Roulette is an iconic casino (why not try these out) 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.
The Basics: Wheel Layout and Objective
At its heart is a large wheel sectioned into pockets, each with a unique number. You will encounter two main types of roulette wheels:
European Roulette: This wheel has 37 pockets, numbered 1-36 (alternating between red and casino (https://amicireggiavenariareale.com) black) and a single green ”0” pocket. Due to the single zero, the house advantage is a favorable 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. This additional slot nearly doubles the house advantage to 5.26%.
The objective is to predict which numbered pocket the ball will land in after the wheel stops spinning.
Types of Bets in Roulette
The bets you can make are split into two groups: Inside Bets and Outside Bets.
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 bet on a row of three numbers. Payout is 11 to 1.
Corner: Betting on the intersection of four numbers.
Outside Bets
Outside bets cover large sections of the wheel. They are easier to win but offer smaller payouts.
Odd/Even: An even-money bet on the number’s property.
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: These bets cover a third of the numbers (excluding 0) and pay 2:1.
Can You Beat the Wheel?
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 stick to the European version of the game.