Roulette betting means placing chips on a layout to predict where a small ball will come to rest on a spinning wheel. It is one of the most recognisable games on any casino floor, partly because it offers dozens of different ways to bet, from a single number to large groups of numbers. This guide explains how those bets work, what each one pays, the real odds behind them and the rules that apply in New Zealand. The aim is to help you understand the game clearly. Roulette is a game of pure chance: every spin is independent, and no bet or system changes the built-in advantage the casino holds.
Key Facts
- Game type: Casino game of chance (spinning wheel and ball)
- Standard wheel in NZ: European single-zero, 37 pockets (0–36)
- House edge: 2.70% (European) / 5.26% (American double-zero)
- Top payout: 35 to 1 on a single number (Straight Up)
- Even-money bets: Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low – pay 1 to 1
- Minimum age (NZ casinos): 20
- Regulator: Department of Internal Affairs and the Gambling Commission
- Key fact: Every spin is independent – no bet or system changes the odds
How roulette betting works
A roulette wheel used in New Zealand is almost always the European single-zero wheel, which has 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36. The numbers 1 to 36 are coloured red or black in equal measure, and the single 0 is green. The betting layout on the table repeats those numbers in a grid, with extra boxes around the edge for larger groups. You buy chips, place them on the layout before the ball is released, and are paid if the ball lands on a number your bet covers.
Bets fall into two broad families. Inside bets sit on or between the numbers in the grid: they are harder to hit but pay more. Outside bets sit in the boxes around the edge and cover large blocks of numbers: they hit far more often but pay less. A third group, call bets, covers physical sections of the wheel rather than parts of the grid. The American double-zero wheel, which adds a second green pocket (00), is rare in New Zealand and carries a worse edge for the player, so this guide focuses on the European game.
Inside bets and their payouts
Inside bets target individual numbers or small clusters. Because they cover few pockets, they win rarely but pay the most. The classic example is the Straight Up bet on one number, which pays 35 to 1. Players who want a little more coverage can place a chip on the line shared by two, three, four or six numbers.
- Straight Up – one number, pays 35 to 1 (about a 2.7% chance per spin).
- Split – two adjoining numbers, pays 17 to 1.
- Street – a row of three numbers, pays 11 to 1.
- Corner – four numbers meeting at a corner, pays 8 to 1.
- Six Line – two adjoining rows (six numbers), pays 5 to 1.
These payouts are standard across reputable casinos. The full set, with the approximate chance of winning on a European wheel, is laid out in the table below.
Bet Types and Payouts
| Bet | Numbers covered | Payout | Approx. win chance (European) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up (inside) | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Split (inside) | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.4% |
| Street (inside) | 3 | 11 to 1 | 8.1% |
| Corner (inside) | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.8% |
| Six Line (inside) | 6 | 5 to 1 | 16.2% |
| Dozen / Column (outside) | 12 | 2 to 1 | 32.4% |
| Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low (outside) | 18 | 1 to 1 | 48.6% |
Outside bets and even-money wagers
Outside bets cover large groups of numbers and are the most common choice for players who want frequent, smaller wins. The best known are the even-money bets, so called because they pay 1 to 1: Red or Black, Odd or Even, and High (19–36) or Low (1–18). Each covers 18 numbers. Dozens (1–12, 13–24, 25–36) and Columns each cover 12 numbers and pay 2 to 1.
Even-money bets do not cover quite half the wheel, because the green 0 belongs to neither colour and is neither odd, even, high nor low. On a European wheel each even-money bet wins on 18 of 37 pockets, a touch under 49%. If the ball lands on 0, a standard table takes the whole even-money stake.
How the zero affects even-money bets
Some tables soften the loss on 0 with a rule called La Partage, which returns half of a losing even-money stake when the ball lands on zero. Where it applies, this lowers the house edge on those bets from 2.70% to 1.35%. A related rule, En Prison, instead ‘imprisons’ the stake for the next spin. These rules apply only to even-money bets and only where the table posts them, so check the sign before assuming either is in play.
Call bets and the racetrack
Many tables include a ‘racetrack’ – an oval diagram that lists the numbers in the order they physically appear on the wheel rather than on the grid. It is used for call bets (also called announced bets), which cover a contiguous arc of the wheel using several chips at once. These bets originate in French roulette and are common on European tables.
- Voisins du Zéro (neighbours of zero) – 17 numbers around the 0, placed with 9 chips.
- Tiers du Cylindre (third of the wheel) – the 12 numbers opposite the zero, placed with 6 chips.
- Orphelins (orphans) – the 8 numbers not covered by the other two groups, placed with 5 chips.
- Jeu Zéro (zero game) – 7 numbers close to the zero, placed with 4 chips.
You announce the bet to the dealer, who repeats it to confirm and places the chips on the racetrack for you. A call bet changes which numbers you cover, but it does not change the odds: the edge is the same as placing those same chips on the grid.
The house edge and the maths behind roulette
The house edge is the gap between the true odds of a result and the odds the table actually pays. On a European wheel there are 37 possible outcomes, yet a winning single number pays only 35 to 1. That difference produces a house edge of 2.70% on virtually every bet – the casino expects to keep about NZ$2.70 of every NZ$100 wagered over the long run. On an American double-zero wheel the same logic produces a 5.26% edge, which is why the European wheel is better for players. If you want the fuller picture, see our analysis of the casino house edge.
Two points follow from the maths and are worth stating plainly:
- Every spin is independent. The wheel has no memory, so a colour or number is never ‘due’. Believing otherwise is the gambler’s fallacy, and the ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ number boards on modern tables are entertainment, not a prediction tool.
- Betting systems do not beat the edge. Martingale (doubling after a loss), D’Alembert, Fibonacci, Labouchere and Paroli change how wins and losses are spread out, but none of them lowers the 2.70% figure. Negative-progression systems such as Martingale can also run into the table maximum after a short losing streak, locking in a large loss.
Put simply, strategy in roulette is about managing how long you play and how much you stake – not about changing your odds of winning.
Roulette in New Zealand casinos
Roulette is offered at New Zealand’s small number of licensed land-based casinos, including the SkyCity venues in Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown, Christchurch Casino and Dunedin Casino. The Gambling Act 2003 caps the number of casinos and bans new ones, and all gambling is overseen by the Department of Internal Affairs, with casino conduct regulated through the Gambling Commission.
A few practical rules apply at the table:
- Minimum age 20. You must be at least 20 to be in a casino gambling area in New Zealand – higher than the 18 limit for Lotto or TAB betting.
- Colour chips. At the table you swap cash for coloured chips unique to you, so the dealer can tell whose bet is whose when several players back the same number. Exchange them for standard cash chips before you leave the table.
- Table limits. A sign shows the minimum and maximum stakes. Inside and outside minimums are often different, and the maximum caps how far any progression can run.
- ‘No more bets.’ Once the dealer calls it, do not touch the layout, and do not touch your chips until the winning marker (the ‘dolly’) is lifted.
Online casino play is changing too. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026 and will allow a limited number of licensed operators, but the licensing process was still under way during 2026 and no operator had been licensed at the time of writing. Until licences are issued, be cautious about sites claiming to be ‘NZ licensed’. If you enjoy table games, you may also like our beginner guides to casino card games for beginners, blackjack and baccarat.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Chasing losses. Increasing stakes to win back money is the fastest way to a large loss. Each spin starts fresh.
- Trusting ‘systems’ or number tracking. No pattern on the display board predicts the next result on a properly functioning wheel.
- Ignoring the wheel type. A double-zero (American) wheel nearly doubles the edge against you; prefer single-zero where you have the choice.
- Playing without limits. Decide a budget and a time limit before you start, and treat any losses as the cost of entertainment.
Responsible gambling
Roulette is a form of gambling with a permanent house edge, which means that over time the game is designed to return less than is wagered. It is entertainment, not a way to make money, and no information in this article improves your chance of winning. In New Zealand you must be 20 or older to gamble in a casino. Set a budget you can afford to lose, set a time limit, and never gamble with money needed for essentials.
If gambling is causing harm to you or someone you know, free, confidential help is available. Contact the Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655 (or free text 8006), or visit Safer Gambling Aotearoa for support and self-exclusion options. You can also read our guide to responsible gambling.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is any roulette bet better than the others?
Mathematically, no. On a European wheel almost every bet carries the same 2.70% house edge, so none is ‘better’ in the long run. Outside bets win more often for smaller returns, while inside bets win rarely but pay more. The choice is about the style of play you prefer, not about improving your odds.
What does a winning single-number bet pay?
A Straight Up bet pays 35 to 1. A NZ$10 winning bet returns NZ$350 in winnings plus your original NZ$10 stake, for NZ$360 back in total.
What happens if the ball lands on zero?
On a standard table, all bets on 1–36 and all outside bets lose, and only bets placed on the 0 (or a split or corner including it) win. If the table posts the La Partage rule, half of a losing even-money stake is returned.
Can a betting system help me win at roulette?
No. Systems such as Martingale or Fibonacci only change the pattern of your wins and losses; they cannot change the house edge. Each spin is independent, so past results never make a future result more likely.
How old do I need to be to play roulette in a New Zealand casino?
You must be at least 20 years old to be in the gambling area of a New Zealand casino, under the Gambling Act 2003. This is higher than the 18-year limit that applies to Lotto and TAB betting.
