Roulette is an iconic casino game, instantly recognizable by its spinning wheel and the small white ball that determines players' fortunes. As a game of pure probability, roulette is easy to learn and offers a unique kind of excitement.
The Basics: Wheel Layout and Objective
The game centers on a wheel featuring 37 or 38 numbered slots. There are two main variations of the wheel:
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%. American Roulette: This wheel has 38 pockets, including the numbers 1-36, a single "0", casino and an additional "00" pocket, also green. Players face worse odds in this version because of the "00".
The aim of the game is simply to bet on the winning number.
Types of Bets in Roulette
Roulette offers a wide variety of betting options, which can be divided into two main categories: 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: Betting on one specific number. The highest payout in the game. Split: A bet on two adjacent numbers. Payout is 17 to 1. Street: Betting on a three-number row. Corner: Betting on the intersection of four numbers.
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: Betting on the color of the winning number. Odd/Even: A bet on whether the number will be odd or even. Payout is 1 to 1. High/Low: Betting on the number falling in the 1-18 or casino 19-36 group. Dozens/Columns: Betting on a group of 12 numbers.
Roulette Systems
As a game of independent random events, casino no betting system can alter the mathematical house advantage. Systems like the Martingale (doubling your bet after a loss) are extremely risky and can lead to catastrophic losses very quickly. The only effective strategy is good bankroll management and choosing the game variant with the lowest house edge.