How to Play Roulette
How to play roulette: the European wheel, inside and outside bets and what they pay, the house edge, and why European roulette beats American.
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About this video: How to Play Roulette
How to Play Roulette explains the bets on the table and what each one pays, so you can follow a game straight away.
First, the video describes the European wheel: 37 pockets, numbered 1 to 36 in red and black, plus a single green zero. Next, it covers inside bets on specific numbers. For example, a straight-up bet on one number pays 35 to 1, while splits, streets and corners cover more numbers and pay less.
Then it moves on to outside bets. Red or black, odd or even, and high or low all pay even money, whereas dozens and columns pay 2 to 1.
Finally, it explains the house edge. Because of the green zero, every bet pays slightly less than the true odds, which gives a 2.7% edge on a European wheel. American roulette adds a double zero and nearly doubles it, so pick European whenever you can.
However, rules and offers change. For that reason, we check every video against the Gambling Commission and other official sources. In fact, we last checked this one on 13 October 2026.
Read the transcript
Roulette is a game of pure chance, with simple rules. Here’s how the bets work, and which wheel to choose.
A European wheel has 37 pockets: the numbers 1 to 36 in red and black, plus a single green zero. You bet on where the ball will land.
Inside bets are on specific numbers. A single number, called a straight-up bet, pays 35 to 1. Splits, streets and corners cover more numbers, and pay less.
Outside bets cover bigger groups. Red or black, odd or even, and high or low all pay even money. Dozens and columns pay 2 to 1.
The green zero is how the casino makes its money. Every bet pays slightly less than the true odds, which gives a house edge of 2.7% on a European wheel.
American roulette adds a double zero, which nearly doubles the edge, to 5.26%. So if you have the choice, pick European roulette.
Betting systems, like doubling up after a loss, don’t change the odds. They only raise your stakes. Set a budget before you play, and stick to it.
Eighteen plus. Please gamble responsibly.
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