Roulette is an iconic casino game, instantly recognizable by its spinning wheel and the small white ball that determines players’ fortunes. Its name means ”little wheel” in French, and the game is one of pure chance, making it accessible and exciting for beginners and veterans alike.
Understanding the Roulette Wheel
The core of the game is the roulette wheel, which is divided into numbered pockets. You will encounter two main types of roulette wheels:
European Roulette: This wheel has 37 pockets, numbered 1-36 (alternating between red and black) and a single green ”0” pocket. This version offers better odds for the player, with a house edge of 2.7%.
Double-Zero Roulette: This wheel has 38 pockets, including the numbers 1-36, a single ”0”, and an additional ”00” pocket, also green. Players face worse odds in this version because of the ”00”.
Your goal is to correctly guess the final resting place of the ball.
Understanding the Betting Options
All roulette wagers fall into one of two main classifications.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are wagers on the numbered section of the table. They offer big payouts but are harder to hit.
Straight Up: A single-number bet that pays 35:1.
Split: A two-number bet that pays 17:1.
Street: A three-number bet that pays 11:1.
Corner: A bet on a group of four numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.
Outside Bets
These are bets placed on broader categories of results on the outside of the layout. They have lower payouts but a much higher chance of winning.
Red/Black: A simple color bet that pays even money.
Odd/Even: Betting on the number being odd or even.
High/Low: A bet on whether the number will be in the low range (1-18) or the high range (19-36). Payout is 1 to 1.
Dozens/Columns: A bet on one of three dozens (1-12, 13-24, casino 25-36) or one of three columns. Payout is 2 to 1.
Roulette Systems
Because roulette is a game of pure chance, there is no strategy that can guarantee a win or overcome the house edge in the long run. Betting strategies like the Martingale system do not work and are dangerous for your bankroll. The smartest approach is to play responsibly, set a budget, and casino stick to the European version of the game.