the numbers 1 to 36 and a single zero. The American wheel has 38 pockets because it adds a double zero. The zeros are what give the casino its edge: a straight-up bet on a single number pays 35 to 1, but the true odds are 36 to 1 on the European wheel and 37 to 1 on the American wheel. That is why the house edge is 2.70% on a single-zero wheel and 5.26% on a double-zero wheel, and why the wheel type matters more than any other choice you make.
On winzap.vip, at the time of writing, the casino lists Roulette among its table and live-dealer games. In a live version a real wheel is spun in a studio and streamed to the player; automated versions use software to pick the number. Either way the outcome is independent of the previous spins. Rules such as how zero is treated on even-money bets, the limits and the available bets are set by the provider and shown in the game.
Everything on this page is information only. This site (Winzap AI) does not run any game, take any bets or hold any money. Real-money online gaming is restricted in India, and the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 prohibits online money games: see our legal guide (/guides/is-online-gambling-legal-in-india) first, and you must be 18 or older.
- Name
- French for 'little wheel'
- European wheel
- 37 pockets: 1 to 36 plus a single zero. House edge 2.70% on standard bets
- American wheel
- 38 pockets: 1 to 36 plus a single zero and a double zero. House edge 5.26% on standard bets
- Chance of a single number
- 1 in 37 (2.70%) on a single-zero wheel, 1 in 38 (2.63%) on a double-zero wheel
- Red or black
- 18 of 37 pockets (48.65%) on a single-zero wheel. The zero is neither red nor black
- On winzap.vip
- Roulette is listed in the casino and live dealer games at the time of writing; exact versions and limits are set by each provider
How to play Roulette
Placing a bet
- 1Open the table and check the wheel type (single or double zero), the minimum and maximum bets and the rules shown for the zero.
- 2Choose a chip value and place chips on the layout while the betting window is open. Inside bets cover individual numbers or small groups. Outside bets cover big groups such as red or black, odd or even, dozens and columns.
- 3You can place several bets in the same round. Each bet is settled separately.
The spin
- 1When the betting window closes the wheel is spun and the ball is launched in the opposite direction. The ball slows down and drops into one pocket.
- 2The winning number is announced and the dealer or the software marks it on the layout. Winning bets are paid at their listed odds and all other bets are collected.
- 3A new betting window opens. Every spin is independent: the wheel has no memory of earlier results.
Rules
- Every round has exactly one winning number. A bet wins if the winning number is among the numbers it covers.
- Inside bets cover numbers on the layout: straight up (one number), split (two), street (three), corner (four) and six line (six). Outside bets cover groups: red or black, odd or even, 1 to 18 or 19 to 36, the three dozens and the three columns.
- The zero (and the double zero on an American wheel) is not red or black, not odd or even and not in a dozen or column, so outside bets lose when zero comes up unless a table rule says otherwise.
- Some single-zero tables, most often French roulette, return half of an even-money bet or hold it for the next spin when zero lands. This reduces the house edge on those bets to about 1.35%. Check the rules of the table.
- A straight-up bet pays 35 to 1, split 17 to 1, street 11 to 1, corner 8 to 1, six line 5 to 1, dozen or column 2 to 1 and even-money bets 1 to 1.
- Table minimum and maximum bets, and which bets are offered, are set by the provider. Read them before betting.
Bets, payouts & house edge
| Bet | Pays | House edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up (single number) | 35 to 1 | 2.70% (single zero) | Wins 1 time in 37 on a European wheel |
| Split (two numbers) | 17 to 1 | 2.70% (single zero) | Wins 2 times in 37 |
| Street (three numbers) | 11 to 1 | 2.70% (single zero) | Wins 3 times in 37 |
| Corner (four numbers) | 8 to 1 | 2.70% (single zero) | Wins 4 times in 37 |
| Six line (six numbers) | 5 to 1 | 2.70% (single zero) | Wins 6 times in 37 |
| Dozen or column (12 numbers) | 2 to 1 | 2.70% (single zero) | Wins 12 times in 37 (32.43%) |
| Red / black, odd / even, 1-18 / 19-36 | 1 to 1 | 2.70% (single zero) | Wins 18 times in 37 (48.65%); zero loses unless a special rule applies |
Payouts, commissions and side bets differ between providers and casinos. Always read the rules shown at the table or in the game before anything else. Playing among friends has no house, so none of this applies there.
How these numbers are worked out
Payouts shown are the standard ones. On a single-zero (European) wheel the house edge on each of these bets is 2.70%, which is 1 in 37. On a double-zero (American) wheel the same payouts apply but the extra pocket raises the edge to 5.26%. Some tables use a special rule for zero on even-money bets that lowers the edge on those bets, and some versions offer extra bets with their own odds. Always check the paytable and rules inside the game.
Tips for playing sensibly
Check the wheel before you play. A single-zero wheel has about half the house edge of a double-zero wheel, which is the single most useful fact in the game.
Every standard bet has the same house edge on a given wheel, so choosing numbers, colours or dozens changes how often you win and how big the wins are, but not the average loss.
Previous results do not matter. The wheel and ball have no memory, so a 'hot' or 'cold' number is not more likely or less likely to come up next.
Betting systems, such as doubling after each loss, do not change the odds. They only speed up how fast money is staked and make larger losses possible.
Decide your budget and how long you will play before the first spin, and only use money you can afford to lose.
Never raise your bets to win back losses. If gambling stops being fun, stop and talk to someone.
Common myths
Myth A number that has not come up for a long time is 'due'.
Truth The wheel has no memory. Each spin is independent, so every number has the same chance next time as it did before. Expecting a correction is the gambler's fallacy.
Myth Betting on red and black together cancels out the house edge.
Truth When zero lands, both bets lose, and the house edge still applies to the total staked. Covering more numbers does not remove the average loss.
Myth A betting system like the Martingale guarantees a profit.
Truth Doubling after each loss does not change the odds, and table limits and a finite bankroll mean a long losing streak can lead to a very large loss.
Variants
European roulette
A single-zero wheel with 37 pockets and a 2.70% house edge. The most common version online.
American roulette
A double-zero wheel with 38 pockets and a 5.26% house edge.
French roulette
A single-zero wheel with a French-language layout and, often, a rule that returns half of an even-money bet or holds it when zero lands, which lowers the edge on those bets to about 1.35%.
Live-dealer roulette
A real wheel spun in a studio and streamed to the player. Some live games add extra features such as multipliers, and have their own rules and paytables.
Glossary
- Inside bet
- A bet on a number or a small group of numbers on the layout, such as straight up, split, street, corner or six line.
- Outside bet
- A bet on a large group of numbers outside the number grid, such as red or black, odd or even, dozens or columns.
- Straight up
- A bet on a single number. It pays 35 to 1.
- Dozen
- A bet on one third of the numbers: 1 to 12, 13 to 24 or 25 to 36. It pays 2 to 1.
- Column
- A bet on one of the three vertical lines of 12 numbers on the layout. It pays 2 to 1.
- Even-money bet
- A bet that pays 1 to 1, such as red or black, odd or even, or low or high.
- Single zero (European)
- A wheel with 37 pockets and a house edge of 2.70%.
- Double zero (American)
- A wheel with 38 pockets and a house edge of 5.26%.
Roulette FAQ
What is the difference between European and American roulette?
The European wheel has 37 pockets (1 to 36 and a single zero), and the American wheel has 38 (an extra double zero). The payouts are the same but the extra pocket doubles the house edge, from 2.70% to 5.26%.
What is the house edge in roulette?
2.70% on a single-zero wheel and 5.26% on a double-zero wheel for standard bets. In practice that means that for every ₹1,000 staked, the player loses about ₹27 on average on a single-zero wheel and about ₹53 on a double-zero wheel, over a large number of spins.
Is roulette a game of luck or skill?
It is luck only. The result depends on where the ball lands, and no decision you make after the bet is placed can influence it. Choosing a better wheel type or a bet with lower variance affects the average cost and the swings, not the outcome of any spin.
Can a betting system beat roulette?
No. Systems such as doubling after a loss do not change the odds of any spin. Because the house edge applies to every bet, no system changes the average result, and some can lead to very large losses.
Is real-money roulette legal in India?
Playing for money is gambling, which is restricted across India, and the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 prohibits online money games. This site is information only and is not legal advice: check the law where you live.
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Related to winzap.vip
Winzap AI is a companion information site of winzap.vip, the Winzap brand website. We explain the games; the platform itself, its rules, limits and bonuses are on winzap.vip. Winzap AI does not offer games, take bets or hold money. 18+ only; real-money online gaming is restricted in India, see our legal guide.