Roulette is one of the easiest casino games to learn and one of the easiest to misunderstand. This guide covers the rules, every bet and its odds, and then explains why the house edge stays the same whatever you bet on.
How roulette works
A dealer spins a wheel one way and a small ball the other. When the ball settles in a numbered pocket, every bet that covers that number wins and the rest are collected.
The wheel holds the numbers 1 to 36, alternating red and black, plus a green zero. The table layout in front of you shows the same numbers in a grid of three columns, with the outside bets around the edge. Before each spin you place chips on the layout. Inside bets go on single numbers or small groups, outside bets on large groups such as red or black, odd or even, or a dozen.
Online roulette follows exactly the same rules. At a live table a real dealer spins a real wheel on camera, and you bet through the layout on your screen.
Each spin is independent. The wheel doesn't remember the last result, so the chance of any number coming up is exactly the same on every spin.
How to play roulette online, step by step
- Choose a table. Each live table shows its minimum and maximum bet. Pick one where the minimum fits your budget comfortably.
- Choose a chip value. The chip tray at the bottom of the screen sets how much each click or tap is worth.
- Place your bets. Tap the numbers or areas you want to cover. A timer shows how long betting stays open, and the round closes when the dealer calls "no more bets".
- Watch the spin. The dealer spins the wheel and the winning number appears on screen a few seconds after the ball stops.
- Collect or repeat. Winnings are added to your balance automatically. Most tables have a "repeat" or "double" button for the next round, which makes it easy to bet faster than you meant to.
Live tables also show a history of recent numbers. It is there for interest only: as the next sections show, past results tell you nothing about the next spin.
European vs American roulette
The only difference that matters is the number of zeros. Zero pockets are neither red nor black, and they are where the casino's edge comes from.
| Feature | European | American |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 37 (0–36) | 38 (0, 00, 1–36) |
| House edge | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Return to player | 97.30% | 94.74% |
| Average loss on NZ$100 of bets | NZ$2.70 | NZ$5.26 |
Some single-zero tables add a French rule called La Partage or En Prison. When the ball lands on zero, even-money bets such as red or black lose only half the stake, or the stake is held for the next spin. On those bets the edge falls to 1.35%. The table's rules screen says whether it applies. Even 1.35% is above the house edge in blackjack played with basic strategy, which is around 0.5%.
You play American roulette exactly the same way; only the extra 00 pocket changes the odds. So how many numbers are on a roulette wheel? 37 on a European wheel, 38 on an American one. If a table doesn't say which it is, look for a 00 pocket next to the zero.
Roulette bets and payouts
These are the roulette odds and payouts for every standard bet. Payouts are the same on both wheels, so the extra pocket on an American wheel makes every bet slightly worse. The chances below are for a European wheel.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Pays | Chance to win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.4% |
| Street | 3 | 11 to 1 | 8.1% |
| Corner | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.8% |
| Six line | 6 | 5 to 1 | 16.2% |
| Dozen or column | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.4% |
| Red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36 | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.6% |
Notice the pattern: the fewer numbers a bet covers, the bigger the payout and the smaller the chance. A straight-up bet would need to pay 36 to 1 to be a fair bet on 37 pockets. It pays 35 to 1, and that missing unit is the house edge. Every bet on the table is priced the same way.
Lightning Roulette and other live tables
Live casinos offer more than the classic table. These are the versions you are most likely to see:
- Lightning Roulette (Evolution) strikes one to five random numbers each round with a multiplier of 50x to 500x for straight-up bets. To pay for this, a straight-up win on any other number pays 29 to 1 instead of 35 to 1. Outside bets pay as normal.
- Multiplier tables from other studios, such as Mega Roulette from Pragmatic Play, use a similar idea. Check the payout table before you play, because the normal straight-up payout is usually reduced.
- Speed and auto roulette run much faster rounds, and auto tables have no dealer at all. The odds are the same, but you place far more bets an hour, so your average loss per hour goes up.
Multiplier games make big wins possible on a single number, but they don't make the game cheaper to play. The rules screen of each table lists its payouts and return to player.
How to win at roulette, realistically
Over a single session anything can happen, and many players walk away ahead. Over time, though, the house edge applies to every chip you bet, and no method of betting removes it. What you can do is make the edge as small as possible and stay in control:
- Play single-zero European roulette, and look for La Partage if you like even-money bets.
- Choose a bet size that lets your budget last. NZ$100 at NZ$5 a spin is 20 spins; at NZ$1 it is 100.
- Remember that speed costs money. The more spins an hour, the more the edge takes.
- Decide in advance when you'll stop, both after a loss and after a win.
Roulette strategy: do betting systems work?
No system can change the odds of a spin. What a system can change is the pattern of wins and losses, and some patterns are much riskier than they look.
MythDoubling your bet after every loss (the Martingale) guarantees a profit.
FactStart at NZ$5 and lose seven even-money bets in a row, which happens about once in every 106 runs, and you are NZ$635 down with the next bet at NZ$640. Table limits or your budget usually stop the system first.
MythSlower systems such as Fibonacci or D'Alembert are safe.
FactThey raise bets more gently, so losses build more slowly, but each bet still carries the same 2.70% edge.
MythRed has come up five times, so black is due.
FactThe wheel has no memory. Every spin has the same 48.6% chance of black, whatever happened before.
MythSome bets have a lower house edge than others.
FactOn a European wheel every standard bet carries the same 2.70% edge. Choosing the wheel matters; choosing the bet changes only how often you win and how much.
Roulette at Boo Casino
When we checked from New Zealand on 2 November 2026, the live casino had a Roulette category with 67 tables, led by game-show versions such as Mega Roulette 3000, Lightning Roulette and PowerUP Roulette. Its Popular row included Lightning Roulette, Gravity Roulette, Mega Roulette, Roulette 1 and Speed Roulette 1.
Live games count only 1% towards bonus wagering, so most roulette players are better off without a bonus. From Wednesday to Friday, Pragmatic Play live tables earn 10% cashback on net losses, up to €100 (about NZ$200) a day and paid as real cash, but equal, zero or low-margin roulette bets don't qualify.
The full list of live studios and categories is in our Boo Casino games guide, and the cashback rules are on the bonuses page.
Roulette FAQ
How many numbers are on a roulette wheel?
A European wheel has 37 numbers: 1 to 36 and a single zero. An American wheel has 38, with an extra double zero.
What are the odds of winning at roulette?
On a European wheel, a single number wins 2.7% of the time, a dozen 32.4% and red or black 48.6%. The zero is why even-money bets win slightly less than half the time.
Which roulette has the best odds?
Single-zero European roulette, with a 2.70% edge. With the La Partage or En Prison rule, even-money bets drop to 1.35%. American roulette, at 5.26%, is the most expensive.
Is there a way to win at roulette every time?
No. Every spin is independent and every bet carries the house edge, so no system can guarantee a profit. Anyone selling one is selling a story.
Can I use a bonus on roulette at Boo Casino?
Live casino games count only 1% towards wagering, so a NZ$6,000 wagering requirement would take NZ$600,000 of roulette bets. In practice, roulette is best played with your own money. See the bonuses page for the full rules.
Set a limit first. Roulette rounds are fast, especially on speed and auto tables. Decide what you can afford to lose before you start, and use the deposit limits in your account. Free help is listed on our responsible gambling page.