European Roulette Rules and Payouts: From Straight Bets to Red and Black
Roulette's rule fits in one sentence: wherever the ball stops, every bet that covers that pocket hits. What takes a little learning is the range of bets, from a single number to half the table, paying anything from 35 to 1 down to 1 to 1. This guide covers the numbers and colours of European roulette and every bet on the table with its payout, then works through three spins.
The basic rules
- European roulette is single-zero: 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36, with just one 0 (American roulette adds a 00; MacePlay does not).
- The numbers 1 to 36 are half red and half black; 0 is green and is not red or black, odd or even, low or high.
- Place your chips on the table, press SPIN, and the number the ball lands on settles every bet.
- Every pocket is equally likely, and each spin depends only on that spin.
So one number returns 36 times the stake (35 to 1), two numbers return 18 times (17 to 1), and so on. Every bet follows the same formula; the only difference is how often it comes up and how much it pays when it does.
Bets and payouts
Inside bets (on numbers)
| Bet | Numbers | Pays | How to place it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 1 | 35 to 1 | In the middle of a number; 0 can be played on its own too. |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | On the line between two neighbouring numbers; 0-1, 0-2 and 0-3 are allowed. |
| Street / trio | 3 | 11 to 1 | A whole street of three (7-8-9, for example); the trios next to 0 are 0-1-2 and 0-2-3. |
| Corner / first four | 4 | 8 to 1 | Where four numbers meet; "first four" is 0-1-2-3. |
| Six line | 6 | 5 to 1 | Two neighbouring streets, six numbers (7 to 12, for example). |
Outside bets (on groups of numbers)
| Bet | Numbers | Pays | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dozen (1st / 2nd / 3rd 12) | 12 | 2 to 1 | 1–12, 13–24, 25–36. |
| Column | 12 | 2 to 1 | 1, 4, 7…34 / 2, 5, 8…35 / 3, 6, 9…36. |
| Red / Black | 18 | 1 to 1 | The 18 red or the 18 black numbers. |
| Odd / Even | 18 | 1 to 1 | Odd or even numbers from 1 to 36. |
| Low / High | 18 | 1 to 1 | 1–18 or 19–36. |
The red numbers are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34 and 36; the rest of 1–36 are black.
When 0 comes up, every outside bet (dozens, columns, red/black, odd/even, low/high) loses. Some casinos use the French La Partage rule, which returns half of even-money bets on 0. MacePlay supports it, but it is off by default; when a table has it on, How to play says so. Payouts and per-spot limits follow the in-game paytable.
Three example spins
Example 1: 17 (black)
- Straight 17 for 100: 35 to 1, returns 3,600.
- Split 17-20 for 100: 17 to 1, returns 1,800.
- Corner 16-17-19-20 for 100: 8 to 1, returns 900.
- Black for 1,000: 17 is black, 1 to 1, returns 2,000.
17 is also odd, low (1–18) and in the 2nd dozen (13–24), so bets on those spots hit as well.
Example 2: 0
- Red for 1,000 and High for 1,000: 0 is neither colour nor high, so both lose (with La Partage off).
- Straight 0 for 100: 35 to 1, returns 3,600.
- First four 0-1-2-3 for 100: 8 to 1, returns 900.
Example 3: 32 (red)
- Red for 1,000: 1 to 1, returns 2,000.
- 3rd dozen (25–36) for 1,000: 2 to 1, returns 3,000.
- Six line 31–36 for 200: 5 to 1, returns 1,200.
- Odd for 500: 32 is even, so this bet loses.
Common questions
Which is better value, a single number or red/black?
Neither. Every bet follows the same formula. A single number rarely hits but pays 36 times; red or black hits nearly half the time but pays 2 times. Play outside bets for a steady pace and numbers for more excitement, and mix them however you like.
What's special about 0?
It's the only green pocket and belongs to no outside bet, but you can play it straight, as a split (0-1, 0-2, 0-3), as a trio or as the first four.
Do recent numbers and hot or cold numbers help?
No. The last 10 numbers at the top of the screen are just for interest. The server produces a fresh result every spin, so each spin is independent: a number that hasn't come up for a while still has the same 1 in 37 chance as every other.
Play European Roulette in MacePlay
In MacePlay's European Roulette the table fills the whole screen. Hold your finger on it to preview which numbers a bet covers and what it's called, then let go to place the chip. Press SPIN and the big wheel zooms in while Elegant, the dealer in a red velvet vest, spins the ball and calls the number. In the live room the whole room shares one spin and plays during the same countdown. Rainbow Multi-Ball Roulette, Twin Moon Roulette and Lucky Strike Roulette are there when you want a change.
MacePlay is for adults 18+ and for entertainment only. Virtual coins have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash or goods.
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European Roulette with hold-to-preview betting, a live room, and multi-ball and twin-ball variants.
