Roulette is simple on the surface – a spinning wheel and a bouncing ball – but the bet types and odds matter. This guide covers European vs American wheels, inside vs outside bets, payouts, common myths and how online & live dealer roulette works on UK-licensed sites.
Ready to pick a site? UK casinos — then a review — then the operator. We get paid if you sign up. Details on how we review.
Also: Pending withdrawals · Payouts & banking · Roulette rules · How betting works · How we review
European roulette uses numbers 1–36 plus a single green zero (0). This is the most common and player-friendly version found on UK sites.
Whenever you have a choice, European roulette is generally the better option for your long-term odds than American.
American roulette adds a second green pocket – 00 – alongside the single zero. That extra pocket increases the house edge.
Some UK sites still offer it, often for variety. If your goal is to stretch your bankroll, stick with single-zero games.
A few European/French roulette tables offer extra rules that slightly improve your odds on even-money bets:
If you see these rules clearly advertised, they are usually a small but genuine improvement for regular even-money betting (red/black, odd/even, high/low).
Outside bets cover larger portions of the number grid. They win more often but pay lower odds – useful for a more stable, lower-volatility style of play.
Inside bets target smaller sections of the layout. They’re more volatile, but payouts are higher when they hit.
You can combine inside and outside bets on the same spin, but keep an eye on your total stake each round.
| Bet type | Numbers covered | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|
| Red / Black, Odd / Even, 1–18 / 19–36 | 18 numbers | 1:1 |
| Dozens / Columns | 12 numbers | 2:1 |
| Six line | 6 numbers | 5:1 |
| Corner (square) | 4 numbers | 8:1 |
| Street | 3 numbers | 11:1 |
| Split | 2 numbers | 17:1 |
| Straight up | 1 number | 35:1 |
Payouts don’t change between European and American wheels – the extra 00 simply adds more losing pockets on American tables.
Roulette payouts are slightly lower than the “true” odds of each bet. That difference is the house edge, and it’s why the casino wins over many spins.
In the short term, anything can happen – but treat wins as good luck, not proof that you’ve “beaten” the game.
Many systems (Martingale, Fibonacci, D’Alembert) try to manage streaks by increasing or decreasing bet sizes.
A healthier approach is to pick stakes that fit your budget, accept the randomness and treat roulette as entertainment, not a money-making plan.
Digital roulette uses a random number generator (RNG) to pick the winning number – there’s no physical wheel.
Check the game info section for wheel type, rules and return-to-player (RTP) percentages.
Live roulette streams a real wheel and dealer from a studio – closer to being on a casino floor, but from home.
For etiquette, tipping and tech setup, see our Live Dealer Guide (UK).
Our Responsible Gambling (UK) guide covers more tools and support services if roulette or any other game stops feeling fun.