Beginner’s Guide to Playing Roulette – Types of Bets, Odds & Different Roulette Games

Roulette Table, Wheel, and Layout: Explained

To understand how to play roulette, you must be familiar with its three main components: the flat table, the wheel, and the ball. 

• Roulette table –  The roulette table is where you place your chips to make a bet. It is made up of numbered arrangements and types of bets. The table is separated into inside and outside bets. Outside bets cover numerous number combinations, while inside bets include the 36 numbers in red and black and various bet combinations.
• Roulette Wheel – The roulette wheel has 36 numbers, which are randomly arranged. The numbers include 0 through 36 and an extra 00 pocket in American Roulette.
• Roulette Ball – A white roulette ball is released once you (or the dealer) spin the reel. This will determine the result of your bet.

How Roulette is Played

Roulette gameplay is easy to understand if you understand the bets. There are only a few steps to place a bet, which include:

1. Select your roulette table.
2. Decide the size of your bet.
3. Place the chips on the table to mark your bet.
4. Press the ‘spin’ button and wait for the outcome.
5. If you win, the game will pay out based on the odds for that bet and your bet size.

Roulette Variants

As more and more casinos appear online, the market for online roulette in Australia, or anywhere else, is quite big. There are various sub-variants of roulette, like Speed Roulette or Auto Roulette, to name a few. However, most variants originate from three main types of roulette: European, American, and French. The layout of each variant is similar, but with some differences that can affect the house edge and gameplay.

European Roulette

European roulette is the classic roulette table, consisting of 37 pockets, 18 red and 18 black, and a single 0 (zero) pocket marked green. Due to the single zero, the house edge is quite favourable at just 2.7%. As we explained above, the wheel and table are divided into inside and outside areas indicating special bets and numbered combinations.

French Roulette

The layout and wheel of French roulette are the same as European roulette: 37 pockets, red and black, and a single 0 (zero) pocket. The bet types are also the same, but the house edge in French roulette is even lower at 1.35%. What is interesting about French roulette is the inclusion of specific rules like La Partage and En Prison that work as insurance on even-money bets and when you hit a 0.

American Roulette

The rules, bets, number arrangement, and layout are virtually the same as those of the European and French variants, but there are a total of 38 pockets on the wheel. The wheel and table have numbers 1-36, alongside a single zero and a double zero (00) green slots. The double zero pocket raises the house edge to about 5.3%. The extra double-zero pocket makes the odds more unfavourable (about 47%)  when you make even-money bets. For comparison, even money bets on European roulette are just over 48%.

Types of Bets in Roulette

With only some exceptions, the bets in roulette remain pretty much the same in all variants. As we noted, they are separated into inside and outside bets with varying odds and payouts. Let’s have a look.

Outside Bets

If you are a beginner in playing roulette, you should start with outside bets. These bets include a wide range of numbers, increasing the odds of the ball landing in one of the numbered categories. Of course, since the probability of winning is bigger, the payouts are smaller. 

• Red/black – One of the most popular and simplest of all roulette bets, red and black is still a risky bet, considering it is based entirely on chance. You simply pick whether the ball will land in a red or black pocket, regardless of the number, and place your bet.
• Odd/even – Odd or even bets cover two sets of 18 numbers: odd numbers and even numbers. Regardless of the colour, you simply bet whether the number will be odd or even and get an even money payout based on your bet size.
• Dozens – There are three sets of dozens: 1 through 12, 13 through 24 and 25 through 36. It pays at 2:1 odds. It’s yours to decide if the ball will land in a pocket covering one of the 3 sets of dozens. 
• High/low – Another popular even-money (1:1) bet, it covers two sets of 18 ordered numbers. The first is 1 through 18 and the second is 19 through 36. 
• Column bets – The roulette table has three sets of random number arrangements combining odd and even, red and black, and high and low numbers. Each of the three columns has 12 random numbers. To make this bet, you must put your chips at the base of the column you predict will win, and if you win, you get a 2:1 payout. The bet applies to American and European roulette. If the ball lands on a 0 or 00, you lose your stake.

Inside Bets

Riskier and more uncertain, inside bets are a good option if you want to hit a solid payout. These bets include both single numbers and combinations of numbers and have longer odds but higher potential payouts if you guess correctly. 

• Straight-up – Predict a number you think will win, regardless of the colour, and determine your bet size. It is one of the riskiest of all bets in roulette, with odds of 35 to 1. 
• Split bets – To place a split bet, you put your chips on the line dividing two numbers. You bet that the ball will land on one of those 2 numbers, for example, 11 and 14. The bet pays out 17:1.
• Row bets (street) – Similar to split bets, except you cover 3 numbers in a sequence, like 7, 8, and 9, or 31, 32, and 33. To make this bet, place your chips at the bottom of the row. If you win, you will be paid at odds 11:1.
• Corner bets – You bet on 4 numbers by placing the chips on the cross point of four numbers, like 22, 23, 25, and 26, with odds of 8:1.
• Six line – With odds of 5:1, you bet that the ball will land on one of 6 ordered numbers. For example, you can bet on 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 by placing your chips on the line dividing the inside and outside bets and between the two rows of 3 (vertical) numbers.
• Basket bets – A basket bet is allowed only in American roulette and covers five numbers, including 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3, with 6:1 odds. The house edge when you make a basket bet rises to nearly 8%, while the odds and probability of winning make this a highly risky wager.

Playing Roulette Online

Licensed casino sites catering to Australian players offer many variants that have evolved from European, American, and French roulette alongside these classic versions. If the game is with a live dealer, make sure you read about the bets, payouts, and any specific rules of that version before you make real money bets.

If you’re already familiar with the roulette rules and bets, playing online is a routine process of a few simple steps. Here’s how to start.

1. Browse our website and pick an online casino that offers roulette.
2. Register and verify your account. 
3. Choose a payment method and make a deposit.
4. Open the table games or live dealer section.
5. Pick a roulette table and read the rules.
6. Start playing.

Basic Roulette Tips and Strategies

Roulette is mostly probability and chance, but over time, experienced players have developed strategies and methods of playing that can give you some edge, in the long run, to regain losses or even earn a profit.

• Set a gaming budget – Playing with a defined budget is key to responsible gaming and having fun. You can’t have fun if you get frustrated or angry every time you lose, and there will be losses. Instead, determine how much money you can spend on playing roulette and still have fun without crossing any limits. 
• Set a bet unit – Don’t place random bet amounts on a feeling. Instead, bet with more caution so you don’t waste your budget on risky bets with low possible returns. 
• Avoid side bets – Side bets are additional bets allowed at some roulette tables. Side bets usually have higher odds, and you can place them together with ordinary bets, hence the name ‘side bet.’ While offering tempting payouts, you should avoid side bets unless you understand the bet  
• Use bonuses wisely – Some online casinos in Australia offer live dealer bonuses, including tailored roulette bonuses. Before you claim a roulette bonus, know that the wagering requirements will take longer to satisfy, considering roulette bets often contribute under 10% of every bet. 
• Play for free – Once you sign up, don’t rush to play with real money. Instead, pick a table that has a free version and play with virtual coins just to see how the game works. 

Should You Use a Roulette Strategy?

Some roulette strategies, like the Martingale system or the Fibonacci system, have some mathematical basis and can help you regain money after a series of losses or make a profit. Some systems are more based on chance, but no matter which strategy you apply, there is no guarantee of a steady win outcome.

In fact, most strategies also take into account losses, based on which you adjust your bet size. Our team believes the following three systems, although they are not certain to always be effective, are suitable for beginners and low-risk players.

Paroli system

The Paroli strategy can be applied to both blackjack and roulette. It includes doubling your bet size if you hit 3 consecutive wins. So, if your base bet is A$1, and you win, the next bet is $2. If you win, you bet $4, and if you win for the third time, you return to the base bet of $1. If you lose before hitting 3 wins, you keep betting your base amount.

D’Alembert system

The main aim of this bet is to recover (some of) your losses by placing a bigger bet if you lose. The idea is to set a base bet amount, like, for instance, $2, and if you lose, you place a larger bet by a single unit. So, if you bet $2 and lose, your next bet should be $3, and so on. When you win, you decrease your bet amount by a single unit. This system should be used on even money bets.

The James Bond System

The James Bond roulette strategy involves placing a single bet amount on 3 bets. You must decide how much you want to bet, as each of the 3 bets requires a high or low stake. The three bets include 13-18, 19-36, and a single bet on 0. Note that this system should not be applied to American roulette due to the extra 00 (double zero). If you decide to bet $8 total, you should place the biggest bet on 19 to 36, say $5. The second-biggest bet, say, $2, is on 13-18, and the smallest bet, in this case $1, is on 0. You can place an even lower total bet amount on roulette tables that allow bets under $1 on the low side.

Conclusion

To start playing roulette, you need to learn the rules of the specific roulette table, the types of bets, and payouts. But to make it a potentially profitable effort, you must play smarter and with greater caution.

Avoid side bets, avoid betting on colour, and try to bet with a strategy. When you start playing, the best starting point is to begin with a free roulette version where you can’t lose any money from your gaming budget on a game you don’t know. 

For more tips, visit our page discussing popular roulette strategies and betting systems and see which one would suit you best.