Understanding the Roulette Table Layout

28th August 2025 Author Image Fruity king
roulette-table-1
Rate this post

Understanding the roulette table layout is crucial before placing inside or outside bets on this legendary table game. While you might be slightly confused when looking at a roulette table and wheel for the first time, you’ll quickly get the hang of things.

Here, we help you understand the roulette table layout by explaining what each section is for and how to place corresponding bets. We then introduce you to the 40+ UK roulette games at Fruity King that you can play for real-money prizes. 

The Basics: Introducing the Roulette Table Layout 

The first thing to know about the roulette table layout is that there are two aspects: the wheel and the table itself. The roulette wheel has 37 or 38 pockets, depending on the variant you’re playing. When the game begins, a ball enters the spinning wheel and lands in a red, black, or green pocket. 

The corresponding table is where you can place your bets on the outcome of the wheel spin. Inside, outside, and special bets are all offered with various odds and payout potential. 

The Sections on the Roulette Table 

Regardless of which type of roulette you play, you’ll find the following sections on the table: 

Numbered Sections 

The main section of the roulette table consists of 36 red and black numbers. These numbers correspond with those in the roulette wheel. You can place a straight-up bet by placing your chips on the respective number on the table. 

Above the red and black number grid, you’ll see the single zero (French or European roulette) or the double zero (American roulette). You can place your chip on the green section to bet on zero or double zero, respectively. 

Red or Black 

Place a chip on a red diamond to cover all red numbers, or put a chip on the black diamond to cover all black numbers. 

Odd or Even 

Next to the diamonds are the words ‘Odd’ and ‘Even.’ Placing a chip on odd covers all odd numbers (3, 5, 7, etc) on the roulette wheel, while putting a chip on even covers all even numbers on the roulette wheel (2, 4, 6, etc.).

1-18 and 19-36 

There are two boxes for low and high number bets. You can place a chip on 1 to 18 or 19 to 36, which covers all wheel numbers within that range. 

Thirds (Dozens)

Instead of splitting the roulette wheel into two, you can split it into three. Place your chips on the first 12 (1-12), the second 12 (13-24), or the third 12 (25-36), which covers all wheel numbers within that segment.

Columns 

The final section on the roulette table is for column bets, identified by the 2:1 boxes. You can place your chips on any of the 2:1 boxes, which will activate a wager on the respective column of numbers above. 

Layout Differences: American, French, & European Roulette 

Before we get into the specific bets, odds, and potential payouts, we must mention slight differences in the table layouts of French, European, and American roulette. 

The most significant difference is that American roulette has an additional green pocket for double zero. The betting area also includes a five-number bet, unique to this variant. 

French roulette features an extra section called the racetrack that is not usually found in standard European and American roulette. 

This area features call bets, such as Voisins du Zero, Tiers du Cylindre, and Orphelins, unique to the game. As you might expect, much of the writing in this variant is in French, not English. 

Also worth noting is that roulette tables may come in different colours. European and French roulette tend to be played on green felt, while American roulette is often played on a blue surface. 

Roulette House Edge, Bets, Payouts & Odds 

roulette-table-2
So, you’re now aware of the layout of the roulette table and the relationship between the table and the wheel. The house edge in each roulette variant differs as follows: 

Variant  Average House Edge 
French Roulette  1.35%
European Roulette 2.70% 
American Roulette  5.26% 

American roulette’s higher house edge is primarily due to the additional zero. You lose all bets if the ball lands on zero or double zero (unless you put a chip on either, in which case they win like you would any straight-up bet).

French roulette’s lower house edge is attributed to the La Partage and En Prison rules, offering a second chance if the ball lands on zero. Because of this, we recommend beginning with French or European game variants. 

When you’re ready to play, decide which bets to place. We covered the sections of the roulette table above, but now it’s time to look at the different bet types, their odds, and how much you can potentially win: 

Inside Bets 

Inside bets are wagers on specific numbers on the inside of the table. This includes straight-up bets on one number, split bets on two adjacent numbers, and others like street and corner bets. 

These wagers have the highest potential payouts in roulette, as they’re the least likely to come in. The table below shows the potential payout and the odds of each wager in French, European, and American roulette to inform your strategy: 

Inside Bet  Payout  European & French odds  American odds 
Straight bet  35:1 2.7%  2.6% 
Split bet  17:1 5.4% 5.3%
Street bet  11:1 8.1% 7.9%
Corner bet  8:1 10.8% 10.5%
Double street bet 5:1 16.2% 15.8%

Outside Bets 

Outside bets relate to the outer sections of the roulette table. Most of these are even money bets, excluding the dozen and column wagers, which pay 2:1. 

If your strategy involves bankroll preservation, outside bets are a good option, as they’re more likely to come in than inside bets. Here’s a table for the odds and payouts you can expect from each outside bet in roulette: 

Outside Bet  Payout  European & French odds American odds 
Red or black 1:1 48.65% 47.37%
Odd or even  1:1 48.65% 47.37%
High or low 1:1 48.65% 47.37%
Column  2:1 32.40% 31.60%
Dozen  2:1 32.40% 31.60%

Racetrack Bets 

You can place racetrack bets in French roulette and other special game variants. These are sometimes known as call bets, and include the following: 

  • Voisins du Zero: This bet covers 17 numbers on the wheel that lie closest to zero. It has an approximate 45% chance of winning and payouts ranging from 1:1 to 16:1, depending on the bets that win. 
  • Tiers du Cylindre: This bet covers one-third of the wheel, specifically the numbers opposite zero, for 12 numbers. It has a 32.43% chance of winning.
  • Orphelins: This wager covers the eight numbers not included in the Voisins du Zero and Tiers du Cylindre bets. It has a 21.6% chance of winning.
  • Neighbours: This is a bet on the neighbours of a specific number, covering five in total for a 13.5% winning chance. 

La Partage & En Prison 

French roulette also offers La Partage and En Prison rules. La Partage means “the divide”, and when the ball lands on zero, you only lose half your bet. The En Prison rule, which only applies to even-odds bets like odd/even or red/black, imprisons your wager for the next round if a zero lands, giving you another chance of winning your bet. 

The Best Roulette Games at Fruity King 

We stock over 40 roulette games at Fruity King, offering RNG and live dealer gameplay. Announced Bets European Roulette is one of our most popular table games, while 10p Roulette has cult-like status in the UK, supporting low limit wagers. 

If you prefer the engaging nature of live roulette, we recommend Evolution’s Immersive Roulette or Playtech’s French Roulette Live. Evolution’s First-Person Roulette is a bridge between RNG and live gameplay, with outstanding graphics and the option to switch to live betting anytime. 

For roulette with multipliers and special features, check out the excellent Red Door Roulette, or play 9 Masks of Fire Roulette for something unique and exciting. 

Why Play Roulette at Fruity King? 

Fruity King is the UK’s favourite online casino for classic and live roulette. We have a brilliant selection of RNG and live roulette titles, covering all bases. 

Sign up for Fruity King today, deposit cash, and play roulette for real-money prizes. Unlock your welcome offer for a deposit match and free spins before playing roulette. Terms and conditions apply. Always remember to gamble responsibly. Visit our Safe Play Hub for more information.

FAQs

The racetrack is a separate section of the roulette table via which you can place specific call bets, introduced above.
A roulette table features sections for the following bets: numbers, red/black, odd/even, low/high, columns, and thirds (dozens).
To bet in roulette, place your chips on the desired segment on the table next to the wheel. This is true of land-based and online roulette.