Alexey is a young, impoverished Russian tutor working for a wealthy but troubled family. He loves his employer's stepdaughter with an intense, self-described slavish devotion. Convinced that accumulating wealth is the only way to gain her respect, he turns to the roulette tables. He resents the rigid European class system that looks down upon him and prefers the chaotic thrill of gambling to conventional labor.

Polina is the independent, enigmatic stepdaughter of the general. Secretly burdened by debt, she enlists Alexey to gamble on her behalf to secure her financial freedom. She frequently subverts the traditional expectations of female passivity by behaving assertively and testing Alexey's devotion. Her true motivations regarding her various suitors remain closely guarded.

The 55-year-old head of the Russian family employs Alexey as a tutor. Despite his aristocratic title, he carries massive debts and has mortgaged his assets to a French associate. He desperately awaits the death of his wealthy aunt in Moscow so he can inherit her fortune and secure a marriage to a younger woman.

Antonida Vassilyevna Tarasevichev is the formidable 75-year-old aunt of the general. Believed to be on her deathbed in Moscow, she instead arrives in Roulettenburg full of energy and blunt questions. She commands total respect from her family and quickly develops a singular fascination with the casino's roulette tables.

A smooth-talking Frenchman firmly attached to the general's party in Roulettenburg. He wields significant power over the general due to a substantial loan of 30,000 roubles. He acts with an air of aristocratic elegance while carefully managing his financial interests within the group.

Blanche is a calculating and status-conscious French woman traveling with her mother. She previously suffered financial ruin at the roulette tables and now seeks to reclaim her standing by marrying into the aristocracy. She strings the general along, waiting to confirm the status of his inheritance before committing to him.

A wealthy English factory owner who serves as a quiet but constant presence around the general's group. He represents a new class of capitalist wealth that rivals the old aristocracy. He observes social maneuvering quietly and serves as a reliable confidant for several characters.

An aristocratic woman staying in Roulettenburg with her husband. She serves as a symbol of the rigid social hierarchy of the resort town. A random encounter with Alexey causes a massive social incident that threatens the general's reputation.

A wealthy aristocrat whose presence intimidates the general. Following an odd altercation with Alexey, he files a formal complaint that results in Alexey losing his position. He refuses to speak directly to someone of a lower social class, insisting on dealing only with the general.

An older French woman who accompanies Mlle Blanche in Roulettenburg. She aids her daughter in navigating the social and financial opportunities presented by wealthy gamblers.