About Roulette

Casinos feature a lot of different "wheel" games to entice players to play, but one of the more popular choices is roulette. Roulette allows players several betting options and this game is based mostly on luck, though it does involve some skill. Learning and understanding the game is simple.

Function

Roulette features a large wheel that has alternating black and red numbers up to 36 and two green spots that have 0 and 00. Once all of the bets are placed, a ball is dropped onto the spinning wheel and after a few seconds or so, it lands on a number. Bets are collected and paid out accordingly and the process repeats. A roulette dealer usually spins the ball, but some casinos feature automated roulette wheels that automatically drop and collect the ball.

Features

The roulette board is split between "inside" bets and "outside" bets. Inside bets are bets on specific numbers or groups of numbers. Players can place chips on a single number, two connected numbers, a box of four numbers, a row of three numbers or two rows of six numbers. For example, you could place a one-dollar chip on the four block of 19, 20, 22 and 23. If any of those numbers lands on the spin, you will win eight dollars. In order to place bets on multiple numbers, they must be connected to each other on the betting table. Even though numbers are in order on the betting table, they are in a mixed-up order on the wheel that can only be viewed by looking at the wheel.
On the outside, players can bet for sets of twelve numbers, one of the three columns on the roulette layout, red or black, odd or even and 1 through 18 or 19 through 36. For example, if a player puts $5.00 on the black betting square and the ball lands in a black space, they will win $5.00 along with their bet back, for a total of $10.00.

Potential

Hitting a number on the inside betting of the table will award larger jackpots. For single numbered bets, payouts usually equal 36:1. This means if you put $2.00 on a number and it hits, you will win $72.00. Each bet is divided by how many numbers you are betting. For example, a bet on a four spot will pay out 8:1 instead of 36:1, because you are playing four numbers instead one number directly.
Playing some options on the outside of the board offers payouts at 50% percent odds. These bets are the ones where there are minimal outcomes like red or black and odd or even. Some bets have almost 33% odds, and can be placed on the right side of the betting table. For example, if a player places $5.00 on the "2-to-1" section of the first column and 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31 or 34 lands on the wheel, they will be awarded $10.00 plus their $5.00 for a total of $15.00.

Misconceptions

Odd and even bets may seem like a great bet for the odds, but the 0 and 00 numbers on the wheel do not count towards even or odd numbers. It is because of these two numbers that the casino has gained an advantage. Luckily, as backup, players can place bets on the 0 and 00 spots at any table.

Geography

American Roulette differs a little from its European counterpart. In European Roulette, the board only features the number 0 instead of both 0 and 00. Other than that, roulette is played the same, but players have more of an advantage with European roulette. Some American casinos offer a mix of European and American roulette.

Considerations

Some players study the roulette board for multiple turns to try and find patterns and trends on the board. For example, if a black number has come out consecutively, players will bet on red, hoping that it will come out eventually.

Resources

• Roulette Information