Roulette at JustCasino: Rules, Odds and Bets Explained
Roulette is one of the simplest casino games to learn, but the version you choose and the bets you place make a real difference to what it costs you. This guide explains how the game works, compares the main variants, lists every standard bet with its payout and real chance of winning, and shows why betting systems cannot beat the wheel.
It is written to help you understand the game, not to encourage you to play.
How roulette works
A roulette wheel has numbered pockets from 1 to 36, alternating red and black, plus one or two green zero pockets. You bet on where the ball will land: a single number, a group of numbers, a colour, odd or even, and so on. The dealer, or the software in a digital game, spins the wheel and releases the ball, and bets on the winning pocket are paid.
Where the house edge comes from
Roulette payouts are set as if the zero did not exist. A single number pays 35 to 1, which would be a fair payout on a wheel with 36 pockets. But a European wheel has 37 pockets because of the zero. That one extra pocket is the entire house edge: on a single-zero wheel, the casino keeps about 2.7% of every bet over the long run, whichever bet you choose.
Roulette variants compared
The biggest decision in roulette is which wheel you play. The difference between the variants matters far more than any bet or strategy.
French roulette
1.35% on even-money betsA single-zero wheel with an extra rule. Under La Partage, if the ball lands on zero, you get half your stake back on even-money bets such as red or black. A similar rule, En Prison, holds the bet for the next spin instead.
This halves the house edge on those bets to about 1.35%. Other bets stay at 2.7%.
European roulette
2.7% on all betsOne zero and 37 pockets. The house edge is about 2.7% on every bet. This is the most widely available version, and the standard choice if French rules are not offered.
American roulette
5.26% on most betsA zero and a double zero, giving 38 pockets. The extra pocket nearly doubles the house edge to about 5.26%. One bet, the five-number "top line" covering 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, is even worse at about 7.89%.
Multiplier and specialty games
Many live casinos also offer roulette games with random multipliers, where selected numbers can pay far more than 35 to 1 on a given spin. To fund those multipliers, standard payouts are often reduced. The house edge varies by game and by bet, so check the rules panel before playing. Our live casino guide explains how live tables work.
Roulette bets, payouts and real odds
Every standard bet on a European wheel carries the same 2.7% house edge. What changes is how often you win and how much you win when you do. Lower-odds bets pay more but lose more often, which makes your results swing more.
| Bet | Covers | Pays | Chance to win (European) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside bets | |||
| Straight up | 1 number | 35 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Split | 2 adjacent numbers | 17 to 1 | 5.4% |
| Street | 3 numbers in a row | 11 to 1 | 8.1% |
| Corner | 4 numbers in a square | 8 to 1 | 10.8% |
| Six line | 6 numbers in two rows | 5 to 1 | 16.2% |
| Outside bets | |||
| Dozen | 1 to 12, 13 to 24, or 25 to 36 | 2 to 1 | 32.4% |
| Column | 12 numbers in a column | 2 to 1 | 32.4% |
| Red or black | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 | 48.6% |
| Odd or even | 18 numbers | 1 to 1 | 48.6% |
| High or low | 1 to 18, or 19 to 36 | 1 to 1 | 48.6% |
Notice that even-money bets such as red or black win less than half the time. The zero is why: when it comes up, every outside bet loses, unless French La Partage or En Prison rules apply.
Call bets and the racetrack
Many European and live roulette tables include a "racetrack", an oval layout that lets you bet on sections of the wheel rather than the table. Named call bets such as Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre and Orphelins cover groups of neighbouring numbers using several chips. They are simply combinations of standard bets, so they carry the same house edge.
Why roulette systems do not work
Betting systems promise to beat roulette by changing your bet size after wins or losses. None of them can change the house edge, because every spin is independent and every bet carries the same edge. They only change the shape of your results.
The Martingale system
The best-known system tells you to double your bet on an even-money bet after every loss, so that one win recovers everything plus one unit. It feels safe, because a long losing streak seems unlikely. The problem is what happens when that streak arrives.
Example: Martingale starting at A$1 on red
Most of the time the system produces small wins, which is why it feels like it works. Eventually, a losing streak either runs past your budget or hits the table's maximum bet, and one loss wipes out all the small wins. Over time, the result matches the 2.7% house edge like any other way of betting.
Other systems such as D'Alembert, Fibonacci and Labouchère vary the pattern, but they share the same flaw. No sequence of bets can overcome a house edge that applies to every single spin.
Common roulette myths
"Red is due after a run of black"
The wheel has no memory. After ten blacks in a row, red is exactly as likely on the next spin as it always is.
"Some numbers are hot"
Recent results boards show what happened, not what will happen. A number that came up three times is no more likely to come up again.
"Covering the table guarantees a win"
Spreading chips across many numbers increases how often you win something, but the combined bets still carry the full house edge.
"Online roulette is rigged"
Digital roulette uses a random number generator and live roulette uses a real wheel. Both produce random results, and the edge comes from the zero.
Roulette at JustCasino
JustCasino offers roulette in two forms. Digital roulette uses a random number generator, runs fast and often has low minimum bets. Our games guide covers the digital tables. Live roulette uses a real wheel and dealer streamed from a studio, and plays more slowly. Our live casino guide covers the live tables.
The exact variants available change over time, so check the lobby. Whichever you choose, look for a single-zero wheel, and French rules if they are offered. Each table's rules panel shows the variant, payouts and table limits before you join.
Browse the roulette tables
Look for single-zero wheels, check each table's rules panel, and set your spending limit before you play. 18+ only.
Roulette and JustCasino bonuses
JustCasino's bonuses are designed mainly for pokies. Under the casino's default bonus terms, roulette is treated very differently. Individual promotions can set their own conditions, so always read the terms of the specific offer.
Reduced contribution
Only a quarter of each roulette bet counts towards wagering. A A$50 bonus at 40x needs A$8,000 of roulette bets.
Maximum bet
No single bet can exceed A$8 while a bonus is active. Going over can cancel the bonus and its winnings.
Low-risk strategies
Betting on both red and black, or using Martingale and similar systems, is treated as bonus abuse and can void winnings.
For most roulette players, it is simpler to play without a bonus. Our wagering requirements guide includes a calculator that shows the cost of clearing a bonus on roulette, and our promotions page lists JustCasino's bonus abuse rules in full.
Roulette and your budget
The cost of playing roulette depends on three things: your bet size, how many spins you play, and the house edge. As an illustration, betting A$5 a spin for 60 spins has an expected cost of about A$8 on a European wheel, and about A$16 on an American wheel. Digital roulette can spin far more often than a live table, so the same bet size can cost much more per hour.
Decide your budget and a time limit before you start, and use the deposit limit tools in your account settings. Our responsible gambling page covers the options.
If roulette stops feeling like entertainment, free and confidential support is available around the clock through Gambling Help Online or by calling 1800 858 858.
A note on the legal position
JustCasino is licensed in Curaçao, not in Australia, so Australian consumer protections and local complaint processes do not apply to your account. Our licensing and safety page explains what that means.
Frequently Asked Questions
French roulette with the La Partage or En Prison rule has the lowest house edge, about 1.35% on even-money bets. European roulette is next at about 2.7%. American roulette, with its extra double zero, is about 5.26%.
No. Every spin is independent and every bet carries the same house edge, so no betting system can overcome it. Systems like Martingale produce frequent small wins but occasional large losses, and over time the result matches the house edge.
On a European wheel with 37 pockets, a single number has a 1 in 37 chance, about 2.7%, of winning on any spin. It pays 35 to 1. On an American wheel with 38 pockets, the chance falls to 1 in 38 for the same payout.
La Partage is a French roulette rule. If the ball lands on zero, players with even-money bets such as red or black get half their stake back. This halves the house edge on those bets to about 1.35%.
Under JustCasino's default bonus terms, roulette counts 25% towards wagering, compared with 100% for pokies. The A$8 maximum bet applies, and betting on both red and black or using systems like Martingale is treated as bonus abuse.
The house edge is the same for the same wheel type. Live roulette uses a real wheel and dealer and plays more slowly, so the same bet size costs less per hour. Digital roulette is faster and often has lower minimum bets.
Related guides
18+ only. House edge figures are standard values for each variant under typical rules. Always check the rules panel of the specific table. If gambling is causing harm to you or someone close to you, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858, any time, for free and confidential support.