Online Roulette in Australia: The Short Answer
Real-money online roulette cannot legally be offered to people in Australia — including live roulette streamed from a studio. Roulette in Australian casinos is legal, and it comes on three different wheels: single zero, with a house edge of 2.70%; double zero, at 5.26%; and triple zero, at 7.69%.
The wheel matters more than any betting system. Every bet on the same wheel carries the same house edge, and no staking plan changes it — as The Star’s own roulette guide puts it, “for games of chance no betting system will change the house margin”. What you can choose is the wheel, the size of your bets and how long you play.
This guide covers the law, where each wheel is found in Australian casinos, how the game works, every bet with its payout and odds, the house edge on each wheel, what popular strategies such as the Martingale actually do, and how streaks fool players. The probabilities and session figures are our own calculations from the payouts in the casinos’ approved rules.
Is Online Roulette Legal in Australia?
No. The ACMA lists “casino-style games (like poker, blackjack and roulette)” among the illegal online services that cannot be offered to people in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. No Australian licence exists for online roulette, so a site offering it to Australians is operating illegally whatever licence it shows from overseas.
Live and game-show roulette online
Live roulette is a real wheel in a studio, streamed to your screen, with bets placed online. Variants with multipliers and game-show formats work the same way. They are online casino games played for money, so the same rule applies. If an offshore site keeps your winnings, the ACMA warns that Australian regulators will not be able to help you. Our live casino guide explains who runs these studios and how they are licensed.
Electronic and automated roulette inside casinos
Inside an Australian casino, electronic and automated roulette is legal: the Interactive Gambling Act excludes electronic equipment that a licensed operator provides on its own premises. Crown Melbourne runs Rapid Roulette, a semi-automated game where players bet on terminals and the payouts follow the approved roulette rules, and Crown Perth runs electronic roulette bet on individual touch screens.
Free roulette apps
Roulette apps played with virtual chips are sold in Australian app stores. Since 22 September 2024, games with simulated gambling are classified R 18+ (Australian Classification). That rating does not make real-money online roulette legal; it only says the game is for adults.
The wider law
Our guide to whether online gambling is legal in Australia explains what is allowed online, the penalties for operators and promoters, and the payment blocking that starts on 1 January 2027.
Where to Play Roulette Legally in Australia
These are the wheels and formats described in the approved rules or official guides of the casinos we read on 10 November 2026.
| Casino | Wheels and formats | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Crown Melbourne | Single zero by default; double zero; Crown Roulette (39 compartments); French Roulette; TouchBet and TouchTable; Rapid Roulette; fully automated and virtual roulette | Crown Melbourne approved roulette rules and game guides |
| The Star Sydney | Single-zero French roulette and double-zero American roulette | The Star roulette page and guide |
| Crown Perth | Single or double zero, manual or automated wheel; electronic roulette; Fusion Roulette and Vegas Star Roulette | Crown Perth roulette rules and electronic table game rules |
| Queensland casinos | Wheels of 37, 38 or 39 compartments | Queensland Casino Gaming Rule |
| SkyCity Adelaide | Single, double and triple zero | SkyCity Adelaide roulette rules, amended September 2025 |
| Casino Canberra | 37 compartments | Casino Canberra roulette page |
Crown Melbourne
Crown Melbourne’s approved roulette rules say: “Unless otherwise stated in these Rules, the Roulette wheel will be a Single Zero Roulette Wheel.” The same document covers Double Zero Roulette, French Roulette, TouchBet and TouchTable Roulette, and Crown Roulette, played on a wheel with 39 equally spaced compartments.
The Star Sydney
The Star states that it “offers both single zero French roulette, and double zero American roulette”. Its guide describes wheels of 37 segments (0–36) or 38 (00–36), a five-number bet available only on 00 tables, and games conducted under rules approved by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority.
Crown Perth
Crown Perth’s rules allow a single-zero wheel of 37 compartments or a double-zero wheel of 38, either manual — the dealer spins the ball — or automated. Its electronic table game rules name roulette products such as Fusion Roulette and Vegas Star Roulette.
Queensland
Queensland’s Casino Gaming Rule, which applies to the state’s casinos, allows roulette wheels of 37 compartments with one zero, 38 with a zero and double zero, or 39 with a third zero compartment.
SkyCity Adelaide
SkyCity Adelaide’s roulette rules cover single, double and triple zero roulette, in a version amended in September 2025.
Casino Canberra
Casino Canberra uses a 37-compartment wheel and states that “all wagers lose on zero except for Straight Up bets placed on zero”. In other words, even-money bets get nothing back when zero comes up.
How Roulette Works
The wheel and the layout
A roulette wheel has numbered compartments from 1 to 36, half red and half black, plus one, two or three green zero compartments. The table layout repeats those numbers in a grid, with areas for bets on groups of numbers along the sides.
Placing bets
You place chips on the layout before the dealer calls an end to betting. A chip on a single number is a straight-up bet; a chip on the line between numbers covers both; chips in the outside boxes cover red or black, odd or even, high or low, a dozen or a column. Table minimums and maximums are shown at the table.
The spin
The dealer spins the wheel and launches the ball in the opposite direction. Shortly before the ball settles, the dealer stops further bets. The winning number is the compartment the ball comes to rest in.
Settling bets
The dealer marks the winning number, collects losing bets and pays winners at the odds in the approved rules. Leave your chips alone until the dealer has finished paying: touching a bet while the table is being settled is the quickest way to start a dispute.
How Each Bet Looks on the Layout
The layout is a grid of the numbers 1 to 36 in three columns, with the zero or zeros at the top and the outside betting boxes along the sides. Where you place a chip decides what it covers.
| Bet | Where the chip goes | Numbers covered |
|---|---|---|
| Straight up | In the middle of one number | 1 |
| Split | On the line between two numbers | 2 |
| Street | On the outer edge of a row of three | 3 |
| Corner | Where four numbers meet | 4 |
| Six line | On the outer edge where two rows meet | 6 |
| Dozen | In the box marked 1st 12, 2nd 12 or 3rd 12 | 12 |
| Column | In the box at the end of a column | 12 |
| Red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36 | In the matching outside box | 18 |
If you cannot reach a spot, place the chips in front of you and tell the dealer the bet before betting closes. Dealers place “call” bets like this every night; just make sure the instruction is clear and in time.
Single, Double and Triple Zero
The three wheels pay exactly the same odds. What changes is the number of zero compartments — and every extra zero is a compartment where most bets lose.
| Wheel | Compartments | House edge | Example in Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single zero | 37 (0, 1–36) | 2.70% | Crown Melbourne by default; The Star’s French roulette; Casino Canberra |
| Double zero | 38 (0, 00, 1–36) | 5.26% (7.89% on the five-number bet) | The Star’s American roulette; Crown Perth; Crown Melbourne |
| Triple zero | 39 (0, 00, 000 or a Crown symbol) | 7.69% | Crown Roulette at Crown Melbourne; allowed by Queensland’s rule; SkyCity |
Single zero
With 37 compartments and payouts set as if there were 36, the casino keeps 1/37 of every bet on average: 2.70%. The Star publishes this figure as its roulette house margin.
Double zero
Adding a 00 compartment raises the edge to 1/19, or 5.26%. The Star says its margin “for 00 Roulette … increases to 5.26%”. Double-zero tables also offer the five-number bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, which pays 6 to 1 and carries an even higher edge of 7.89%.
Triple zero and Crown Roulette
Crown Roulette uses a wheel of 39 segments — a Crown symbol, 00 and 0 to 36 — and Crown Melbourne’s own guide states: “The Crown Roulette house edge is 7.69%” (Crown Melbourne). That is almost three times the edge of a single-zero wheel for the same payouts.
Why it matters
On A$10 bets, the difference between wheels is the difference between losing on average about A$27 and about A$77 per 100 spins. If a casino offers both, the single-zero table is the better game by a wide margin, whatever the minimum bet. A higher minimum on a single-zero table can still cost less over a session than a lower minimum on a double-zero one: A$10 a spin at 2.70% costs about the same as A$5 a spin at 5.26%.
Why the Zero Exists
Without a zero, roulette would be a fair game. On a wheel of only the numbers 1 to 36, a straight-up bet paying 35 to 1 would return A$36 for every A$36 staked over 36 spins on average, and red or black would win exactly half the time. Nobody would make or lose money over the long run.
The zero changes that. It adds a compartment that the payouts ignore: a straight-up bet still pays 35 to 1, but now wins once in 37 spins instead of 36. That one extra compartment is the casino’s income. Each additional zero is another compartment that pays the house — which is why the edge climbs from 2.70% to 5.26% and 7.69% as zeros are added.
What happens to bets when zero comes up
A straight-up bet on zero itself pays 35 to 1 like any other number. Every outside bet — red, black, odd, even, high, low, dozens and columns — loses, because zero belongs to none of them. Casino Canberra states it plainly: “all wagers lose on zero except for Straight Up bets placed on zero”. Where a table offers the half-back rule, even-money bets lose only half.
Roulette Bets and Payouts
Payouts are the same on every wheel; the chance of winning falls as zeros are added. The table shows our calculation for each bet.
Inside bets
| Bet | Pays | Wins on single zero | Wins on double zero | Wins on triple zero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up (one number) | 35 to 1 | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| Split (two numbers) | 17 to 1 | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.1% |
| Street (three numbers) | 11 to 1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | 7.7% |
| Corner (four numbers) | 8 to 1 | 10.8% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| Six line (six numbers) | 5 to 1 | 16.2% | 15.8% | 15.4% |
Inside bets are placed on the numbered grid. They pay more because they win less often: a straight-up bet wins once in 37 spins on average on a single-zero wheel.
Outside bets
| Bet | Pays | Wins on single zero | Wins on double zero | Wins on triple zero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dozen or column (12 numbers) | 2 to 1 | 32.4% | 31.6% | 30.8% |
| Red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36 | 1 to 1 | 48.6% | 47.4% | 46.2% |
Outside bets cover large groups of numbers. Red or black wins 48.6% of the time on a single-zero wheel, not 50%: the zero is neither red nor black.
The five-number bet
On double-zero tables, The Star’s guide lists a five-number bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, available only on 00 tables. It pays 6 to 1 and wins 5 times in 38, which gives it a house edge of 7.89% — the worst bet on the table.
Same edge, different ride
Apart from the five-number bet, every bet on the same wheel has the same house edge. Choosing red over a single number does not lower the cost; it changes how often you win and how much each win pays.
Roulette Odds in Plain Numbers
Percentages are easier to feel when they become spins. On a single-zero wheel, a number you back every spin does not come up at all in a surprising share of sessions.
| Spins | Chance your chosen number never comes up |
|---|---|
| 37 | 36.3% |
| 74 | 13.2% |
| 100 | 6.5% |
| 200 | 0.4% |
Over 37 spins — the length of the wheel — a chosen number fails to appear more than a third of the time. Over 100 spins it still fails about one time in 15. That is not the wheel being cold; it is what a one-in-37 chance looks like.
How many numbers to cover
| Numbers covered | Wins on single zero | What a win pays on the bet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.7% | 35 to 1 |
| 2 | 5.4% | 17 to 1 |
| 3 | 8.1% | 11 to 1 |
| 4 | 10.8% | 8 to 1 |
| 6 | 16.2% | 5 to 1 |
| 12 | 32.4% | 2 to 1 |
| 18 | 48.6% | 1 to 1 |
| 24 | 64.9% | Two dozens: each winning dozen pays 2 to 1, the other bet loses |
Covering more numbers raises your chance of winning a spin and lowers what the win pays. The edge on every chip is the same 2.70%. Spreading chips across the table makes the session smoother; it does not make it cheaper.
The House Edge, Explained
Where the edge comes from
A straight-up bet pays 35 to 1, which would be a fair price on a wheel of 36 numbers. On a single-zero wheel there are 37, so over 37 spins of A$1 you would expect one win paying A$36 including your stake, against A$37 staked: a loss of A$1 in 37, or 2.70%. Every bet on that wheel works out the same way.
What it costs per 100 spins
| Wheel | House edge | Expected loss on 100 spins of A$10 |
|---|---|---|
| Single zero | 2.70% | about A$27 |
| Double zero | 5.26% | about A$53 |
| Triple zero | 7.69% | about A$77 |
These are averages. In any single session the result can be far from them — which is the subject of the next section.
The half-back rule
Some single-zero games return half of an even-money bet when zero comes up, which halves the edge on those bets to 1.35%, according to the Wizard of Odds. Not every table uses it: Casino Canberra states that all wagers lose on zero except straight-up bets on zero. Ask the dealer before you assume it applies.
The Cost of Roulette Over Time
The house edge applies to every dollar wagered, so the cost of a session grows with both the bet size and the number of spins. These are average losses from our calculation.
| Bet size and spins | Single zero (2.70%) | Double zero (5.26%) | Triple zero (7.69%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A$5 × 50 spins | about A$7 | about A$13 | about A$19 |
| A$5 × 200 spins | about A$27 | about A$53 | about A$77 |
| A$10 × 100 spins | about A$27 | about A$53 | about A$77 |
| A$25 × 100 spins | about A$68 | about A$132 | about A$192 |
| A$10 × 500 spins | about A$135 | about A$263 | about A$385 |
Two habits multiply the cost without anyone noticing: faster games, which mean more spins per hour, and spreading several chips across the table each spin, which multiplies the amount wagered. A player putting A$10 on each of four corners every spin is wagering A$40 a spin, and the edge applies to all of it.
Volatility: Why Results Swing So Much
Two players at the same single-zero table, each betting A$10 a spin, face the same 2.70% edge. One bets red every spin; the other bets a single number. Our calculation shows how differently their sessions turn out, assuming each has enough money to keep betting every spin.
| Bet every spin | Chance of being ahead after 100 spins | After 1,000 spins |
|---|---|---|
| Red (single zero) | 36% | 19% |
| One number (single zero) | 51% | 45% |
| Red (double zero) | 27% | 4% |
| One number (double zero) | 49% | 40% |
Red versus a single number
Betting red, you win almost half your spins, so your balance drifts slowly — and the edge pulls it down steadily. After 100 spins you are ahead about 36% of the time on a single-zero wheel; after 1,000, about 19%. Betting a single number, you win rarely, but each win pays 35 to 1, so three wins in 100 spins already put you in profit. That happens about half the time — and the other half you lose heavily.
What this means for you
Neither approach beats the edge, and neither approach is safer in any real sense: the average loss is identical. The difference is the shape of the risk. Outside bets give longer sessions with small swings; inside bets give short bursts of big wins and long dry spells. Choose the one that suits your budget, not the one that feels luckier.
A Session With A$100: Red Versus a Single Number
The table above assumes you can keep betting every spin. Real sessions have a budget. Take A$100 and A$5 bets on a single-zero wheel for up to 100 spins, stopping only if the money runs out. These are our exact calculations.
| Bet every spin | Lose the whole A$100 | Finish above A$100 | Typical (median) finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| A$5 on red | 7.7% | 35.5% | A$90 |
| A$5 on one number | 75.4% | 24.6% | A$0 |
Betting red
On red, the A$100 lasts: only about 8% of sessions lose all of it within 100 spins, and the typical session ends a little down, around A$90. About a third of sessions finish ahead.
Betting one number
On a single number, the same budget usually runs out. Twenty losing spins in a row — which happens more often than not — empties A$100 of A$5 bets before the first win arrives. About 75% of sessions end with nothing left, while about a quarter finish ahead, often well ahead. The typical finish is A$0.
The lesson
The house edge is the same in both sessions. What differs is how a fixed budget meets the swings. If you want a longer session for your money, outside bets deliver it. If you bet inside, accept that most sessions end early and that the occasional big win is what you are paying for.
Roulette Strategies and What They Really Do
“Roulette strategy” is one of the most searched roulette terms in Australia. The honest answer is simple: no staking system changes the house edge, because every spin is independent and every bet on the wheel costs the same. Systems change only how your wins and losses are arranged.
The Martingale
The Martingale doubles your bet after every loss on an even-money bet, so that one win recovers all losses plus your first stake. It wins small amounts often — and occasionally loses a lot.
| Losses in a row | Lost so far | Next bet | Chance of this streak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A$5 | A$10 | 51.35% |
| 2 | A$15 | A$20 | 26.37% |
| 3 | A$35 | A$40 | 13.54% |
| 4 | A$75 | A$80 | 6.95% |
| 5 | A$155 | A$160 | 3.57% |
| 6 | A$315 | A$320 | 1.83% |
| 7 | A$635 | A$640 | 0.94% |
Seven losses in a row sounds unlikely — under 1% for any given sequence. But in 200 spins, a run of seven or more losing spins happens at least once about 60% of the time, and in 500 spins about 90%. At that point you have lost A$635 chasing A$5, and the next bet of A$640 may be above the table maximum. Zero counts as a loss throughout.
The reverse Martingale (Paroli)
The Paroli doubles after a win instead of a loss, and resets after a set number of wins or any loss. It risks little each time and lets a winning run grow. It does not change the edge either: most sequences end with a small loss, and a long winning run is as rare as a long losing one.
The D’Alembert
The D’Alembert raises your bet by one unit after a loss and lowers it by one after a win. Because the steps are small, it avoids the explosive bets of the Martingale. It still assumes that wins and losses will balance out, and on a wheel with a zero they do not: the edge applies to every unit you bet.
The Fibonacci
The Fibonacci raises bets along the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 after losses and steps back two places after a win. It grows more slowly than the Martingale but faster than the D’Alembert, and shares the same flaw: the next spin does not know what happened before.
The Labouchère
The Labouchère, or cancellation system, starts with a list of numbers — say 1, 2, 3 — and bets the sum of the first and last. A win crosses both numbers off; a loss adds the amount lost to the end of the list. When the list is gone, the target profit is reached. A bad run makes the list grow quickly, and with it the bets. Like every progression, it rearranges losses rather than removing them.
Covering most of the table
Betting two dozens at once wins 24 times in 37 spins on a single-zero wheel — about 65% of the time — and loses both bets when the ball lands elsewhere. It feels safe because it wins often, but the edge on every chip is still 2.70%.
What actually changes your results
- The wheel. Single zero at 2.70% instead of triple zero at 7.69%.
- The five-number bet. Avoid it: 7.89%.
- Bet size and session length. The edge applies to everything you wager, so smaller bets and shorter sessions cost less.
- A stop point. Deciding in advance when to walk away is the only “system” that protects your money.
Roulette Questions Players Ask
Does it matter which number I bet on?
No. Every number has the same chance on every spin: one in 37 on a single-zero wheel. Birthdays, favourite numbers and numbers that have not come up for a while all win at the same rate.
Is it better to bet the same number every spin?
It makes no difference to the odds. Sticking with one number and switching numbers every spin give the same chance of winning each spin and the same edge. The only thing that changes is which outcome would feel lucky afterwards.
Does a bigger bet improve my chances?
No. A bigger bet changes how much you win or lose, not how often. The edge applies to the whole amount, so a bigger bet costs more on average per spin.
Can I win back losses by betting more?
You can — and you can also lose more. Raising bets after losses is the core of the Martingale and its relatives, and our calculations above show how quickly the required bets grow. Chasing losses is also one of the clearest warning signs of gambling harm.
Should I avoid a table after a big win?
The table, the dealer and the wheel have no memory. A table where someone has just won big offers exactly the same odds on the next spin as any other table using the same wheel.
Streaks and the Gambler’s Fallacy
Tables that show a board of recent numbers make streaks easy to spot, and long runs of one colour are common enough to catch the eye. They tell you nothing about the next spin.
| Reds in a row | Chance on a single-zero wheel |
|---|---|
| 2 | 23.67% |
| 3 | 11.51% |
| 5 | 2.72% |
| 7 | 0.64% |
| 10 | 0.07% |
Why the wheel has no memory
After five reds in a row — something that happens about 2.7% of the time for any five-spin sequence — the chance of black on the next spin is still 18 in 37, or 48.6%. The ball does not know what the last five numbers were. Betting black because it is “due” is the gambler’s fallacy.
Hot and cold numbers
A results board that shows a number coming up three times in an hour does not make it “hot”. Each number has a one in 37 chance on every spin of a single-zero wheel, whatever the board says. Use the board to enjoy the game, not to predict it.
Electronic, Rapid and Automated Roulette
Australian casinos run several kinds of roulette without a traditional table. They are legal because they are provided on the casino’s own premises.
| Format | Where we found it | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid Roulette | Crown Melbourne | A semi-automated game: players bet on terminals, the wheel is spun manually or mechanically, and payouts follow the approved roulette rules |
| Fully automated and virtual roulette | Crown Melbourne | Listed in Crown Melbourne’s fully automated game rules |
| TouchBet and TouchTable Roulette | Crown Melbourne | Covered in Crown Melbourne’s approved roulette rules |
| Electronic roulette | Crown Perth | Bets placed on an individual touch screen |
| Fusion Roulette, Vegas Star Roulette | Crown Perth | Named fully automated table game products in Crown Perth’s rules |
Is the maths different?
No. Where the rules say payouts follow the approved roulette rules, the house edge depends on the wheel in use, exactly as at a live table. Electronic games can run faster, though, and more spins per hour means more money wagered — and a larger expected loss for the same bet size.
French, European and American Roulette
The names describe the wheel and the layout rather than different games. “European” or “French” roulette uses a single-zero wheel; “American” roulette uses a double-zero wheel. The Star describes its tables exactly that way: single-zero French roulette and double-zero American roulette.
French roulette
French roulette is played on a single-zero wheel, traditionally with a layout labelled in French. Crown Melbourne’s rules include French Roulette as a separate set of rules. If the half-back rule applies at a French table, even-money bets cost 1.35% instead of 2.70% — check the table before you assume it.
American roulette
American roulette adds the 00 compartment and the five-number bet. For players, it is simply the more expensive wheel.
Choosing a Roulette Table
| Check | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| The wheel | One green zero rather than two or three | 2.70% instead of 5.26% or 7.69% |
| Zero rule on even-money bets | Whether half is returned when zero comes up | 1.35% instead of 2.70% on those bets |
| Table limits | A minimum that suits your budget | Your budget should cover many spins |
| Live table or electronic | Speed of the game | More spins per hour means more money wagered |
| Bets you plan to use | Avoid the five-number bet on double-zero tables | 7.89%, the worst bet available |
If you are unsure which wheel a table uses, look at the wheel itself: count the green compartments. A single-zero wheel has one; the layout will show the same.
Your First Visit to a Roulette Table
- Set a budget and a time. Decide both before you walk onto the floor.
- Find a single-zero table. Check the wheel and the sign.
- Buy in between spins. Put cash on the table and let the dealer change it.
- Start with outside bets. They last longer while you learn the rhythm of the table.
- Watch one or two spins first. See when the dealer stops bets and how payouts are made.
- Collect your winnings between spins. Ask the dealer to colour up chips when you finish.
- Stop at your limit. Whether you are up or down, leave when you said you would.
At the Roulette Table: Etiquette
From the dealer’s side of the table, a few habits make a game smoother for everyone.
- Buy in between spins. Place your cash on the table and wait for the dealer to change it.
- Know the limits. Minimums and maximums are shown at the table.
- Bet before the call. Once the dealer stops bets, chips placed late are returned or refused.
- Leave the winning number alone. Do not touch chips until the dealer has finished paying.
- Ask about chips. Some tables use their own colour chips for each player; the dealer will tell you how the table works and how to cash out.
Live Online Roulette vs Roulette in a Casino
| Australian casino | Offshore live or online roulette | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal to offer to Australians | Yes, under a state or territory licence | No |
| Rules | Approved by the regulator and published | Set by the operator or studio |
| Wheel | Shown in the rules and on the table | Varies by game and provider |
| If something goes wrong | The casino’s process and the state regulator | No Australian regulator can help |
| Payments | Cash and chips at the table | Blocked by Australian banks from 1 January 2027 for designated illegal services |
A live stream can look identical to a casino table. The difference is not the wheel or the dealer but the rules, the licence and who you can turn to if the money does not come back.
Myths About Roulette
| Myth | What is true |
|---|---|
| “Black is due after a run of reds” | Every spin is independent: black stays at 48.6% on a single-zero wheel |
| “A betting system can beat the wheel” | The Star’s guide: no betting system will change the house margin |
| “Outside bets have a lower edge” | Every bet on the same wheel has the same edge, except the 7.89% five-number bet |
| “Electronic roulette is rigged against you” | Where the rules say so, payouts follow the approved roulette rules; the wheel sets the edge |
| “All roulette in Australia is single zero” | Double-zero and triple-zero wheels are in use too |
| “A licensed online roulette site is legal here” | Online roulette cannot legally be offered to Australians, whatever licence a site shows |
Roulette Compared With Other Casino Games
| Game | House edge | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack, Australian rules, basic strategy | about 0.6% | Wizard of Odds |
| Roulette, single zero | 2.70% | The Star; Wizard of Odds |
| Gates of Olympus pokie (96.50% RTP) | 3.50% | Pragmatic Play, via our free pokies guide |
| Roulette, double zero | 5.26% | The Star; Wizard of Odds |
| Crown Roulette, triple zero | 7.69% | Crown Melbourne |
| Five-number bet, double zero | 7.89% | Wizard of Odds; our calculation |
A single-zero wheel is cheaper to play than many pokies; a triple-zero wheel is more expensive than most. Our guide to blackjack in Australia explains how the lowest edge on the casino floor depends on playing correctly.
Roulette at a Glance: The Key Numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| House edge, single zero | 2.70% | The Star; our calculation |
| House edge, double zero | 5.26% | The Star; our calculation |
| House edge, triple zero | 7.69% | Crown Melbourne; our calculation |
| Five-number bet | 7.89% | Our calculation |
| Chance red wins (single zero) | 48.6% | Our calculation |
| Chance a single number wins | 2.7% (1 in 37) | Our calculation |
| Expected loss, 100 spins at A$10, single zero | about A$27 | Our calculation |
| Chance of 7+ losses in a row in 200 spins | about 60% | Our calculation |
A Short Roulette Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Straight up | A bet on a single number |
| Split | A bet on two adjacent numbers |
| Street | A bet on a row of three numbers |
| Corner | A bet on four numbers that meet at a corner |
| Six line | A bet on two adjacent rows of three numbers |
| Dozen | A bet on 1–12, 13–24 or 25–36 |
| Column | A bet on one of the three vertical columns |
| Even-money bet | Red, black, odd, even, 1–18 or 19–36, paying 1 to 1 |
| Half-back rule | Returns half of an even-money bet when zero comes up, where the table offers it |
| House edge | The average share of each bet the casino keeps |
Keeping Roulette a Game
Roulette is fast, and electronic versions are faster still. Set your budget and stopping time before you start, choose the cheapest wheel available, and stop when you reach either limit. If you find yourself raising bets to win back losses, take a break. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day on 1800 858 858 and at Gambling Help Online; our responsible gambling guide covers limits and self-exclusion.
Signs a session is going wrong
- You are doubling bets to recover losses.
- You are betting because a colour or number seems “due”.
- You have passed the time or budget you set.
- You are using money meant for something else.
Practical limits that work
- Bring cash for the session only. Leave cards at home or in the car, so the budget is the budget.
- Set a spin count, not just a time. Electronic and rapid games can run more spins an hour than a live table.
- Decide your bet size in advance. Changing it mid-session is where most budgets break.
- Take a break after any big result. Wins and losses both make the next decision harder.
- Use the casino’s own tools. Ask about limits and self-exclusion at the service desk if you need them.
None of these changes the house edge. All of them change how much of your money it reaches.
The Bottom Line on Roulette in Australia
Online roulette for real money cannot legally be offered to Australians, but roulette is played legally in every Australian casino — on three different wheels. The single-zero wheel costs 2.70% of every bet, the double-zero wheel 5.26% and the triple-zero wheel 7.69%. No strategy changes those numbers. Choose the single-zero table, avoid the five-number bet, treat streaks as noise, and decide when to stop before you sit down.
How We Put This Guide Together
Casino rules come from the documents themselves, read on 10 November 2026: Crown Melbourne’s approved roulette rules and game guides, The Star Sydney’s roulette page and guide, Crown Perth’s roulette and electronic table game rules, the Queensland Casino Gaming Rule, SkyCity Adelaide’s roulette rules (amended September 2025) and Casino Canberra’s roulette page. The law comes from the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and the ACMA. Win probabilities, house edges per wheel, expected losses, streak probabilities, the Martingale table and the chance of being ahead are our own calculations from the payouts in the approved rules; the half-back figure is from the Wizard of Odds. Written by Michael Jones — see how we review. 18+ only. If gambling stops being fun, call 1800 858 858.
