Roulette UK
A ball, a wheel and a table of bets.
- House edge2.7%
- RTP97.30%
- SkillNo
- Pace40/hr
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- House edge: 2.70% on a single-zero wheel.
- Best bet: even-money bets on a French wheel.
- Avoid: anything on a double-zero wheel.
- Skill involved: no.
AnswerA ball, a wheel and a table of bets. Which wheel you play matters far more than how you bet. The best bet is even-money bets on a French wheel.
How roulette works
- Choose a single-zero wheel.
- Place chips on numbers or outside bets.
- The wheel spins and betting closes.
- The ball lands.
- Winning bets are paid; the rest are cleared.
Bets and house edge
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Even-money, French wheel with la partage | 1 to 1 | 1.35% |
| Any bet, European wheel | 35 to 1 down to 1 to 1 | 2.70% |
| Any bet, American wheel | As above | 5.26% |
| Five-number bet, American wheel | 6 to 1 | 7.89% |
Best and worst bets
Best
Even-money bets on a French wheel.
Avoid
Anything on a double-zero wheel.
Variants
European and French wheels have one zero; American has two. Multiplier versions such as lightning-style games pay less on straight-up numbers to fund random multipliers, which lowers the RTP on those bets to about 97.1%. Auto roulette uses a real wheel without a dealer.
More on roulette
What an hour costs
| Stake | Rounds an hour | Staked | Average cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1 | About 40 | £40 | £1.08 |
| £2 | About 40 | £80 | £2.16 |
| £5 | About 40 | £200 | £5.4 |
At a house edge of 2.7%. A long-run average; any one hour can differ widely.
Three things to know
- Count the zeros before betting.
- Every bet on one wheel has the same edge.
- No system changes it.
Roulette and bonuses
Typical contribution to bonus wagering: 0% to 20%. None of the five welcome offers we list is cleared on roulette.
Where to play
All five are compared on where to play casino games.
All five, by report. Live dealer versions are covered on live casino.
| Casino | Games | Live studios | Games score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casumo | 3,500+ games | Evolution, Pragmatic Play and Playtech, plus Casumo-branded tables | 9.0/10 |
| Coral | 2,000+ games (some reports put it far higher) | Evolution, Playtech and Pragmatic Play | 8.5/10 |
| Ladbrokes | 2,000+ games | Evolution, Playtech and Pragmatic Play; around 100 live tables reported | 8.5/10 |
| PlayOJO | 2,000+ games (reports range to 7,000 and above) | Evolution, with other studios reported | 8.5/10 |
| 10bet | 2,000+ games (reports range from 1,200) | Evolution and Pragmatic Play | 8.0/10 |
More games: Video poker UK, Casino poker games UK, Live game shows UK and Live casino games UK.
Rankings, strategy and casinos: Best live casino games, Worst casino bets, Fairness and RNG, Baccarat rules and Casumo games review.
Go further: Low volatility slots UK, Video poker vs slots and European roulette UK.
House edges and RTPs are standard published figures for common rules, and are long-run averages. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What is the house edge in roulette?
2.70% on a single-zero wheel.
What is the best bet in roulette?
Even-money bets on a French wheel.
Is roulette a game of skill?
No.
Can I use a bonus on roulette?
Rarely; table and live games usually count little or nothing.