Roullete is one of the most popular casino games in the world and a classic at most land-based and online casinos. It’s a game that’s simple to learn but has its own subtle nuances every player should know.
Before a spin, players can still bet on what number they think the ball will land on by placing chips on a betting mat. Then the croupier throws a ball into the spinning wheel and players watch it go around until it stops in a pocket. If you made a bet on that number, you’ve won!
The Roulette wheel has different numbered divisions that alternate between red and black, as well as a green zero. The European version of the game has 36 numbers, while the American version adds a second green zero. The addition of the green zero is largely what makes the American game worse than the European version.
Inside bets are placed on the numbered part of the table and generally offer higher payouts than outside bets. The most common inside bets are Straight Up, Split, and Corner. Straight Up is a bet on one single number that pays out 35 to 1. Split bets are placed on two consecutive numbers on the table and pay 17 to 1 on average. Corner bets are placed on the four corners of the square and pay out 8 to 1.
Outside bets are bets that cover a group of numbers on the table. The most common types of outside bets are Odd or Even, and High or Low. Odd or Even is a wager that the winning number will be in either the first or last dozen on the layout, or that it will be an odd or even number. High or Low is a bet that the winning number will be in either the high or low half of the numbers on the layout, and not the 0 or 00.
While it may seem daunting to start playing roulette due to its French terms and the different style of betting mat, it’s worth persisting because the house edge is a minuscule 1.35% (Vive le France!). You can also increase your chances of winning by learning about the rules of play. These include la partage – which means that if you bet on an even money bet and the ball lands on 0, you’ll get half of your stake back. The other rule is en prison – which means that your lost bet remains on the table for the next spin.
