Online roulette for real money is easy to learn, but the version you choose makes a big difference to your odds. European roulette has a house edge of 2.70%, while American roulette, with its extra double zero, nearly doubles that to 5.26%. This guide explains how roulette works, every bet and payout, American vs European vs French roulette, live dealer options, why betting systems fail, and where you can play legally in the US.
Casino Funk does not run games or take bets. This guide is educational. Every roulette bet has a house edge, and no system can remove it.
Key takeaways
- European roulette (one zero) has a 2.70% house edge; American roulette (0 and 00) has 5.26%.
- French roulette with La Partage cuts even-money bets to about 1.35%, the best odds on the wheel.
- Almost every bet on the same wheel has the same edge; only the volatility changes.
- No betting system beats the house edge. Set a budget and limits before you play.
- Real-money online roulette is legal only in NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT, DE and RI, for players 21+ located in those states.
Online roulette at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Goal | Predict where the ball lands on the wheel |
| Best version | European (single zero) or French with La Partage |
| House edge | European 2.70%, American 5.26%, French even-money bets 1.35% |
| Worst common bet | American five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3): 7.89% |
| Formats online | Digital (RNG), live dealer, multiplier games |
| Legal US states | NJ, PA, MI, WV, CT, DE, RI |
| Age | 21+ |
How online roulette works
You place chips on the betting layout, the wheel spins and the ball lands in one numbered pocket. Digital roulette uses a certified random number generator to pick the result; live roulette streams a real wheel and croupier. Your bet wins if the winning number is covered by it.
Roulette bets and payouts
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout | European win chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.7% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.4% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.1% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.8% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.2% |
| Column or dozen | 12 | 2:1 | 32.4% |
| Red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36 | 18 | 1:1 | 48.6% |
Inside bets (straight, split, street, corner, six line) pay more but hit less often. Outside bets (columns, dozens, even-money) hit more often but pay less. On the same wheel, almost every bet carries the same house edge, so choosing outside or inside bets changes your volatility, not your long-term odds.
American vs European vs French roulette
| Version | Pockets | Zeros | House edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European | 37 | 0 | 2.70% | Best widely available choice |
| French | 37 | 0 | 2.70% (1.35% on even-money bets with La Partage or En Prison) | Lowest edge if offered |
| American | 38 | 0 and 00 | 5.26% | Five-number bet is 7.89% |
If a casino offers both, always choose the single-zero wheel. Over time, the difference between 2.70% and 5.26% is large: on $1,000 of total bets, the expected loss is about $27 on a European wheel and about $53 on an American wheel.
Live dealer and multiplier roulette
- Live roulette: a real wheel streamed from a studio, with the same odds as the matching digital version.
- Auto roulette: a live wheel with no croupier and faster spins.
- Multiplier roulette (such as Lightning Roulette): random numbers get boosted payouts, but straight-up bets normally pay less than 35:1 on other spins. Check the help screen for the real return.
- Double ball roulette: two balls per spin with a different pay table and usually a higher edge.
Do roulette betting systems work?
No. Systems like Martingale (doubling after a loss), Fibonacci, D’Alembert and Labouchère change the size and timing of your bets, but every spin is independent and the house edge on each bet stays the same. Long losing streaks and table limits eventually break progression systems. Past results shown on the screen do not change future spins.
Tips for playing online roulette
- Choose European or French roulette over American.
- Read the game rules for La Partage or En Prison on even-money bets.
- Check maximum bets and multiplier rules before playing special versions.
- Set a budget, a time limit and a stop-loss before your first spin.
- Use the deposit limits in your casino account.
Where to play online roulette legally in the US
Real-money online roulette is legal only in states that license online casinos: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. You must be 21+ and physically located in the state. See our state legal map.
Licensed brands with digital and live roulette include BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars Palace Online, bet365 and Fanatics. Many US casinos count roulette at a reduced rate toward bonus wagering, so read the terms. Our wagering requirements guide explains how this works.
Roulette odds for every bet: single zero vs double zero
The payout on each roulette bet is the same on every wheel. What changes is the number of pockets. A European wheel has 37 pockets (1–36 plus a single 0). An American wheel has 38 (1–36 plus 0 and 00). That one extra pocket lowers your chance of winning on every bet while the payout stays the same.
| Bet | Pays | Win chance, European (37 pockets) | Win chance, American (38 pockets) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red/black, odd/even, 1–18, 19–36 | 1:1 | 48.65% | 47.37% |
| Dozen or column | 2:1 | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Six line (6 numbers) | 5:1 | 16.22% | 15.79% |
| Corner (4 numbers) | 8:1 | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| Street (3 numbers) | 11:1 | 8.11% | 7.89% |
| Split (2 numbers) | 17:1 | 5.41% | 5.26% |
| Straight up (1 number) | 35:1 | 2.70% | 2.63% |
| Five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) | 6:1 | Not available | 13.16% |
Notice that the house edge is the same for almost every bet on a given wheel: 2.70% on European and 5.26% on American. A straight-up bet is not a “worse” bet than red or black. It is simply more volatile: you win less often, but the win is bigger. The one exception is the American five-number bet, which carries a 7.89% edge and is the worst bet on the table.
How the house edge works, in plain English
Imagine betting $1 on every number of a European wheel. You stake $37 in total. Whatever number wins pays 35:1, so you get $35 profit plus your $1 stake back, $36 in all. You lose $1 overall, and $1 out of $37 is 2.70%. On an American wheel you would stake $38 and still get only $36 back, a $2 loss, or 5.26%.
Over many spins, the house edge turns into an expected cost of play. If you bet $10 a spin for 100 spins, you wager $1,000 in total:
- American roulette (5.26%): expected loss about $52.63
- European roulette (2.70%): expected loss about $27.03
- French roulette with La Partage on even-money bets (about 1.35%): expected loss about $13.51
Short sessions can swing far above or below these numbers. The expected loss tells you the average cost, not what will happen tonight. It is still the best single number for comparing games, and it shows clearly why the wheel you pick matters more than any betting pattern.
La Partage and En Prison explained
French roulette uses a single-zero wheel and may add one of two rules that protect even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, high/low) when the ball lands on zero:
- La Partage: you get half of your even-money stake back immediately. This cuts the house edge on those bets to about 1.35%.
- En Prison: your even-money stake is “imprisoned” for the next spin. If that spin wins, you get your stake back. The edge works out to roughly 1.37% to 1.39%, depending on the exact prison rule.
These rules apply only to even-money bets. Inside bets on a French table still carry the normal 2.70% edge. If a game is labeled “French roulette” online, open the rules screen and confirm that La Partage or En Prison is actually switched on, because some versions use the French layout without the rule.
Inside vs outside bets: matching the bet to your style
Because the house edge is the same on almost every bet, the real choice is about volatility, meaning how bumpy your results will be.
- Outside bets (red/black, dozens, columns) win often and pay small amounts. Your balance moves slowly, which suits longer, lower-stress sessions.
- Inside bets (straight up, splits, corners) win rarely and pay big. A straight-up bet hits about once every 37 or 38 spins on average, and you can easily go 100 spins without a hit.
- Mixed patterns spread your stake across both. They feel safer, but the total house edge on the money wagered is unchanged.
Pick the volatility you are comfortable with, then keep your bet size small enough to absorb losing streaks. No mix of bets lowers the edge below the wheel’s built-in percentage.
A simple roulette bankroll plan
Decide what a session is worth to you before you start, and treat that amount as the cost of entertainment. A practical approach:
- Set a session budget you can afford to lose, for example $100.
- Size each bet at 1% to 2% of that budget ($1 to $2), so normal swings do not end your session in a few spins.
- Set a loss limit and a time limit in the casino app’s responsible gaming settings before you play.
- Decide on a “walk away” win point too, and cash out when you hit it.
- Never raise your stakes to chase losses. This is exactly how progressive systems like the Martingale turn small losses into big ones.
Common roulette mistakes to avoid
- Playing American roulette when a European table is available. It nearly doubles your expected cost per spin.
- Believing a number is “due”. Every spin is independent. A wheel has no memory, so past results shown on the scoreboard do not change the next spin.
- Using betting systems as a “strategy”. Martingale, Fibonacci and D’Alembert change how wins and losses are spread over time, not the house edge.
- Ignoring table limits. Doubling-up systems hit the table maximum quickly, which locks in a large loss.
- Playing with bonus money without reading the terms. Many US casinos count roulette at a reduced rate toward wagering requirements, or exclude it.
- Playing on offshore sites. They are not licensed by any US state regulator and offer no reliable way to resolve disputes.
How to check a roulette game before you play
Open the game’s info or help screen and confirm these points before your first bet:
- Wheel type: single zero (European/French) or double zero (American)
- Whether La Partage or En Prison applies to even-money bets
- The stated return to player (RTP): about 97.30% for European and 94.74% for American
- Minimum and maximum bets for inside and outside bets
- For multiplier games (such as “lightning” style roulette), how the multipliers change the straight-up payout, since these versions often pay less than 35:1 on normal wins
Roulette glossary
- Inside bet: a bet on a specific number or small group of numbers on the main grid.
- Outside bet: a bet on a large group, such as red, odd or a dozen.
- Straight up: a single-number bet paying 35:1.
- Split, street, corner, six line: bets on 2, 3, 4 or 6 adjacent numbers.
- RNG roulette: a digital game where a certified random number generator picks the result.
- Live dealer roulette: a real wheel streamed from a studio, with results captured by the table system.
- RTP: return to player, the long-run percentage of wagers a game pays back (100% minus the house edge).
- Racetrack: an oval betting area for “call” or neighbor bets based on wheel sectors.
More casino game guides: blackjack guide · baccarat guide · video poker guide · Mississippi Stud guide · slots guide.
Online roulette FAQ
Which roulette has the best odds?
French roulette with La Partage (1.35% on even-money bets), then European roulette (2.70%). American roulette is worst at 5.26%.
What is the best bet in roulette?
On the same wheel, nearly all bets have the same house edge. Avoid the American five-number bet, which has a 7.89% edge.
Is online roulette rigged?
State-licensed US casinos must use independently tested RNGs and audited live wheels. Offshore sites have no US regulator.
Can you win at roulette long term?
Not with any betting system. The house edge applies to every spin. Treat roulette as paid entertainment.
What is the house edge on a straight-up bet?
The same as most other bets on that wheel: 2.70% on European roulette and 5.26% on American roulette. It pays 35:1 but the true odds are 36 to 1 (European) or 37 to 1 (American).
Is live dealer roulette better than RNG roulette?
The house edge is set by the wheel type, not the format. Live dealer games play slower, which lowers your cost per hour. RNG games are faster and usually allow lower minimum bets.
Information checked October 2026. Real-money online casino games are legal only in states that license them, and only for players aged 21+ who are physically located in those states. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.
Sources and how we checked this guide
Odds and house-edge figures come from published mathematical analyses and state regulations, checked in October 2026. Online casino rules and pay tables vary by game and operator, so always open the game’s help or paytable screen before you play.
