Roulette is the most theatrical game on the floor. The wheel, the ball, the call — everything about it draws a crowd. It's also one of the easier games to deal once you've got the rhythm down.
The two bet families
Inside bets are placed on individual numbers or small groups. They pay big.
- Straight up (single number): 35:1
- Split (two numbers): 17:1
- Street (three numbers): 11:1
- Corner (four numbers): 8:1
- Six line (six numbers): 5:1
Outside bets are placed on large groups. They pay smaller but hit more often.
- Red/Black, Odd/Even, 1–18/19–36: 1:1
- Dozens (1–12, 13–24, 25–36) and Columns: 2:1
Colored chips
Each player gets their own color so bets don't get mixed up. When a player buys in, slide them a stack and place a marker chip on top of one of the value chips in the rack to show what their color is worth. When they cash out, replace their colored chips with regular cash chips.
The spin
- Call "place your bets."
- Spin the wheel in one direction, then release the ball in the opposite direction along the track.
- As the ball slows, call "no more bets" and wave a hand across the layout.
- When the ball drops, call out the number and color clearly: "Twenty-three, red."
- Place the dolly on the winning number.
- Sweep losing bets, then pay winners from the outside in.
Payout shortcuts
Most casino party roulette uses $1 chips for simplicity. A 5-chip straight-up win pays 175. A 3-chip corner pays 24. Build a mental library of common payouts so you're not doing math on every spin — speed matters when guests are stacked four-deep around the table.