Game guide
European roulette: the single-zero wheel, odds and call bets
The single-zero European roulette wheel in detail: number order, the true odds of each bet, racetrack call bets and how French rules change even-money bets.
European roulette is played on a wheel of 37 pockets - the numbers 1 to 36 plus a single green zero - and that one zero gives the house an edge of 2.70% on every standard bet. It is the default wheel at UK online casinos, in both software (RNG) and live form, and it is the version to choose whenever the alternative is an American double-zero wheel, where the edge is about 5.26%.
The online roulette guide compares the three wheels and lists the payouts. This page goes into the European roulette wheel itself: the order of the numbers, the real probability behind each bet, the racetrack call bets that only make sense on this wheel, and the French rules that halve the edge on even chances.
On this page
The European roulette wheel and its number order
Going clockwise from the zero, the numbers run:
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
Red and black alternate all the way round, and the zero sits between 26 and 32. The order is designed to spread high and low, odd and even numbers as evenly as possible. It matters for one reason only: the "sector" bets on the racetrack cover neighbouring pockets on the wheel, not neighbouring boxes on the table. It has no effect on the odds of any number.
The odds behind every European roulette bet
Each bet pays slightly less than its true odds, and the gap is the house edge. On a single number the fair payout would be 36 to 1; the casino pays 35 to 1.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Chance of winning a spin | Pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 2.7% (1 in 37) | 35 to 1 |
| Split | 2 | 5.4% | 17 to 1 |
| Street | 3 | 8.1% | 11 to 1 |
| Corner | 4 | 10.8% | 8 to 1 |
| Six line | 6 | 16.2% | 5 to 1 |
| Dozen or column | 12 | 32.4% | 2 to 1 |
| Even chances | 18 | 48.6% | 1 to 1 |
Whichever row you pick, the expected loss is the same 2.70% of the amount staked: on £100 of bets, about £2.70 on average. The bets differ only in how often they win and how large the swings are. An even-chance bet loses slightly more often than it wins, because the zero beats red and black alike.
Racetrack call bets on the European wheel
Call bets, also known as French or announced bets, cover a section of the wheel with a fixed pattern of chips. Online they sit on an oval "racetrack" next to the table.
| Call bet | Numbers | Chips | How the chips are placed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zero (neighbours of zero) | 17, from 22 to 25 across the zero | 9 | 2 on the 0/2/3 trio, 2 on the 25/26/28/29 corner, 1 each on the splits 4/7, 12/15, 18/21, 19/22 and 32/35 |
| Tiers du Cylindre (third of the wheel) | 12, from 27 to 33 opposite the zero | 6 | 1 each on the splits 5/8, 10/11, 13/16, 23/24, 27/30 and 33/36 |
| Orphelins (orphans) | 8: 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 and 17, 34, 6 | 5 | 1 on 1, and 1 each on the splits 6/9, 14/17, 17/20 and 31/34 |
| Jeu Zero (zero game) | 7: 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15 | 4 | 1 each on the splits 0/3, 12/15 and 32/35, and 1 on 26 |
| Neighbours | A chosen number and the two on each side of it | 5 | 1 straight up on each of the five numbers |
Call bets are convenient, not clever. Each is a bundle of ordinary splits, corners and straight-ups, so the house edge stays at 2.70%. Note that Orphelins counts 17 twice, which is why it covers eight numbers with five chips.
French rules on a European wheel
French roulette uses the same 37-pocket wheel, usually with one of two extra rules on even-money bets:
- La Partage. When the zero lands, half of each even-money stake is returned. The edge on those bets falls to about 1.35%.
- En Prison. When the zero lands, the even-money stake is held for the next spin; if that spin wins, the stake is returned. The effect on the edge is similar.
Neither rule changes inside bets. Online French roulette and live French tables exist in some GB lobbies, but they are less common than European ones, so the help screen is the place to confirm which rule, if any, applies. If you mainly bet on red, black, odd, even, high or low, a French table with La Partage is the better deal on the same wheel.
RNG, live and "premium" European roulette
A European roulette game online can be a software version, where certified random number generation picks the pocket, or a live table streamed from a studio. Branded RNG titles such as "Premium" or "VIP" European roulette change the graphics and the table limits, not the wheel; a European wheel has the same edge whatever it is called. Since 17 January 2025, RNG casino games other than slots must take at least five seconds per game cycle at GB-licensed casinos, so software roulette can no longer be played at machine-gun pace, and autoplay is banned. Roulette is not a slot, so the £5 and £2 slot stake limits do not apply.
Live European tables are listed by Pub Casino, Virgin Bet, LuckyMate, Hollywoodbets and Bella Casino, and 666 Casino, Amazon Slots and Lottomart have roulette in their table-game sections. The live roulette page explains the live formats, from Immersive to auto wheels.
Free European roulette and practice
A free European roulette game is a reasonable way to learn the layout and the racetrack. At a GB-licensed casino, demo versions are open only after your age has been verified, and game providers sometimes host official demos on their own websites. This site does not embed playable games. Whatever the demo, no practice improves the odds: the wheel has no memory, and progressions such as doubling after each loss simply run into the table maximum sooner or later.
18+ only. Even a low-edge wheel takes 2.70% of everything staked over time; set a deposit limit that matches what you are happy to spend. See our responsible gambling page for the tools and free support available, and the roulette bets guide for each bet in more depth.
UK-licensed casinos, ranked by our score
Order = score out of 10. Every operator holds a Gambling Commission licence.
| # | Casino | Score | Welcome offer and significant terms | Payments | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place 1 |  Bella CasinoRank Interactive (Gibraltar) Limited | Score: 7.9 out of 10, good | 100 bonus spins on Kong 3 Even Bigger Bonus when you deposit and stake £10 Significant terms New players; min deposit £10 (Paysafecard excluded) and £10 stake on Kong 3 Even Bigger Bonus; 10x wagering; max win £200 |
| Visit Bella Casino (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Bella Casino |
| Place 2 |  Pub CasinoL & L Europe Limited | Score: 7.4 out of 10, good | 50 cash spins on Octobeer Fortunes after depositing and wagering £10 Significant terms Deposit and wager £10; activate before depositing; spins £0.20 each, winnings paid as cash, no max cash out; Skrill deposits excluded; spins expire in 48 hours |
| Visit Pub Casino (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Pub Casino |
| Place 3 |  LuckyMateAnakatech Interactive Limited | Score: 7.4 out of 10, good | 50 bonus spins on Big Bass Splash when you bet £10 on slots Code MATE50 Significant terms £10 min deposit; £10 in slot bets; 50 spins at £0.10 (£5 total); x1 wagering, £1 max bet contribution; £100 max cashout from winnings; 7-day expiry; selected payment methods only | Not listed | Visit LuckyMate (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: LuckyMate |
| Place 4 |  HollywoodbetsHollywoodbets International UK Limited | Score: 7.3 out of 10, good | No welcome offer listed in the terms we read. | Not listed | Visit Hollywoodbets (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Hollywoodbets |
| Place 5 |  Virgin BetVirgin Bet Limited | Score: 6.3 out of 10, fair | No welcome offer listed in the terms we read. | Not listed | Visit Virgin Bet (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Virgin Bet |
| Place 6 |  666 CasinoJupiter Gaming Limited | Score: 7.8 out of 10, good | 20 spins on Big Bass Splash when you deposit and wager £20 Significant terms 18+, new players, first deposit; £20 must be wagered on Big Bass Splash within 7 days; spins on Big Bass Splash; 0x wagering on winnings | Not listed | Visit 666 Casino (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: 666 Casino |
| Place 7 |  Amazon SlotsJumpman Gaming Limited | Score: 7.7 out of 10, good | Chance to win up to 500 bonus spins on Starburst Significant terms 18+, new players, £10 min fund; bonus spins winnings subject to 10x wagering; max bonus conversion equal to lifetime deposits up to £250; only bonus wagers count |
| Visit Amazon Slots (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Amazon Slots |
| Place 8 |  LottomartMaple International Ventures Limited | Score: 7.1 out of 10, good | New customer prize wheel: win up to 500 bonus spins Significant terms New players, opt-in; min £10 cash stakes on slots; wheel used and spins claimed within 4 days; spins played within 24 hours; free spin winnings paid as cash (no wagering); max 1 claim | Not listed | Visit Lottomart (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Lottomart |
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Questions readers ask
How many numbers are on a European roulette wheel?
37: the numbers 1 to 36 and a single green zero. American wheels add a double zero, making 38.
What are the odds of hitting a single number?
1 in 37, or about 2.7% per spin. A winning straight-up bet pays 35 to 1, slightly below the fair 36 to 1.
What is Voisins du Zero?
A call bet covering the 17 numbers around the zero on the wheel, placed with nine chips on a fixed set of splits, a trio and a corner. Its house edge is the usual 2.70%.
Is French roulette better than European roulette?
On even-money bets, yes, if the table uses La Partage or En Prison: the edge on those bets falls to about 1.35%. On inside bets the two games are identical.
Does the five-second rule apply to European roulette?
Yes for software versions. Since 17 January 2025, GB-licensed RNG casino games other than slots must take at least five seconds per game cycle.