European Roulette Rules: How to Play, Step by Step

What Is European Roulette?

European roulette is a casino table game in which players bet on the outcome of a spinning wheel. The wheel has 37 numbered pockets - the numbers 1 through 36 (coloured alternately red and black) plus a single green zero (0). A small ball is released onto the spinning wheel; wherever it comes to rest determines the winning number.

The single zero is the defining feature of European roulette. It gives the house its mathematical advantage of 2.70% - significantly lower than American roulette (which has two zeros and a 5.26% house edge). All the rules and payouts on this page apply to the standard European single-zero game.

The European Roulette Wheel

The wheel is divided into 37 equally-sized pockets. Their arrangement is not sequential - the numbers are distributed in a specific pattern designed to alternate high and low numbers and balance red and black as evenly as possible:

• 37 pockets total - numbered 0 through 36
• 18 red numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36
• 18 black numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35
• 1 green zero - the house's advantage pocket
• The clockwise sequence from zero: 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26

The wheel layout guide contains a full diagram and explanation of why the sequence is arranged this way.

The Betting Table Layout

The betting table (also called the felt or layout) is where players place chips to make their bets. It is divided into two main areas:

Inside Betting Area

The inside area contains the main grid of 37 numbers (0–36). Numbers are arranged in three rows of 12, with zero in a cell on the left. Players can bet on:

• Straight Up - directly on a single number
• Split - on the line between two adjacent numbers
• Street - on the outer edge of a row of three numbers
• Corner - on the intersection of four numbers
• Six Line (Double Street) - on the intersection of two adjacent streets (six numbers)
• Trio - special European bets covering zero: 0-1-2 or 0-2-3
• Four Number (Basket) - the 0-1-2-3 corner bet

Outside Betting Area

The outside area surrounds the number grid and contains broader category bets:

• Red / Black - colour of the winning number
• Odd / Even - parity of the winning number
• 1–18 (Low) / 19–36 (High) - range of the winning number
• 1st Dozen (1–12) / 2nd Dozen (13–24) / 3rd Dozen (25–36)
• Column bets - one of three columns of 12 numbers (marked "2 to 1")

Zero is neither red, black, odd, nor even. When zero lands, all outside bets lose (unless La Partage or En Prison rules apply).

How a Round Works

European roulette follows a consistent sequence every round:

1. The betting phase begins. Players place chips anywhere on the table. There is no limit to how many different bets can be made in a single round, subject to table minimum and maximum limits.
2. "No more bets" is called. In a land casino, the croupier announces this once the wheel and ball are in motion. Online and in simulators, this happens automatically when the spin button is pressed. No bets may be altered after this point.
3. The spin. The wheel spins clockwise; the ball is released counter-clockwise. As the wheel decelerates, the ball spirals inward, bounces off frets (the dividers between pockets), and settles into a pocket.
4. Announcement of the result. The winning number is called and lit on a display board.
5. Settlement. Losing bets are cleared from the table first. Then winning bets are paid at the appropriate odds. The dealer uses a marker (dolly) to indicate the winning number - players must not touch the table until the marker is removed.
6. New round begins. Players may now place new bets for the next spin.

Payout Rules

All payouts in European roulette follow the formula: stake × (multiplier + 1), which returns both the winnings and the original stake. Here is the complete payout table:

Special Bets: Call Bets & Announced Bets

In addition to standard table bets, European roulette casinos traditionally offer call bets - bets placed verbally by calling them out, covering specific wheel sectors. These are available on the racetrack panel in our simulator:

Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero)

Covers the 17 numbers closest to zero on the wheel: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25. Uses 9 chips covering a combination of splits, a street, and a corner.

Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel)

Covers the 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from zero: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33. Uses 6 chips placed as splits.

Orphelins (Orphans)

Covers the 8 numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers: 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9. Uses 5 chips: one straight up on 1, and four splits.

Neighbour Bets

A bet on any number and its two (or four) immediate neighbours on the wheel. For example, "17 and the neighbours" covers 34, 6, 17, 25, 2 - five chips, each straight up.

The Zero Rule

When the ball lands in the zero pocket:

• All inside bets on zero win normally (straight up pays 35:1)
• All outside bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low, Dozens, Columns) lose
• In French roulette with La Partage: even-money bets receive half their stake back
• In French roulette with En Prison: even-money bets are "imprisoned" for the next spin

Table Limits

All roulette tables have minimum and maximum bet limits. These apply per bet, not per total round. Common structures:

• Table minimum: The smallest acceptable bet on any single position (e.g. £1)
• Inside maximum: Maximum on any single inside bet (e.g. £100)
• Outside maximum: Maximum on any outside bet position (e.g. £2,000)

This simulator starts with 10,000 credits and allows chips of 1, 5, 10, 25, 100, and 500 - effectively unlimited practice.

Etiquette at a Land Casino

These rules apply when playing at a physical casino table:

• Each player is given a uniquely coloured chip to distinguish their bets from others
• Never handle chips once "no more bets" has been called
• Wait for the dolly marker to be removed before collecting winnings or placing new bets
• Announced bets must be called clearly before the ball loses speed
• Tipping the croupier is customary in some venues - a small bet placed on their behalf