The Roulette Table Explained

Most roulette games are conducted on single-zero or double-zero roulette wheels. But the real action takes place on the roulette table layout.

Players bet casino chips on different sections of the numbered grid on the roulette table.

Introduction to the Roulette Table layout

In this article we’re going to look at how many numbers are on a roulette table layout. And the interesting arrangement of those numbers on a roulette wheel. I’ll also be referring to the roulette table rules and betting options and odds for European and American wheels as well as French roulette games.

The casino roulette table layout displays an easy-to-understand organization of roulette wheel numbers. On a roulette wheel, the placement of numbers can cause confusion.

You see, when you look at numbers on a roulette wheel, they appear to be arranged randomly.

Sequence and Placement of Numbers on a Roulette Wheel

How many numbers are on a roulette table? There’re as many numbers on a roulette table as there’re on a roulette wheel. On a single-zero roulette wheel there’re 37 numbered pockets. So, there’re 37 numbers on a roulette table layout.

If we begin with 0 and follow the numbers below clockwise this is the order of numbers on a roulette wheel.

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.

• The single-zero roulette wheel has the colors spaced evenly around it.

• There’re two low numbered pockets side by side. These are #5 and #10. While high numbers #26 and #32 are separated by #0.

• Not including 0, 28 of the 36 numbers are positioned on the wheel as seven even pairs and seven odd pairs.

The roulette wheel can be fascinating. I could bombard you with analysis about, column and dozen placements, as well as where numbers relating to betting options on the roulette table are arranged on the wheel and theorize how this might affect bets. But I’ll continue to focus on roulette table bets and odds.

How Many Numbers are on a Roulette Table?

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When you play roulette, you should always ask yourself, ‘how many numbers are on a roulette table?’ It’s important to know that some roulette wheels have more numbers.

To understand this better, you should be aware that each number on a roulette wheel, is a pocket that a roulette ball can land in. The more pockets there’re, the higher the casino’s house edge is.

So, the more roulette table numbers you see indicates a higher house advantage. This means it’s harder to play lots of roulette games without your bankroll of casino playing chips being exposed to a reduction.

The Casino’s House Edges for the Above Roulette Table Variants

• The house edge on the single-zero European roulette table is 2.7%

• The house edge on the French roulette table is 1.35% on outside bets

• The double-zero, American roulette table has a 5.26% house edge

Borrowing from French roulette’s half back rule, one variant of double-zero roulette pays back half of what is staked on losing outside bets when the ball lands in either of the green zero pockets. The house edge for this variant is cut by half to 2.63%.

Bear in mind that roulette games are fixed odds betting. This means whether a single bet or combination of bets, all bet types are subject to the house edge percentage of the roulette table.

Layout of the Roulette Table Explained

In a casino the roulette table is covered with baize cloth with green being the most popular color.

The main single-zero roulette table layout consists of 36 boxes, each marked from 1 to 36 organized in three horizontal columns of 12 numbers. At the end of the grid—closest to the wheel— there’s a separate vertical section marked with 0.

The American wheel will consist of a roulette table layout with two shapes for 0 and 00 i.e. double-zero roulette.

Roulette Table Boxes

Of the 36 boxes, the first box beside 0 is marked number 1. (For the purposes of outside betting: Number 1 has a red background because it’s a Red number. It’s also an Odd & Low number).

From here the 36 boxes are numbered consecutively and vertically in sets of threes. i.e. 1-2-3 / 4-5-6 and so on—alternating Red/Black and Odd/Even.

Roulette Table Columns

Each of the three Columns (1-34 / 2-35 / 3-36) are 2-to-1 betting options in betting boxes outside of the columns.

The grid is further divided by vertical lines every twelve numbers, creating three sets of twelve numbers standing for three Dozens (1-12 / 13-24 / 25-36) which are also 2-to-1 betting options with separate betting spaces; 1st 12, 2nd 12, 3rd 12.

Below the 2-to-1 betting spaces for the Dozens, are six betting boxes that are 1-18 (low), Even, Red, Black, Odd, 19-36 (high).

The Three Main Roulette Wheel Variants

European: Single Zero

The “single-zero” roulette wheel has 37 pockets. This design forms what is known as the European roulette table. Each pocket is a number from green 0 to #36

American: Double Zero

The “double-zero” roulette wheel is found on the American roulette table. Double-zero means that this version of the roulette wheel has two green zeros, i.e. one pocket has a single-zero (0), and the other pocket displays double zeros (00)

French: Half Back on Green Zero

Like the European roulette wheel, the French roulette table also has 37 numbers on the wheel. But on French roulette, the house edge is lowered for outside bets. When any of the (even-money) outside bets lose due to a green zero outcome, players only lose half of their wager.

The Different Types of Bets on a Roulette Table Layout

In this section, I explain what the roulette table betting options are. And I highlight some interesting information about roulette numbers and betting odds.

Outside of America, the most common roulette table layout is the European-style single zero wheel. But did you know that if you play on a double-zero roulette table, all payout odds are the same as single-zero games.

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Roulette Main Bet Types

There’re nine main types of roulette bets. The first two bets are:

• Any of the six Outside bets pay 1:1. The even-money chance bets each have a 50/50 share of Red or Black, Low or High, Even or Odd numbers

• And six Column and Dozen bets pay 2:1. There’re three columns and three dozens

As you can see, the 1st Column numbers also have an equal share of Red or Black, Low or High, Even or Odd numbers: 1-4-7-10-13-16-19-22-25-28-31-34

However, with the 2nd and 3rd columns, the distribution of colors is different.

• The 2nd column has four red numbers and eight black numbers

• The 3rd column has four black numbers and eight red numbers

But this is only important if you’re playing certain kinds of roulette strategies that require you to apply specific bet selections.

When green zero is the result, the la partage (on French roulette table rules)—that pays half of your losses back on outside bets—doesn’t apply to 2-to-1 column or dozen bets.

When making large wagers on the 2-to-1 options, as an insurance, you could also bet on zero by an amount that should zero occur you can recover your stake.

• Single (straight-up) bets pay 35-to-1. Place chips directly above any number so that it doesn’t touch any lines

• Split bets pay 17-to-1. Place chips on an inner grid line that separates any two numbers. On a single-zero roulette table layout there’re 45 possible split bets

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• Street bets pay 11-to-1. Bet on any of the 12 grid lines so that chips are opposite any three vertical numbers. E.g. 28-29-30

• Trio bets pay 11-to-1. Bet on the T grid lines so that chips are shared between 0-1-2 or 0-2-3

• Corner (square) bets pay 8-to-1. Place chips in the centre of two inner grid lines that form a plus sign, thus chips are shared between 4 numbers. E.g. 32-33-35-36. There’re 22 possible corner bets

• Basket bet pays 8-to-1. It covers 0-1-2-3 and chips are placed on the outer T grid lines where 0 and 1 are

• Six Line bets pay 5-to-1. This bet covers six numbers: two sets of side-by-side three vertical numbers. E.g. 16-17-18: 19-20-21. Place chips on the outer T grid lines beside the two of the six numbers closest to that line. i.e. using the above example those numbers are 16 & 19. There’re 11 possible six-line bets.

Focus on the outcomes of roulette games and try to predict where the ball might fall next. Don’t get too fixated with the many bet types on a roulette table or trying to will certain numbers to win. The random nature of roulette games doesn’t always deliver wins on a roulette table when you need them to.

Additional Bets in French and European Roulette

“Voisins du Zero,” “Tiers du Cylindre,” and “Orphelins” are specific sections of the roulette wheel where players can place bets in the game of roulette:

• Voisins du Zero: This bet covers a total of 17 numbers on the roulette wheel, located next to the zero (0) on the wheel. It includes numbers 22 to 25 on the wheel, starting from 22 and moving clockwise to include all numbers up to 25. The bet consists of a combination of split and corner bets.

• Tiers du Cylindre: Translated as “third of the wheel,” this bet covers one-third of the wheel opposite the zero. It includes a series of 12 numbers located on the opposite side of the wheel compared to the Voisins du Zero bet. The numbers covered in this bet range from 27 to 33 on the wheel.

• Orphelins: This bet, known as “Orphans,” comprises the numbers not covered by the Voisins du Zero and Tiers du Cylindre bets. It covers the remaining eight numbers on the wheel not included in these two bet sections. The Orphelins bet consists of a combination of split and straight bets on the numbers 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, and 34 on the roulette wheel.

These bets are commonly found in French or European roulette and offer players additional betting options outside of standard inside and outside bets.

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What Are The Most Common Roulette Betting Strategies?

The Martingale betting system is one of the most well-known. It is often used on even-money roulette games. Players continue to double down on their unit stakes following each loss, trying to recover all earlier losses and win one unit of profit.

Throwing more and more good money after bad doesn’t work because losing streaks on roulette or any even-odds—50:50 games of chance are common.

It doesn’t matter if you’re betting opposite one of the six outside chances (Red or Black, Low or High, Even or Odd) or trying to bet with a streak. Doubling down until you run out of money or exceed the table limit is a roulette betting system the house loves.

Most roulette players don’t bet on the outside options. Rather they stick to a set of numbers or roulette strategy they make straight up bets on. And of course, the rest of the betting that takes place on a roulette table sees all other betting options wagered on.

Land-based Live Roulette vs Online Table Layouts

The beauty about playing roulette online is you can play in your own time anytime you choose without having to travel to a land-based casino.

Another advantage about online roulette is you can select auto staking. Handy if you’re betting on the same lucky numbers, outside bets or the 2-to-1 options whilst cooking or making a cup of tea.

Learning the Layout

Even-money outside betting on a French style roulette table will preserve your bankroll over roulette tables with higher house advantages. Whilst it’s fun to pick straight-up numbers on the roulette table layout, you might like to try your luck and skills on 2-to-1 bets on the roulette table too.

If you’d like to get the hang of online roulette, you can start with our list of the best free roulette games, then move on real money games at one of our top rated casinos, like Steak, or WOW Vegas. Don’t forget to check out our reviews first, to make the most of their signup bonuses!

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