Popular roulette games
How roulette works
A ball spins around a wheel of numbered pockets — 1 to 36, plus one or two zeros — and you bet on where it will land. Inside bets (single numbers and small groups) pay big and win rarely; outside bets (red/black, odd/even, dozens) pay less and win often.
The crucial detail is the zeros. Payouts are the same on every wheel, but each extra zero gives the house more winning pockets. That's why the wheel you choose matters more than any bet you place.
| Wheel | Pockets | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| French (la partage) | 37 | 1.35% on even-money bets, 2.70% otherwise |
| European | 37 | 2.70% |
| American | 38 | 5.26% |
For every bet's payout and probability, see our roulette odds and payouts guide, or use the roulette odds calculator.
Live vs RNG roulette
- RNG roulette — certified random results, fast spins, low minimums. Good for learning and short sessions.
- Live roulette — a real croupier and wheel streamed from a studio, with chat and slower rounds. Popular formats include classic European, French, Speed and Lightning roulette. See our live dealer casino guide.
Lightning Roulette adds random multipliers of up to 500x on a few straight-up numbers each round, but pays 29:1 on normal straight-up wins instead of 35:1 to fund them — always check a variant's RTP.
Roulette variants compared
| Variant | Zeros | House edge | What's different |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 1 | 2.70% | The standard single-zero wheel |
| French | 1 | 1.35% on even-money bets | La partage: lose only half an even-money bet when zero lands |
| American | 2 | 5.26% (7.89% on the five-number bet) | Extra 00 pocket |
| Lightning Roulette | 1 | ~2.7% (RTP ~97.3%) | Random 50x–500x multipliers on a few numbers; straight-up wins otherwise pay 29:1 |
| Speed / Auto roulette | 1 | 2.70% | Faster rounds — the same edge, more bets per hour |
| Double-ball variants | 1 | Varies by bet | Two balls per spin; check each bet's payout |
What a session really costs
The house edge applies to every chip you wager, so the faster you play, the more it costs:
| Game | Stake per spin | Spins per hour | Average cost per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| European roulette (live) | $10 | ~40 | ~$10.80 |
| European roulette (RNG/auto) | $10 | ~100 | ~$27 |
| American roulette (RNG) | $10 | ~100 | ~$52.60 |
Spin rates are illustrative; check yours. Calculate any bet in the roulette odds calculator.
Where to play online roulette
Betway has the full Evolution live roulette range and RNG wheels for international players. In the US, BetMGM and DraftKings offer European and American wheels, live tables and low-stakes options in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Compare them on our best online casinos list.
Roulette systems
Martingale, Fibonacci, D'Alembert and Labouchère all reshape your results without changing the edge. The danger with progressive systems is the losing streak: eight losses in a row on red happens more often than people think, and doubling stakes quickly hits table limits. Read more in casino myths, debunked.
Roulette and bonuses
Roulette usually counts 0–10% towards wagering (8% at the Super Group casinos), so it's a poor way to clear bonuses. See wagering requirements explained.
What we look for in a roulette site
- Single-zero wheels, ideally including French roulette with la partage.
- Live and RNG tables at a range of limits.
- Clear rules and RTP for variants like Lightning Roulette.
- Independent testing and fast payouts.
