One Extra Pocket Changes Everything
When you open a roulette wheel online, the single most important thing on your screen is not the betting layout, the streaks board, or the dealer — it is whether the wheel has one zero or two. That one pocket decides how much every bet on the table costs you, and it is the first thing this guide teaches you to check. After that, we cover every standard bet type and what it pays, so you can read any roulette game like a rules sheet instead of a slot machine.
European vs American Wheels: The Core Difference
Both wheels carry the numbers 1–36. The difference is the zeros: a European wheel has a single 0, while an American wheel has both 0 and 00 — 37 pockets versus 38. Payouts, however, are identical on both wheels: a winning single-number bet pays 35:1 either way. Because the American wheel makes you clear one extra pocket for the same payout, its math is strictly worse.
| European wheel | American wheel | |
|---|---|---|
| Zero pockets | 0 only | 0 and 00 |
| Total pockets | 37 | 38 |
| Straight-up payout | 35:1 | 35:1 |
| House edge | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| Five-number bet (0-00-1-2-3) | Not available | 7.89% house edge |
The practical rule is blunt: when both formats are available, play the European wheel, and never place the American five-number bet — it is the single worst wager on the table.
Some European tables go one step further with la partage or en prison rules, which return or hold half your even-money stake when the ball lands on zero. Where offered, they cut the even-money house edge to about 1.35% — check the game's info panel for either term before choosing a table.
Every Standard Bet Type and What It Pays
Roulette bets split into two families. Inside bets sit on the numbered grid, pay more, and hit less often. Outside bets sit around the grid, pay less, and hit almost half the time. The payouts below are the standard schedule used across online roulette games.
| Bet | What you cover | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Straight-up | 1 number | 35:1 |
| Split | 2 adjacent numbers | 17:1 |
| Street | 3 numbers in a row | 11:1 |
| Corner | 4 numbers in a square | 8:1 |
| Line | 6 numbers (two rows) | 5:1 |
| Dozen | 12 numbers (1–12, 13–24, 25–36) | 2:1 |
| Column | 12 numbers (a vertical column) | 2:1 |
| Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low | 18 numbers | 1:1 |
One point beginners often miss: on a fair wheel, every one of these bets carries the same house edge for its wheel type. A straight-up bet is not "worse" than red/black in expected cost — it is simply far more volatile. Choose bets by how much swing you can tolerate, not by hunting for a mathematically better spot on the layout; the only real edge decision is which wheel you sit at.
How to Check Any Roulette Game in 60 Seconds
Before your first spin at a new table, run this quick inspection:
- Count the zeros on the wheel graphic or in the game title. "European" or "French" roulette means one zero; "American" means two.
- Open the info or help panel and find the RTP or house edge line — it should read about 97.3% RTP for a single-zero game and about 94.7% for a double-zero game.
- Look for "la partage" or "en prison" in the rules if you plan to bet red/black or odd/even.
- Check the table minimum and maximum, and note that outside bets often have a higher minimum than inside bets.
- Ignore streak boards and "hot numbers" panels. Each spin is independent, and past results carry no information about the next one.
Before You Spin: Checklist
- The wheel has a single zero, or I have a specific reason to accept the double-zero version.
- I skipped the five-number bet entirely.
- I checked the rules panel for la partage or en prison if I am making even-money bets.
- I picked bet types matching the swings I can tolerate — outside bets for steadier sessions, inside bets for rare big hits.
- I set a session budget before spinning and will stop when it is gone, win or lose.
A roulette game never rewards system-chasing, but it does reward table selection. Pick the single-zero wheel, keep your bets inside your budget, and you will have paid the lowest possible price for the entertainment.
Related Reading
For a closely related guide on this site, read Blackjack Table Game Rules 2026: How to Play Your First Hand Step by Step.