What is Mini Roulette?
Mini Roulette is a cut-down version of European roulette. The wheel has 13 pockets instead of 37, so there is one zero and only the numbers 1 to 12. The bets work like those in the full game, but the payouts are scaled down to match the smaller wheel.
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Wheel and table layout
The wheel holds 13 pockets: 0 and 1 to 12. In the NetEnt version, the zero is a green sector. Because there are fewer numbers, the table is smaller and quicker to read than a full roulette layout.
To play, choose a chip value, click the area of the table where you want to bet, and click again to raise the stake. Press Spin once your bets are placed. Controls vary by game, so check the in-game help for how to remove chips and whether winnings stay on the table. The standard rules of the game are in our roulette rules guide, and you can try the format risk-free on our free roulette page.
Bets and payouts
The bet types found across the games we checked are straight, split, street, corner, column, red/black and odd/even. Some versions also offer a six-number bet. Its payout is reported differently by different sources, so check the paytable in the game you choose.
| Bet | Payout |
|---|---|
| Straight (single number) | 11:1 |
| Split (two numbers) | 5:1 |
| Street (three numbers) | 3:1 |
| Corner (four numbers) | 2:1 |
| Column | 2:1 |
| Red/black | 1:1 |
| Odd/even | 1:1 |
A payout of 11:1 means a winning 1 unit straight bet returns 11 units of profit plus your stake. For a wider look at how payouts relate to odds, see our roulette odds and payouts guide.
House edge: why a 13-pocket wheel costs more
Take the standard version, which pays 11:1 on a straight bet and does not refund anything when the ball lands on zero. Over 13 equally likely spins of a single number, you would expect one win and 12 losses:
- One win returns 11 units of profit.
- Twelve losses cost 12 units.
- Net result: 11 − 12 = −1 unit over 13 spins, or −1/13, which is a house edge of 7.69%.
European roulette follows the same sum with 37 pockets and a 35:1 payout: 35 − 36 = −1 over 37 spins, a house edge of 2.70%. Both games pay one unit less than the true odds, but that shortfall is a bigger share of a smaller wheel, so each bet costs roughly three times as much in the long run in Mini Roulette.
Some Mini Roulette versions soften this by returning part of the stake when the ball lands on zero. That lowers the edge, and the size of the reduction depends on the rule used. Check the RTP (return to player) in the game’s help screen before you play, rather than assuming the 7.69% figure applies. Our odds guide explains how to read these figures.
Where to play it online
Mini Roulette is offered by more than one software provider. We have separate reviews of two of them:
- Playtech Mini Roulette. A guide on LCB describes a rule where half of any stake on a number is returned if the ball lands on zero, while even-money bets lose in full.
- NetEnt Mini Roulette. Our review describes a refund-on-zero rule, with half of bets on other numbers returned and bets on 0 paid at normal odds.
We could not check these rules against a provider rules page, so confirm them in each game’s help screen. Betting limits also differ by casino and game. Stakes ranging from about 1 to several hundred units appear in the sources we checked, so look at the table limits before you sit down. Whatever you play, set a budget and stick to it, and read our responsible gambling advice if you need support.
Mini vs European roulette
| Mini Roulette | European roulette | |
|---|---|---|
| Pockets | 13 (0 to 12) | 37 (0 to 36) |
| Straight-up payout | 11:1 | 35:1 |
| House edge, straight bet, no zero refund | 7.69% (1/13) | 2.70% (1/37) |
| Chance of a straight bet winning | 1 in 13 | 1 in 37 |
FAQ
How many numbers are on a Mini Roulette wheel?
There are 13 pockets: the numbers 1 to 12 and a single zero.
What does a straight bet pay in Mini Roulette?
11:1, according to the sources we checked. A winning bet returns 11 times your stake in profit plus the stake itself.
Is Mini Roulette better value than European roulette?
Not on the standard 11:1 maths. A straight bet carries a 7.69% house edge there, against 2.70% in European roulette. Versions with a refund on zero do better, so check the RTP in the game’s help screen.
Can I play Mini Roulette for free?
Some casinos offer demo versions of their roulette games, so check the game lobby. You can also practise the basics on our free roulette page.