Roulette Terms Explained: A-to-Z Glossary of Every Bet and Rule

Roulette has a language of its own, and this glossary covers it in full. It includes the core roulette terms you’ll encounter at the table, in game menus, and in roulette strategy guides, including French-origin words that appear in European and French Roulette.

Use it as a reference for any roulette word or phrase you come across, whether you’re new to the game or looking to sharpen your vocabulary.

Roulette Glossary A–Z

American Roulette

The most common version of roulette in North, Central, and South America. The wheel features an extra green pocket for the double zero (00), which gives the casino a higher House Edge than European Roulette.

Announced Bets

A bet where the player announces a named grouping of numbers before placing chips. Announced Bets are closely associated with French Roulette and are often used interchangeably with Call Bets, though some casinos distinguish between the two based on whether credit is extended.

Back Track / Ball Track

The stationary outer rim where the ball spins before dropping into the wheel.

Bankroll

The money set aside for a roulette session, often measured in credits. Always play within your limits.

Bet on the Layout

A wager placed anywhere on the numbered portion of the table.

Biased Numbers

Numbers that appear more often than expected due to a physical imperfection in a land-based or live studio wheel. Also referred to as Hot Numbers.

Block Bet

A bet covering a group of numbers on the roulette wheel. Orphelins is an example of a Block Bet.

Call Bets

A French Roulette betting style where the player calls out a named group of numbers – such as Voisins du Zéro or Tiers du Cylindre – rather than placing each chip individually. The term is often used alongside Announced Bets.

Carré

A French term meaning Corner Bet, Square Bet, or Quarter Bet.

Cheval

A French term meaning Split Bet.

Cold Numbers / Cold Wheel

Numbers that have appeared less frequently than others over a recent run of spins, or have not appeared for a while. The term is descriptive rather than mathematically fixed, so casinos and players may use different time frames.

Column Bet

A bet on one of the three vertical columns of 12 numbers on the layout. Pays 2 to 1. Also known as Colonne in French Roulette.

Combination Bet

A bet on two or more numbers on the layout. It pays less than a single-number bet but covers more of the wheel.

Corner Bet

A bet on four numbers that share a corner on the layout. Pays 8 to 1. Also known as Square Bet, Quarter Bet, or Carré in French Roulette.

Croupier

The casino employee who runs a live roulette table – taking bets, spinning the wheel, and paying out winnings. The word is French for dealer.

Dernière

A French term referring to the last group of 12 numbers (25–36) in a Dozen Bet.

Devil’s Game

A nickname for roulette, sometimes linked to the fact that the numbers 1 through 36 sum to 666.

Dolly / Marker

The object placed on the winning number after the ball lands. No new bets can be placed until the dolly is removed from the table.

Double Zero

The extra green pocket marked 00 on an American Roulette wheel. Its presence increases the House Edge. American Roulette is sometimes called Double Zero Roulette for this reason.

Dozen Bet

A bet on one of three sequences of 12 numbers: 1–12, 13–24, or 25–36. Pays 2 to 1. Also known as Douzaine in French Roulette.

En Plein

A French term meaning Straight Up Bet.

En Prison

A French Roulette rule, also called the surrender rule. When the ball lands on 0 on an even-money wager, the player can either take back half their bet or leave it “in prison” for one more spin.

European Roulette

The most common version of roulette in Europe and Asia. The wheel has a single green zero (0) pocket, giving it a lower House Edge than American Roulette.

Even Bet

A wager that the winning number will be even. Also known as Pair in French Roulette.

Even Money Bet

An Outside Bet – such as red or black – that covers roughly half the table. Pays 1 to 1.

Five Number Bet

A bet covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 in American Roulette. Also known as a top-line bet.

French Roulette

A variant of European Roulette that may include La Partage or En Prison rules. It uses French-origin names for many bets, several of which appear throughout standard roulette terminology.

High Bet (19-36)

A wager that the winning number will be between 19 and 36. Also known as Passe in French Roulette.

House Edge

The mathematical advantage the casino holds on each bet, expressed as a percentage. It varies by game variant – European Roulette has a lower House Edge than American Roulette. See our guide to roulette odds for a full breakdown by bet type.

Impair

A French term meaning Odd Bet.

Inside Bet

A bet placed on the numbered section of the table layout. Straight Up Bets, Split Bets, Street Bets, and Corner Bets are all Inside Bets.

La Partage

A French Roulette rule similar to En Prison. If the ball lands on 0, the player automatically receives half their even-money bet back.

Line Bet

A bet covering six numbers arranged across two adjacent rows on the layout. It pays 5 to 1.

Low Bet (1-18)

A wager that the winning number will be between 1 and 18. Also known as Manque in French Roulette.

Manque

A French term meaning Low Bet.

Mini Roulette

A roulette variant played on a smaller wheel with fewer numbers than standard roulette. The exact number of pockets varies by version, so the rules and payouts should be checked for the specific game.

Odd Bet

A wager that the winning number will be odd. Also known as Impair in French Roulette.

Odds

The probability of a given outcome. In roulette, this should not be confused with payout odds.

Orphelins

A French term for a bet on a group of numbers that sit close together on the wheel but are spread apart on the table layout. It is a type of Block Bet.

Outside Bet

A bet placed on the outer section of the table layout rather than on individual numbers. Red or black, odd or even, dozens, and columns are all Outside Bets.

Pair

A French term meaning Even Bet.

Passe

A French term meaning High Bet.

Pockets

The numbered slots on the roulette wheel where the ball lands. In standard roulette, pockets run from 1 to 36, with half in red and half in black, plus at least one green zero pocket.

Positive Progression

A betting approach in which the player increases their stake after each win.

Première

A French term meaning first – specifically the first group of 12 numbers (1–12) in a Dozen Bet.

Random Number Generators (RNGs)

Mathematical programs that determine outcomes in computer-based casino games, ensuring each spin is independent and unpredictable.

Red Bet

An even-money Outside Bet that the next winning number will be red. Pays 1 to 1.

Section Slicing

The practice of dividing the roulette wheel into segments to look for patterns in hot or cold numbers. Often used in the search for Biased Numbers.

Sectors

Fixed sections of the roulette wheel used to define group bets. Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, and Orphelins each correspond to a specific sector of the wheel.

Sixainne

An alternative French-style term sometimes used for the same six-number bet, though it is less standard than “line bet” or “six number bet.”

Split Bet

A bet on two adjacent numbers, placed on the line between them on the layout. Pays 17 to 1. Also known as Cheval in French Roulette.

Straight Up Bet

A bet on a single number. Pays 35 to 1. Also known as En Plein in French Roulette.

Street Bet

A bet on a row of three numbers on the layout. Pays 11 to 1. Also known as Triple Bet, Trio Bet, or Transversale in French Roulette.

Table Layout

The printed surface of the roulette table showing all the bet types. The numbered grid in the centre is used for Inside Bets; the surrounding areas are for Outside Bets such as dozens, columns, and even-money wagers.

Tiers du Cylindre

A French term meaning one third of the wheel. It refers to a group bet covering roughly a third of the wheel opposite the zero, corresponding to paired numbers on the layout. Like Orphelins and Voisins du Zéro, it is placed as a Call Bet.

Transversale

A French term meaning Street Bet.

Voisins du Zéro

A French term meaning Neighbours of Zero. It covers a group of 17 numbers that sit around the zero on the wheel, placed as a multi-chip Call Bet.

Wager

Another word for bet.

Wheel

The spinning disc at the heart of roulette. The word roulette comes from French and is commonly translated as ‘small wheel.’

Zero

The green pocket marked 0 on roulette wheels; American roulette also includes 00.

Key Roulette Terms at a Glance

• American Roulette – the version with a double zero (00) and a higher House Edge.
• European Roulette – the single-zero version with a lower House Edge.
• French Roulette – a European variant that may include La Partage or En Prison rules.
• Inside Bet – a wager on the numbered section of the layout, including single numbers and combinations.
• Outside Bet – a wager on the outer section of the layout, such as red/black, odd/even, or dozens.
• Straight Up Bet – a single-number bet paying 35 to 1.
• House Edge – the casino’s built-in mathematical advantage on every bet.
• En Prison / La Partage – French Roulette rules that reduce the cost of a zero outcome on even-money bets.

Ready to put these terms to use? Explore our full range of online roulette games, or work through our beginner’s guide to roulette to see the vocabulary in action.