Do you consider that there’s more to the roulette wheel than just random numbers? At CasinoAlpha NZ, we understand that the wheel’s layout might seem confusing at first glance, but it’s designed with a specific logic that can influence your gameplay. For this reason, our team of roulette specialists gathered to help you understand those numbers. By understanding the in-depths of the wheel layout and its numbers, you can achieve a strategic edge, whether you’re playing the European or American version of roulette. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you should know about the different roulette wheels and show you how knowing the sequence of numbers can help you make smarter bets. We understand you’ve been feeling lost when staring at the roulette table, so we will help you decipher every secret behind it. Ready to improve your odds? Let’s dive in!
- Are roulette wheel numbers random?
- An In-Depth Look at the Roulette Wheels
- Should You Learn all the Numbers?
- Are Some Numbers Better than Others?
- Most Profitable Roulette Wheels
- The Origin of the Roulette Wheel Numbers
- Why play Roulette online?
Are roulette wheel numbers random?
Roulette wheel numbers are not random, although they indeed appear this way to the uninitiated. Each version of the game, European, American, or French, has its ordering, although they share a few similarities. Moreover, the order of the numbers is kept if you choose to play the Roulette wheel online. Casinos often provide NZ players with these three standard layouts. Additionally, knowing how the numbers are laid out on the roulette wheel gives you an edge in placing effective inside bets. Inside bets, such as straight-up or split bets, require you to be familiar with how the numbers relate to each other on the wheel. To dive deeper into the types of inside bets and how to use them, check out our guide on Roulette Inside Bets.
An In-Depth Look at the Roulette Wheels
The Roulette wheel numbers are arranged complexly, although they seem scattered around randomly. Three primary Roulette rules govern the arrangement of any wheel game, online or otherwise:
- Red and Black numbers alternate constantly
- Red/Black alternation
- High/Low numbers alternate but not perfectly – best achieved by European wheels
- More than two even or odd numbers will never stand next to each other
- In ranges 1-10 and 19-28, odd numbers are red, and even numbers are black
- In ranges 11-18 and 29-36, it’s the other way around: odd numbers are black and even are red.
- The alternating red and black numbers create unique betting opportunities. If you want to take advantage of these patterns, consider the strategic use of black splits. Learn more about how to place and win with Roulette Black Splits.
If you’ve ever wondered how many numbers there are in Roulette, the answer is that it depends on the type of wheel you’re playing. Let’s unpack each of them.
Types of the Roulette wheel
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Mini-Roulette
Mini-Roulette is a recent concept. The wheel features 13 numbers, from 1-12 and 0. At first glance, it may seem like fewer numbers increase a player’s chances. However, it’s the other way around. Mini-Roulette comes with a house edge of 7.89% The ordering of the 13 numbers looks like this: 0, 5, 12, 3, 10, 1, 8, 9, 2, 7, 6, 11, 4
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European and French Roulette
The European Roulette and the French variant are the same in numbers. Both layouts feature 37 Roulette wheel numbers, including the green-pocketed 0. European Roulette offers a single zero, significantly lowering the house edge and making it a preferred version among experienced players. To fully understand how to use this wheel to your advantage, check out our complete guide to European Roulette.
The sequence is common to both
0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26 An additional part of the Roulette table called the ‘racetrack’ is peculiar to French variants only. It is a two-dimensional wheel representation that looks very similar to a racing circuit. The racetrack makes announce bets easier, as it displays them clearly on the board.
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American Roulette
The American Roulette wheel layout comes with an additional ‘00’, making it 38 numbers in total. Outside bets are positioned differently, but the Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low alternation rules persist. These are the American Roulette wheel numbers in order: 0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-33-16-4-23-35-14-2
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Triple-zero Roulette
A very seldom-seen type of wheel with 39 numbers, triple-zero Roulette, is the next level of American Roulette. The triple 0 figure raises the house edge to 7.69% on single bets, making it the least profitable. Although the odds are sensibly worse for the player, an Atlantic City variation accommodates the La Partage rule, making it a bit more tolerable. Now, let’s take a look at the wheel’s numbers: 0-000-00-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26
Should You Learn all the Numbers?
There’s a debate about whether NZ players should learn all the numbers on the Roulette wheel. In our experience, it may grant a valuable edge. However, learning the sequence of numbers on the roulette wheel can significantly improve your betting strategy, especially with progression systems like the D’Alembert. This strategy helps balance your bets after losses without risking too much too fast. Learn more about the D’Alembert Roulette Strategy and how it can complement your knowledge of roulette numbers. Discover our mini-guide on why Roulette pro players apply this insight. 
A better grasp on the sequence beats confusion
The apparent random numbers on a Roulette wheel may confuse beginners. It’s difficult for a newcomer to notice the relations between various wheel sectors. Pros pay special attention to the sequence of numbers and know it by heart because it may open potentially lucrative opportunities. Moreover, knowing the number’s positioning will help you better understand the odds in Roulette and ultimately get better at the game.
Notice wheel bias
One lucrative opportunity concerns wheel bias. Advantage players are always looking for faltering wheels, whose wear and tear determine to favour specific sectors. NZ players who are aware of the numbers sequence may notice wheel bias more easily and place corresponding wagers. This Roulette strategy works best in land-based casinos. Still, they habitually move the wheels around to prevent players from applying it. However, you probably won’t notice any biased wheels in live dealer Roulette.
Place announce wagers in French Roulette
Announce wagers allow you to bet on the numbers as they appear on the wheel layout. Another way the sequence of Roulette numbers can be helpful to NZ players is in French Roulette. Comparatively, classic bets require placing your stake on the Roulette table. Moreover, these particular wagers are available at any French Roulette wheel online. Still, you should ensure that you only play at licensed NZ gambling sites. Thus, you’ll have a guarantee that your bets will be paid out in full and that the rules of Roulette are followed. Understanding the number sequence on the wheel is essential for players using progressive betting systems like the Fibonacci strategy, which helps you recover losses over time. Explore our detailed guide to learn more about applying the Fibonacci Roulette System. There are certain types of such bets, and we shall explain them all.
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Voisins du Zero
The ‘Neighbours of Zero’ refers to a large section of the wheel covering numbers 22 to 25. You are already a bit familiar with the wheel, so you know we’re talking about a whole group of numbers. These are 22,18,29,7,28,12,35,3,26,0,32,15,19,4,21,2,25.
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Jeu Zero
‘Zero Game’ is the part of the wheel which covers the actual neighbours of 0. We’re talking about the 7 numbers closest to the green pocket: 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15.
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Le tiers du cylinder
Literally, ‘thirds of the wheel’. When you make this bet, you cover 6 pairs of numbers: 5/8, 10/11, 13/16, 23/24, 27/30, 33/36.
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Orphelis
These are two series of numbers outside the previously mentioned: 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 and 17, 34, 6. Depending on the table you’re playing at, you may customize this bet and add other nearby numbers to increase your odds. Read more about the Orphelins bets.
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Voisins
The final French-specific wager involves the neighbours of any number on the wheel, two from the left and two from the right. For example, suppose you bet on the neighbours of 5. In that case, you place your stake on 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, as represented on the standard Roulette wheel. If you want to become a pro roulette player, check out our article on Voisins du Zero.
Are Some Numbers Better than Others?
The ball has an equal chance of landing in any pocket, at any time. So, the short answer is no. There are no best Roulette numbers. However, superstitions are not uncommon in the gambling realm. Often Roulette players place a stake on what they believe is their lucky number:
- A loved one’s date of birth
- A number associated with pleasant experiences
- The ‘magic’ numbers of their culture
The gambler’s fallacy
The gambler’s fallacy is the belief that a streak of a particular outcome lowers the chances for the same outcome to come up the next turn. This type of superstition governs many players choices. It is evident in Roulette play. Example: Some players believe that after 10 red numbers in a row, a black one must come up for sure. That’s not the case at all, as the odds remain the same. Be aware: Combining the Martingale Roulette strategy with the gambler’s fallacy may lead to the burnout of your bankroll if you’re not careful.
Most Profitable Roulette Wheels
What Roulette table would you play at European, French, or American? Each Roulette game has its perks and challenges, but if you aim to increase your chances of profit, one of them stands out. NZ players may have reasons for opting for one or the other, so the decision is yours. However, allow us to provide our expert perspective on the matter.
French Roulette is your best option
- It is a single-zero variant which means the house edge is generally smaller, at 2.7%
- With its house edge, the French variant provides NZ players with the best odds
- Announce bets are allowed, so you get more betting opportunities
- With even-money bets at the French Roulette table, you get the lowest house edge: 1.35%
- En Prison rule allows you to get your stake back if the ball lands on 0
- With the La Partage rule, a losing even-money bet is half returned to you if the ball lands on 0
Tips: NZ players benefit from the advantages of La Partage and En Prison rules in live online casinos as well.
The Origin of the Roulette Wheel Numbers
Roulette was invented by Blaise Pascal in his searches for the perpetual motion machine, as the pop story goes. However, a darker legend of the game’s origin has been circulating. And it’s bound to raise the hair on the back of your neck as it involves a deal with the Devil. Historians agree that Roulette was highly likely developed a few hundred years before. It’s possible that it appeared as a Chinese spinning wheel game or as an ancient game played by Roman soldiers. The spookier version speaks of a Medieval monk who went mad trying to beat the game developed by none other than himself. In his darkest hour, he inscribed the centre of the wheel with the infamous number.
What’s the Devil got to do with it?
In later years, Francois the ‘Magician of Homburg’ brought the game into Homburg and Monte Carlo casinos. It was to the delight of the local gamblers, who are said to have played at double-zero wheels before his arrival. Soon, he was rumoured to have made a pact with the Devil to learn the game’s hidden secrets. Folks believed it was the best explanation for why the Roulette wheel numbers add up to 666. Fact: Add up the numbers that appear horizontally on the Roulette board; the result is always 6. For example, if we take the first three: 1+2+3=6. The same applies to the last three and any other pair of three numbers: 34+35+36=105. Do the operation once more, and you will get 1+0+5=6.
Why play Roulette online?
- Physical wheel in land-based casinos
- Live Roulette wheel online
- Number generator wheel or virtual Roulette wheel
Advantage players prefer land-based casinos, and they travel across the land to find vulnerable Roulette wheels. However, most people don’t have a tremendous land-based casino nearby. Tips: Top online casinos in New Zealand are more abundant and have numerous benefits compared to brick-and-mortar ones. They are secure, and it’s a lot more convenient to play online.
Can online Roulette be rigged?
A Roulette wheel online cannot be rigged if you play at licensed casinos. Gamblers sometimes believe online Roulette is rigged when they lose, but that’s not true. For example, one is betting on Red, but the ball lands on Black numbers 15 times in a row. They would be inclined to think the game is rigged – how on Earth would Black come up 15 times in a row? However, that’s a perfect example of a gambler’s fallacy. It’s not like someone controls the Roulette ball, driving it to land in certain pockets.
Licensed casinos are safe
Most online casinos in NZ are not scams. Top online Roulette casinos abide by the rules of the UKGC and MGA, which enforces:
- Periodic verifications of the authenticity of the number generator wheel
- Similar checks on the providers of live Roulette
More importantly, a live Roulette wheel is watched by dozens of people at the same time. It would be impractical even to try to rig the game. Players would eventually notice it, and it would be the beginning of a downfall for that casino. The advantages of Roulette wheel online:
- It’s easier to access and more convenient to play
- Your security is always guaranteed if you play at licensed casinos
- Live dealer and high-RTP virtual Roulette are both available
- NZ players may practice with a welcome bonus
- All Roulette wheels are available: French, American, European
- You get more flexible betting limits and lower minimum wagers
