Roulette Rules and Betting Guide
Updated Oct 28, 2026
This is the reference page for roulette bets: what each bet is, which numbers it covers and what it pays. It also covers the equipment, house edge and table rules. New to the game? Start with our beginner guide. 18+ only. Gamble responsibly: SA Responsible Gambling Foundation counselling line 0800 006 008 (24/7).
New to roulette? Read our roulette beginner guide first for how to start. More articles are in our roulette guides. The name roulette is French for “little wheel”, and the game has been played in Paris since 1796.
Table and Wheel
Roulette is played at an elongated table with a big wheel at one end. The layout has boxes for the numbers 1 to 36 in 12 rows and three columns, each in a red or black rectangle or oval. A zero box sits above the numbers 1, 2 and 3 at the dealer’s end, and American roulette adds a double zero. Both have green backgrounds.
- European wheel: 37 slots (one zero).
- American wheel: 38 slots (zero and double zero).
The dealer spins a small, hard ball against the direction of the wheel. In a land-based casino, each player gets chips of a different colour, so the dealer can tell whose chip is whose.
House Edge
The extra slot on the American wheel doubles the house edge, from 2.70% on the European wheel to 5.26%. A straight bet wins 1 time in 38 (2.63%) on a double-zero wheel.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are placed on the numbers themselves. Payouts are shown as “to 1”.
| Bet | Numbers covered | How to place it | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 1 number | Chip on the number | 35 to 1 |
| Split | 2 numbers | Chip on the line between two numbers | 17 to 1 |
| Street (line) | 3 numbers in a row | Chip on the edge of the row | 11 to 1 |
| Corner (quad) | 4 numbers | Chip where the four numbers meet | 8 to 1 |
| Basket | 5 numbers: 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 | Double-zero wheels only | 6 to 1 |
A double street bet covers six numbers (two rows): place your chip on the edge line so it straddles the row below and the row above.
The basket bet is regarded as the worst bet in roulette: its house edge is the highest, at 7.89%. A straight bet carries a house edge of 5.26% on a double-zero wheel or 2.70% on a single-zero wheel.
Outside Bets
Outside bets are made in the boxes around the numbers.
| Bet | What it covers | Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Red / Black | The colour of the winning number | Even money |
| Odd / Even | An odd or even winning number | Even money |
| Dozens | 12 consecutive numbers: 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36 | 2 to 1 |
| Columns | 12 numbers in one of the three vertical columns, placed in the boxes at the bottom of the layout | 2 to 1 |
If the ball lands on zero (or double zero), dozens bets lose.
Table Limits and Minimums
Each table has a minimum and a maximum bet set by the casino. In a land-based casino you must buy roulette chips before you can bet, and they show no value on their face.
You can’t combine inside and outside bets to reach the minimum. If the table minimum is R10, you can’t put R5 inside and R5 outside. You need R10 on the inside and R10 on the outside.
How a Round Runs
The dealer spins the wheel and the ball in opposite directions. The ball bounces and slows before landing on a number. You can keep placing bets after the ball is spun until the dealer calls “No More Bets”, usually when the ball starts to slow. The dealer then marks the winning number, and you can’t bet on the next spin until the marker is removed.
Myths and “Systems”
Some sources claim that wheels are biased towards a heavy side. Modern wheels are tested closely and made with precision, so that idea is likely only true of older tables. Some people also sell “sure-fire” winning systems. You can’t change the house edge, because it is mathematics, and buying such a system is a fraud risk.
Playing Online
Roulette can be played at many South African online casinos, which generally offer several variants. See our live roulette game review or the multi-wheel roulette review for specific games.
18+ only. Gamble responsibly: SA Responsible Gambling Foundation counselling line 0800 006 008 (24/7).
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