Roulette is one of the most popular online casino games around and there are plenty of exclusive tables to choose 👍 from at William Hill. If you’re new to the game, it might be worth learning some key terms before you 👍 play.
From basic roulette strategy and rules to advanced terminology, become a roulette expert with our comprehensive glossary of roulette betting 👍 terms and definitions.
Roulette Terms for Beginners
Action
The total amount bet over a given session.
All-in
When a player bets their whole pot on 👍 one bet.
American Roulette
The most common version of roulette in North, Central and South America. The roulette wheel features an extra 👍 green pocket for the double zero (00), and has a higher ‘House Edge’ (see below) than European Roulette.
Bankroll
Your budget for 👍 the roulette session (often in ‘credits’). Always play within your limits.
Bet on the Layout
A wager placed anywhere on the numbered 👍 portion of the table (see Table Layout).
Block Bet
A bet covering a group of numbers on the roulette wheel (see Orphelins).
Column 👍 Bet
A bet on one of the three columns of 12 numbers on the layout. Pays 2 to 1. Similar to 👍 a ‘Dozen Bet’. Also known as ‘Colonne’ in French Roulette.
Combination Bet
A bet on two or more numbers on the layout. 👍 Pays out less than single number bets, but can increase the player’s chances of winning.
Corner Bet
A bet on four numbers 👍 in a segment on the layout. Pays 8 to 1. Also known as a ‘Square Bet’ or ‘Quarter Bet’, or 👍 ‘Carre’ in French Roulette.
Croupier
French for ‘dealer’. The casino employee who oversees the play at live roulette tables – taking bets, 👍 spinning the wheel, and paying out winnings.
Double Zero
The extra green pocket on an American Roulette wheel marked ‘00’. American Roulette 👍 can also be known as ‘Double Zero Roulette’.
Dozen Bet
A bet on one of the three sequences of 12 numbers on 👍 the layout: 1 through 12, 13 through 24, or 25 through 36. Pays 2 to 1. Similar to a ‘Column 👍 Bet’. Also known as ‘Douzaine’ in French Roulette.
European Roulette
The most common version of roulette in Europe and Asia. The roulette 👍 wheel features a green single-zero (0) pocket, and has a lower House Edge than American Roulette.
Even Bet
A wager that one 👍 of the even numbers will win. Also known as ‘Pair’ in French Roulette.
Even Money Bet
An Outside Bet (like red or 👍 black) that covers half the table. Pays out 1 to 1.
French Roulette
A variant of European Roulette which may offer ‘La 👍 Partage’ or ‘En Prison’ rules. See ‘Advanced Roulette Terminology’ below for more French variations and definitions.
High Bet
A wager that one 👍 of the high numbers (19-36) will win. Also known as ‘Passe’ in French Roulette.
House Edge
The mathematical advantage that the casino 👍 has on each bet, often expressed as a percentage.
Inside Bet
A bet on any of the numbers in the table layout. 👍 E.g. ‘Single Number Bets’, ‘Corner Bets’ etc.
Line Bet
A wager that one of six numbers (two rows of three numbers separated 👍 by a line on the layout) will win. Pays out 5 to 1. Also known as a ‘Six Number/Line Bet’, 👍 or ‘Sixainne’ in French Roulette.
Low Bet
A wager that one of the low numbers (1-18) will win. Also known as ‘Manque’ 👍 in French Roulette.
Marker or Dolly
The object/device placed on the winning number. Players can’t place new bets until this marker gets 👍 removed from the table.
Mini Roulette
A version of roulette with a smaller wheel and only 13 numbers (0-12) instead of 37.
Odd 👍 Bet
A wager that one of the odd numbers will win. Also known as ‘Impair’ in French Roulette.
Odds
The likelihood of an 👍 outcome happening. E.g. ‘Even Money Bets’ pay out at 1 to 1, meaning the player has an equal chance of 👍 winning or losing, where the amount won is the same as the amount bet.
Outside Bet
A bet made on the ‘outside’ 👍 of the table layout (i.e. not the single numbers). E.g. red/black, odd/even, dozens, columns etc.
Pockets
The small slots on the roulette 👍 wheel where the ball will eventually land, denoted by numbers 1-36. Half the pockets are red, half are black, and 👍 zero (0) slots are green.
Red Bet
An even money ‘Outside Bet’ that the next number will be red. Pays 1 to 👍 1.
Split Bet
A single bet that one of two numbers will win. The player bets by placing the chip on the 👍 single line between two numbers on the layout. Pays out at 17 to 1. Also known as ‘Cheval’ in French 👍 Roulette.
Straight Up Bet
An ‘Inside Bet’ on one number. Pays out at relatively high odds of 35 to 1. Also known 👍 as ‘En Plein’ in French Roulette.
Street Bet
A bet on a row of three numbers on the table layout. Pays out 👍 at 11 to 1. Also known as a ‘Triple Bet’ or ‘Trio Bet’, or ‘Transversale’ in French Roulette.
Table Layout
There are 👍 two main types of tables with slightly different layouts: American and French. See the numbers portion of the table for 👍 ‘Inside Bets’, and 2 to 1 or ‘Even Money Bets’ on the ‘outside’ of the roulette table layout.
Wager
Another term for 👍 ‘bet’.
Wheel
The roulette wheel. Did you know the word ‘roulette’ is actually French for ‘small wheel’?
Zero
The green space marked ‘0’ on 👍 all roulette wheels. American Roulette wheels also feature a double zero (00) pocket, increasing the House Edge.
Advanced Roulette Terminology
A Stack
20 👍 chips stacked on top of each other
Back Track/Ball Track
The stationary outer rim where the ball spins before dropping into the 👍 roulette wheel.
Biased Numbers
A roulette wheel in a land-based casino or live studio that has an imperfection, causing certain numbers to 👍 appear with greater frequency (also called Big, Golden or Hot Numbers).
Black Action
A wager made with a black ($100) chip.
Bottom Track
The 👍 slanting, inner area of the wheel which the ball falls into, before it lands in a pocket. Part of the 👍 wheel head’s spinning base.
Carre
A French term meaning ‘Corner Bet’, ‘Square Bet’, or ‘Quarter Bet’.
Cheval
A French term meaning ‘Split Bet’.
Cold Table/Cold 👍 Numbers
A table where players have been losing/the house is winning. Any numbers that haven’t landed for at least 37 spins 👍 are known as ‘Cold Numbers’.
Colonne
A French term meaning ‘Column Bet’.
Derniere
A French term referring to the last group of 12 numbers 👍 in a ‘Dozen Bet’.
Douzaine
A French term meaning ‘Dozen Bet’.
En Plein
A French term meaning ‘Straight Up Bet’.
En Prison
A French term meaning 👍 ‘in prison’; the ‘surrender rule’. Applies to some even-money wagers in European Roulette. When the outcome is ‘0’, the player 👍 can either take back half their bet, or leave it ‘in prison’ for an extra spin – and a chance 👍 to return the bet fully.
Five Number Bet
A bet covering the 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 in American Roulette. Also 👍 known as a top-line bet.
Impair
A French term meaning ‘Odd Bet’.
La Partage
Similar to ‘En Prison’, except the player gets half their 👍 bet back if the ball lands on ‘0’.
Nickel
AR$5 chip that is usually red.
Orphelins (Orphans)
A bet on a specific group of 👍 numbers that are neighbours on the wheel, but are split apart on the table layout. A type of ‘Block Bet’.
Pair
A 👍 French term meaning ‘Even Bet’.
Parlay
When players double their bet after a win. An example of ‘Positive Progression’.
Passe
A French term meaning 👍 ‘High Bet’.
Positive Progression
A system where players increase their bets after a win.
Premiere
A French term meaning ‘first’. The first group of 👍 12 numbers (1-12) in a Dozen Bet.
Random Number Generators (RNGs)
Mathematical programs in computer-based casino games that determine game outcomes.
Section Slicing
Dividing 👍 the roulette wheel into hot/cold sections to try and spot ‘Biased Numbers’.
Sixainne
A French term meaning ‘Six Line Bet’ or ‘Six 👍 Number Bet’.
The Devil’s Game
Ever wonder why some people call roulette The Devil’s Game? Add all the wheel numbers together from 👍 1 to 36, and you’ll get 666 – the ‘number of the beast’.
Tiers Du Cylindre
A French term meaning ‘one third 👍 of the wheel’. Like Orphelins and Voisins du Zero, this involves betting on a particular group of numbers on a 👍 section of the roulette wheel, which correspond to paired numbers on the table layout.
Transversale
A French term meaning ‘Street Bet’ – 👍 a ‘Triple’ or ‘Trio Bet.
Voisins du Zero
A French term meaning ‘Neighbours of Zero’. A wager on a particular group of 👍 17 numbers between 22 and 25 on the wheel which ‘neighbour’ the zero.
Ready to jump into the action and take 👍 your seat at the table? Check out our wide range of online roulette games at William Hill.
Or want to see 👍 our roulette terms in action? Here’s our beginner’s guide to roulette.
