How to Play Roulette | Bets, Odds & Payouts | Flush
How to Play Roulette: Bet Types, Odds and Payouts Explained
Roulette is one of the oldest and most iconic casino games in the world. A spinning wheel, a small white ball, and dozens of betting options, yet the fundamentals are simple enough to learn in minutes. This guide covers everything from the wheel layout and bet types to the math behind the house edge, advanced call bets, the Lightning Roulette twist, and how to approach the game intelligently. Whether you’re heading to a live roulette table at Flush or playing RNG roulette for the first time, you’ll leave this page ready.
The Roulette Wheel
Roulette’s house edge comes directly from the zero pockets on the wheel. Understanding the difference between European and American wheels is the first and most important piece of information.
European Roulette Wheel
- 37 pockets: Numbers 1–36 (alternating red and black) plus a single green zero (0)
- House Edge: 2.70%
- Best choice for players
American Roulette Wheel
- 38 pockets: Numbers 1–36 plus zero (0) and double-zero (00)
- House Edge: 5.26%
- Double the house edge of European, avoid it
The numbers are arranged differently on each wheel, not in numerical order. The European wheel arrangement is designed to balance high/low, red/black, and odd/even numbers throughout.
Rule: Always play European roulette when given a choice. The double-zero in American roulette nearly doubles the house edge for no additional benefit to the player.
How the Game Works
- Place your bets: chips can be placed on any number or combination before the wheel spins
- The croupier/dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball
- No more bets: called when the ball is about to slow down
- The ball lands in a numbered pocket
- Winning bets are paid; losing bets are cleared
- A new round begins
In live roulette at Flush, you have a timer showing how long remains to place bets. In RNG roulette, you control the pace entirely.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are placed directly on the numbered grid. They offer higher payouts but lower probability of winning.
| Bet Type | Numbers Covered | Payout | Probability (European) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 1 number | 35:1 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 adjacent numbers | 17:1 | 5.41% |
| Street | 3 numbers in a row | 11:1 | 8.11% |
| Corner | 4 numbers sharing a corner | 8:1 | 10.81% |
| Six Line | 6 numbers (two streets) | 5:1 | 16.22% |
Placing Inside Bets
- Straight Up: Click directly on any single number
- Split: Place chip on the line between two adjacent numbers
- Street: Place chip on the outer edge of any row of three
- Corner: Place chip at the intersection of four numbers
- Six Line: Place chip at the outer edge where two streets meet
Outside Bets
Outside bets are placed on the outer areas of the betting grid. They cover more numbers with lower payouts.
| Bet Type | Numbers Covered | Payout | Probability (European) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 18 red numbers | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Black | 18 black numbers | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Odd | 18 odd numbers | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Even | 18 even numbers | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Low (1-18) | Numbers 1-18 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| High (19-36) | Numbers 19-36 | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Dozen | 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) | 2:1 | 32.43% |
| Column | 12 numbers in a column | 2:1 | 32.43% |
Note: Even-money bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low) do NOT cover zero. If zero comes up on any of these bets, you lose. That’s where the house edge lives.
Call Bets (Announced Bets)
Call bets are bets on sections of the physical wheel rather than the number grid. They’re placed using the racetrack betting area (available in most live roulette tables and some RNG variants).
Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero)
Covers 17 numbers on the wheel surrounding the zero: 22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26-0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25. Uses 9 chips placed across multiple splits, a corner, and a trio. Most comprehensive call bet covering nearly half the wheel.
Tiers du Cylindre (Thirds of the Wheel)
Covers 12 numbers opposite the zero on the wheel: 33-16-24-5-10-23-8-30-11-36-13-27. Uses 6 chips on 6 splits. Covers roughly one-third of the wheel.
Orphelins (Orphans)
Covers the 8 numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers: 17-34-6 (one section) and 1-20-14-31-9 (another section). Uses 5 chips, one straight up on 1, and four splits.
Neighbours
A 5-number bet: any number plus the 2 numbers on each side of it on the physical wheel. Example: “17 and the neighbours” covers 6-34-17-25-2. Uses 5 chips straight up.
French Roulette: La Partage Rule
French Roulette plays on a European wheel (single zero) but adds an important player-friendly rule:
La Partage: If zero comes up and you had an even-money bet (Red/Black/Odd/Even/High/Low), you get half your bet back instead of losing the whole amount.
This halves the house edge on even-money bets:
- European Roulette house edge: 2.70%
- French Roulette with La Partage: 1.35%
En Prison is a similar rule where instead of getting half back, your bet stays “in prison” for the next spin, if it wins, you get your full stake back.
When La Partage is available, it’s always the best choice for even-money bettors.
Hot and Cold Numbers: The Myth
You’ll often see displays in roulette games showing “hot numbers” (most frequent recent results) and “cold numbers” (least frequent). Players often bet on hot numbers expecting them to continue, or cold numbers expecting them to “catch up.”
This is the gambler’s fallacy. Each spin of a properly maintained roulette wheel is an independent event. The wheel has no memory. A number that came up 5 times in the last 20 spins is not more or less likely to appear on the next spin than any other number.
The same applies to colors, odd/even, and all other bet types. Past results tell you nothing about future outcomes in roulette.
Lightning Roulette: How It Changes the Game
Lightning Roulette is Evolution Gaming’s electrified version of European Roulette and one of the most popular live dealer games globally. Here’s how it differs:
The Lightning Mechanic:
- Before each spin, 1–5 random numbers are struck by “lightning” and given multipliers
- Multipliers range from 50x to 500x
- These multipliers apply only to Straight Up (single number) bets
The Trade-Off:
- Standard Straight Up payout drops from 35:1 to 29:1
- In exchange, you get the chance at massive multipliers on lucky numbers
The Math: Lightning Roulette’s overall RTP is 97.3%, slightly lower than standard European roulette (97.3% vs 97.3%) but the multipliers create dramatically different entertainment value and payout potential.
Strategy for Lightning Roulette: Outside bets (Red/Black, Dozens, Columns) are unaffected by the multipliers and still pay standard odds. If you want multiplier potential, bet on as many straight-up numbers as budget allows to maximize coverage of lightning strikes.
Comparing Roulette Variants
| Variant | Zeros | House Edge | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| European | 1 | 2.70% | Best standard odds |
| French | 1 | 1.35% (even bets) | La Partage rule |
| American | 2 | 5.26% | Avoid |
| Lightning | 1 | ~2.7% | Up to 500x multipliers |
| Speed Roulette | 1 | 2.70% | Faster rounds |
| Double Ball | 1 | Varies | Two balls per spin |
Bankroll Management for Roulette
Roulette has fixed odds, no amount of strategy changes the house edge. What good bankroll management does is extend your entertainment and reduce the risk of ruin.
For even-money bets:
- Bet 2–5% of your session budget per round
- Example: $100 session → $2–$5 per spin
- At $2/spin you get 50+ rounds even with variance
For inside bets (higher risk):
- Bet 1–2% of session budget per number
- Covering 5 numbers at 1% each = 5% total exposure per round
- With $100 budget: $1 per number covers 5 numbers for 20 full rounds before bust
Session stop-loss: Stop at -50% of session budget. Walk away and come back another time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between European and American roulette? European roulette has 37 pockets, numbers 1-36 plus a single zero, giving a house edge of 2.70%. American roulette has 38 pockets, numbers 1-36 plus a single zero and a double zero, giving a higher house edge of 5.26%. Always choose European roulette when given the option, as the lower house edge makes a meaningful difference over a session. Flush.com’s live roulette library is predominantly European single-zero.
Can I place multiple bet types on the same spin? Yes. You can place as many bets as you like on a single spin, combining inside bets, outside bets, and announced bets simultaneously. Many players cover a specific number with a straight-up bet while also placing an even-money outside bet, providing both a high-payout target and a near-even-chance safety net on the same spin.
What does “no more bets” mean? “No more bets” is the dealer’s call (or an automated announcement on digital tables) that signals the end of the betting window. Once announced, no new bets can be placed and existing bets cannot be changed or removed. On live roulette at Flush.com, the betting window typically closes as the ball begins to slow and approach the pockets.
Related Pages at Flush
- Roulette Strategy Guide
- Roulette at Flush
- Live Roulette at Flush
- European Roulette Review
- Lightning Roulette Review
FAQ
How does roulette work?
Roulette uses a spinning wheel with numbered pockets and a small ball. In European roulette, the wheel has 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36. You place bets on the betting layout predicting where the ball will land, then the dealer (or RNG) spins the wheel and drops the ball. When the ball settles, all winning bets are paid and losing bets are cleared. The betting layout covers individual numbers, groups of numbers, colors (red or black), and even or odd designations. Rounds complete quickly and each spin is independent.
What is the RTP of European roulette versus American roulette?
European roulette has a 97.30% RTP (2.70% house edge) because it has one zero pocket. American roulette has a 94.74% RTP (5.26% house edge) because it adds a double-zero pocket (00), giving the house a second zero that pays out at single-zero odds. The additional pocket in American roulette nearly doubles the house edge without adding any player benefit. At Flush, European roulette is the recommended format, and French roulette (which adds La Partage rule returning half your even-money bet when zero lands) achieves the best RTP in the roulette category at 98.65%.
What is the difference between inside and outside bets in roulette?
Inside bets are placed directly on individual numbers or small groups (straight up, split, street, corner, six-line). They pay higher odds but win less frequently. A straight-up bet on one number pays 35:1 but wins only 2.7% of the time in European roulette. Outside bets cover larger sections: red or black, odd or even, 1 to 18 or 19 to 36, and dozen or column bets. Outside bets win approximately 48.6% of the time (slightly below 50% due to the zero) and pay 1:1 or 2:1. At Flush, beginners typically start with outside bets for more frequent returns.
Do hot and cold numbers in roulette predict future spins?
No. Each roulette spin is independent. A number that has appeared five times in the last twenty spins is no more or less likely to appear on the next spin than any other number. The wheel has no memory. The concept of hot and cold numbers is a psychological pattern imposed on random data. At Flush and any other casino, the displayed spin history provides information about past results only. No betting system based on spin history changes the mathematical probability of the next outcome.
How do I play roulette with crypto at Flush?
Deposit any supported cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, USDT, TRX, SOL, and others) to your Flush account, navigate to the Roulette section, and select a table. Standard European roulette tables at Flush start from minimum bets equivalent to $0.10. Live roulette tables from Evolution are also available with a range of bet sizes. All wins are credited to your Flush crypto balance immediately and withdrawable at any time. Flush requires no KYC for deposits or withdrawals, so the entire process from deposit to play to withdrawal completes without identity verification. For responsible gambling support, visit GamCare.