Roulette is a popular casino game where players place bets on where they think a ball will land on a spinning wheel. To play roulette, first you need to put your bet on a number, colour, section (e.g. numbers 1-18), even or odd. Then, the croupier/dealer will spin the roulette wheel and throw a small ball into it. The ball will stop in a pocket and if it stops on a number, colour or section that you bet on, you will win.
What is Roulette?
Roulette is a popular casino game that has been played for centuries. The game consists of a spinning wheel with numbered pockets, a small ball, and a marked betting table. The objective of the game is to correctly predict where the ball will land on the wheel.
You place your bets on the table by placing chips on various betting options. The betting options include betting on a specific number, a group of numbers, a colour, or whether the number will be odd or even. Once all bets have been placed, the dealer spins the wheel and drops the ball onto it.
When the ball comes to rest in one of the pockets, the winning number and bets are determined. The payout for each betting option depends on the odds of that bet winning. For example, betting on a specific number has the longest odds of winning and thus the highest payout, while betting on a colour or odd/even has a higher chance of winning but a lower payout.
What are the rules of Roulette?
The rules of roulette are quite simple and easy to adhere to. In roulette, there are two main types of bets: inside bets which are placed on specific numbers or groups of numbers, and outside bets which are placed on broader categories like red or black (colours), odd or even numbers, or high or low numbers.
The Roulette Wheel
Roulette wheels are easy to understand. Let’s highlight some of the basics:
- The European roulette wheel contains 37 numbered pockets; 36 of which are numbered and are either coloured red or black with an additional green “0” pocket.
- American roulette wheels contain an extra green “00” pocket.
- With pockets 1-10 and 19-28; the odd numbers are coloured red and the even numbers are coloured black
- With pockets 11-18 and 29-36, the odd numbers are coloured black and even numbers are coloured red.
The 0 (zero) is always coloured green. - The American roulette wheel contains and additional 0. It’s known is the double zero (00) and is also green.
The types of bets
Live Roulette allows you to take a number of different bets. The types of bets are mostly the same for both European and American tables, but the American table has an extra option to bet on two sets of zeros while the European table only has one set of zeros.
The bets can be grouped into two main categories: inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets are when you bet on specific numbers or combinations that are in the centre of the table. Outside bets are when you bet on patterns or combinations of numbers that are not in the centre of the table.
Inside bets
Straight Up – This simply refers to taking a bet on any single number.
Split – This is a bet placed on either the horizontal or vertical line between two numbers.
Street – This bet covers any three horizontal numbers in a row. For example: 10, 11, 12 or 25, 26, 27
Corner – This bet is placed at the intersection of four different numbers. For example: 16, 19, 17, 20 or 1, 4, 2, 5.
Top Line – This bet requires you to place your chip at the intersection between two rows. This covers all the numbers in both selected rows – a total of six.
Outside bets
Column – Here you will place your chip in one of the three boxes labelled “2 to 1”. This covers all 12 of the numbers in that column except for the zero/zeroes.
Dozen – This bet requires you to place your chip in one of the three boxes labelled “1st 12”, “2nd 12”, or “3rd 12”. This covers the 12 numbers within each box.
Red/Black – This one is straightforward – place your chip in the “Red” or “Black” boxes to cover the 18 numbers associated with each colour. Remember, this bet does not cover the zero.
Even/Odd – Similar to the above, select “Odd” or “Even” to have your bet cover either the 18 odd or 18 even numbers. Again, the zero is not covered by this bet.
1-18/19-36 – Place your chip in either of these boxes to covert the first or second set of 18 numbers. The zero is not covered by these bets.
Once all bets are placed, the dealer spins the wheel and the ball is sent around the track. If the ball lands on a number or category that you bet on, you’ll receive a payout based on the odds of that particular bet after which a new game will start.
The game is exciting and can become fast-paced, so it’s advisable to always go back to the rules of roulette before you get carried away.
Which bets are best?
In roulette, there is no type of bet that guarantees a win every time. All bets have a certain degree of risk and reward, and the choice of bet often depends on personal preference and playing style. However, some bets have better odds than others. As a rule of roulette, outside bets tend to have better odds of winning than inside bets.
Inside bets on the other hand, have higher payouts but lower odds of winning. Ultimately, the choice of bet depends on the player’s personal preference and tolerance for risk. Some players prefer to make outside bets for more frequent but smaller wins, while others prefer the excitement and potential of bigger payouts from inside bets.
It’s always best to refer to the rules of roulette before players take a bet.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How to increase your odds of winning?
Roulette is a game of chance, and the outcome of each spin is determined at random. There is no guaranteed way to win in roulette, as every spin is independent and unrelated to the previous one.
However, you can increase your chances of winning by understanding the different types of bets available in roulette and their respective odds. For example, betting on a single number (also known as a straight-up bet) has the lowest odds of winning but the highest potential payout, while betting on even/odd or red/black has a higher chance of winning but a lower payout.
It’s important to remember that roulette is a game of luck, and there is no way to predict or control the outcome of each spin.
