Ultimate Roulette Glossary

Roulette is a game that can be enjoyed by anyone. When played for fun, it doesn’t require in-depth knowledge to take on a few spins of the roulette wheel. For those that want to extend beyond the role of a beginner, there is more to learn.

While the concept is a simple one, the rules and the types of bets can make roulette one of the more complex casino games. and a strong understanding of roulette terminology is essential. If you’re completely new to gameplay, or want to understand roulette slang, here is an important glossary for all roulette players with the definitions of the main terms and words used in this game.

A-C

Action: An action can mean that a player is in a position to bet. Actions can also refer to the number of bets placed in a roulette session.

All-In: A player goes all-in when they stake their remaining balance on one spin of the roulette wheel.

American Roulette: This is one of the three main roulette variants. American roulette is available at most online casinos. It features red and black numbered pockets from 1-36 plus two green pockets – a single zero and a double 00.

Ball Track: This is the inner rim of the roulette wheel. The ball travels around the ball track before coming to rest in a pocket.

Bankroll : A bankroll is another term for account balance. It’s the amount of money at a player’s disposal as they sit down at the roulette table.

Bet : Money placed on a particular outcome in the game. There is a list of different roulette bets.

Bottom Track : This is the inner track of the roulette wheel. The ball travels down here before finally becoming stationary.

Call Bets: Specific betting patterns announced to the dealer in European roulette, often involving multiple numbers, such as "neighbors" or "finals."

Carre : This is one of the more common types of bets in French roulette. It’s a term specific to this variant and it is known as a corner bet in other versions.

Chip: Betting chips are common across all games, including blackjack and poker. Roulette is no exception but there is one key difference.

In physical, bricks and mortar casinos, most chips come in $10 denominations.

Cold Numbers : Cold numbers are those that haven’t come up for at least 37 spins. Remember that roulette is a game of chance, and this doesn’t mean that they won’t land on the next spin.

Lists of recent results at the roulette wheel will be clearly shown by most online casinos.

Column Bet : On a roulette wheel, there are some numbers that appear to be shown in columns. A column bet covers these, and it will pay winnings at 2-1.

Combination Bet: A wager that covers multiple numbers on the roulette table, increasing the chances of winning but with lower payout odds.

Corner Bet : Another option favoured by many roulette players is the corner bet. This is a combination of four numbers. The roulette chip is placed on the corner of those numbers, and any winnings pay at 8-1. Also called square bet, quarter, quad or carr.

Croupier / Dealer : The casino employee responsible for spinning the roulette wheel, dropping the ball, announcing the winning number, and managing bets and payouts. Online, it is only present on live roulette, on other types of online roulette it is managed by software.

D-F

D’Alembert System: A betting strategy, also called d'Alembert Strategy where players increase their bet by one unit after a loss and decrease it by one unit after a win, aiming for a balanced approach.

Dolly: A small marker placed on the winning number by the dealer to indicate the result of the spin before payouts are made. Also called 'Marker'.

Double Zero: A specific pocket on American roulette wheels marked "00" increasing the house edge compared to European roulette.

Dozens : This is similar to the column bet. Dozens bet are sequences of 12 numbers – 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36.

Double street bet : the equivalent of two adjacent street bets, also called six line bet.

En Prison : This is a bet specific to the game of French roulette. If a player stakes an even money bet and the ball lands in the zero pocket, the bet is carried over to the next spin.

European Roulette: This is the most common version of roulette, and it’s hosted by the vast majority of online casinos. Like its American counterpart, European roulette has 36 numbered pockets, alternately coloured red and black.

The key difference is that European Roulette has just one green, single zero pocket. This means that its house edge is marginally lower, and players may see this as an advantage.

Even Money Bet : This relates to any bet that is either/or. Red or black, high or low, odd or even. Winnings are paid at 1-1.

Fibonacci System : A betting strategy based on the Fibonacci sequence, where each bet is the sum of the two previous bets.

French Roulette : This version of the game largely follows the rules of European roulette. The same numbers are in play with 37 pockets on the roulette wheel. The difference lies in the En Prison and La Partage rulings.

G-M

Green Pockets : These are the zero pockets on the roulette wheel.

High or Low : One of the Even Money types of bets: on high or Low numbers. Low covers numbers 1-18 while high relates to 19-36.

High Rollers: Players who place very large bets, often in exclusive or VIP sections of the casino.

House Edge : The mathematical advantage that the casino has over the players.

Hot Numbers : As a contrast to cold numbers, these will appear in a higher ratio than mathematical probability dictates.

Inside Bet: Bets placed on the number grid of the roulette table, including bets on individual numbers and small groups of numbers.

Labouchère System: A betting strategy, also called Labouchére sequence where the player increases or decreases their bet based on a sequence of numbers.

La Partage : A rule appearing most commonly in French roulette. Here, half the stake is paid as winnings if the ball lands in the zero pocket.

Negative Progression: A betting strategy where players increase their bet after each loss, with the idea of recovering previous losses once they win.

Neighbours : A bet on several numbers. They are known as neighbours in any roulette game as they are situated alongside each other.

Martingale System : A roulette betting strategy where a player doubles their bet after every loss.

Mini Roulette: A variation of roulette with fewer numbers, typically 13 instead of 37 or 38, offering a faster-paced game with slightly different odds.

Mucker: A casino employee responsible for collecting and arranging chips on the table after each round of betting.

O-P

Odd or Even : An Even Money bet on whether the roulette ball will land in an odd or even numbered pocket.

Online Roulette : A digital version of the classic casino game, played over the internet.

Outside Bet : Bets placed outside the number grid, including bets on larger groups of numbers like dozens, columns, and even/odd.

Payout : The amount of money won on a bet. It's calculated based on the odds of the particular bet.

Pockets: The numbered compartments on the roulette wheel where the ball can land, each corresponding to a number on the betting layout.

Positive Progression: A betting system where players increase their bet size after a win, aiming to maximize profits during winning streaks.

Racetrack : An additional betting layout found on roulette tables, designed to represent the actual sequence of numbers on the roulette wheel. It allows players to place "Announced Bets" like Voisins du Zero, Tiers du Cylindre, Orphans, and Neighbours bets more easily.

Red or Black : Another Even Money bet: the stake is simply on either a red or black pocket.

Six Line Bet : Another term for a double street bet.

Split Bet : A bet on two numbers that sit side by side in the betting area is a split bet. Also called cheval bet in french roulette.

Straight Up Bet : A bet on a single number

T-Z

Table Layout: The marked area on the roulette table where players place their bets, including numbers, colors, and outside bets like columns or dozens.

Tiers Du Cylindre: A specific bet covering 12 numbers on the roulette wheel, known as the "third of the wheel" bet in European roulette.

Toke: A tip or gratuity given to the dealer by players, often when they win a significant bet.

Voisins du Zero (Neighbors of Zero): A bet on the numbers neighboring zero on the wheel, covering numbers from 22 to 25.

Wheel : The circular device where the ball is spun to determine the winning number.

Zero : The number 0 on the wheel. In European roulette, there's one zero, and in American roulette, there's also a double zero (00).

What Next?

Roulette can be an exciting game, and that is evidenced by the fact that it is one of the busiest areas of any casino. It’s played at a fast pace, and there are many combinations of bets that can be placed.

Before stepping up to the roulette table, it’s vital to understand the rules of the game. For those starting out, this glossary of terms will be essential whether playing European roulette or any other version of the game.

It’s also possible to play roulette on a trial basis. Many online casinos offer demo play on their platform. With no money at stake, it’s not possible to emerge with any winnings, but this is a good opportunity to practise the types of bets available before developing a gambling strategy that you are comfortable with.

We have a list of the best casinos for roulette available for our players.