Top Roulette Terms to Know

Even if you’ve never played it, Roulette is a game you are almost certainly familiar with. After being invented by the Frenchman Blaise Pascal in the 18th century, roulette quickly became a firm favourite among casino goers and today, can be found in almost every gaming establishment on the planet. In this article, we will explain the most important roulette terms you should know.

Variants

Several different variants of the game have evolved over the years, including American Roulette, which features an extra 00 pocket and Live Double Ball Roulette which uses two balls on the same wheel.

No matter what version you play, you’ll be presented with many unique words and phrases. Here are some of the most important roulette terms to know.

Key Roulette Terms

• American Wheel – A roulette wheel with 38 pockets instead of 37 thanks to the inclusion of an extra 00
• Choppy Game – A game where there have been no streaks appearing for quite some time
• Backtrack / Ball-Track – The outer part of the wheel that doesn’t move
• Bankroll – The total amount of money a player has set aside for gambling
• Column Bet – A wager placed on any column of 12 numbers
• Combination Bet – Where a chip(s) is placed on two or more numbers
• Corner Bet – A bet on four numbers in a segment
• Croupier – Another name for the dealer who operates the roulette game
• Dealer – The person who works for the casino that controls the game
• En Prison – A French term found in some games where landing on zero results in a player’s bet being “imprisoned” for a second spin
• European Wheel  – A roulette wheel with the standard 37 pockets and only a single zero pocket
• Even / Odd Bet  A wager placed on either even or odd numbers
• High Bet/Low Bet – A bet placed on whether the winning number will fall in the low range (1-18) or high range (19-36)
• Even Money – A bet that pays out at 1:1
• House Edge – The small mathematical edge that the casino has in roulette. In European Roulette, the house edge is about 2.7%, while in American Roulette, it’s around 5.26% due to the extra 00 pocket
• Inside Bets – Bets placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers within the main section of the table layout
• La Partage – A rule in French Roulette where if an even-money bet lands on zero, the player loses only half of their bet instead of the full amount
• Line Bet – A wager on six numbers from two rows of three
• Martingale System – A popular betting strategy where a player doubles their bet after every loss, aiming to recover losses when they eventually win
• Outside Bets – Bets placed on larger groups of numbers, such as red/black, odd/even, or column bets
• Payout – The amount of money a player receives if they win a bet, based on the odds of the wager
• Pocket – The numbered slots on the roulette wheel where the ball lands
• Progressive Betting – A betting strategy where the player increases or decreases their wager based on previous wins or losses
• Red / Black Bet – A bet on whether the winning number will be red or black
• Split Bet – A wager placed on two adjacent numbers, covering both
• Straight-Up Bet – A bet placed on a single number. This offers the highest payout in roulette at 35:1
• Street Bet – A bet on a row of three consecutive numbers on the table layout
• Red / Black Bet – A bet on a colour
• Wheel – The spinning wheel used in roulette

Roulette Etiquette

Another way to gain confidence in playing roulette is to also know the etiquette of the game. Here are a few examples to guide you:

• Placing Your Bets – Wait until the dealer announces “place your bets” before putting chips down, and be aware that betting stops when they say “no more bets.”
• Be Clear About Your Bets – Place your chips accurately and let the dealer know if you are making any special wagers
• Don’t Touch the Wheel or Ball – The dealer is the only one allowed to spin the wheel and handle the ball
• Wait for Payouts – After a winning number is announced, wait for the dealer to clear losing bets and distribute winnings before touching your chips

Beginner Tips

If you’re new to roulette, the game may seem overwhelming at first. However, now you know the terms and etiquette; with a bit of preparation and practice, you can quickly gain confidence and enjoy the experience.

To start with, it’s a good idea to begin with low-stake games and look for tables with lower minimum bets to ease into it. Even watching a few rounds before placing your first bet can help you get more of a feel for the game. And remember, the deals are there to help, so don’t hesitate to ask for explanations on rules or bets.

Confident at the Table

Learning roulette terminology and etiquette is a great first step toward mastering the game. While roulette is often thought of as a game of pure chance, knowing the different types of bets and the rules of each variation can give you a deeper understanding and help you make smarter wagers.

Whether you’re playing in a casino or online, familiarising yourself with these terms can better your experience and make you feel more confident at the table. So, the next time you place a bet on red or go for that straight-up wager, you’ll know exactly what’s happening and why.

Good luck, and may the wheel spin in your favour!