Beginners Guide to Roulette

Roulette remains one of the most popular table games in the gambling industry. It is a simple game for players of all skills and experiences. Join us as we break down everything about this game of chance.

The glamor and glitz of roulette table games make them stand out from other games in any casino. The thrill of the spinning wheel and the suspense of waiting for the ball to land is what makes roulette even a better game. As iconic as this classic game is, you can play it and win, regardless of your skill level.

Roulette is a fun game with straightforward rules. You can play your favorite roulette game at land-based casinos or bet on red or black from the comfort of your house. Either way, you are guaranteed an incredible experience. But first of all, you must understand the basics of the roulette table and how it works. That's what we're here for. We'll help you digest the basic roulette rules, types of bets, main roulette variations, betting systems, and much more.

What is Roulette?

Roulette is a game of chance played and land-based and internet-based casinos. It features a board, a wheel, and a round ball. The wheel may have 37 to 38 pockets depending on the roulette version you are playing. The pockets on the wheel are colored red, black, and green.

Moreover, this game has different types of bets which are categorized as inside bets and outside bets. Players can choose to bet on single numbers or combine several numbers to increase the chances to win. For beginners, you should understand that there are three main roulette variants - European roulette, American roulette, and French roulette.

A Brief History of Roulette

The popularity of roulette is linked to its fascinating history. It's not possible to talk about roulette without mentioning the name Pascal Blaise. This French mathematician and physicist is the brain behind the roulette idea. He invented the first roulette wheel back in 1655 when he was trying to create the perpetual motion machine. Though his intended idea failed, he managed to come up with what we know today as roulette.

Pascal's wheel remained popular until 1843, when the first version of roulette with a single zero was released by two French brothers, Francois and Louis Blanc. This game was different from Pascal's, which had both single zero and double zero pockets. The introduction of a single zero game reduced the house edge from 5.26% to 2.70%.

The two brothers introduced the new variant in German, where it gained significant popularity. Soon, it was introduced in Monte Carlo where it received a warm welcome from the people. It was at this time that two main versions of roulette became popular. The single zero games became European roulette, and the double zero games became American roulette. Both versions are available at leading online casinos in the US.

How to Play Roulette Online

As earlier mentioned, playing roulette is quite simple, regardless of your experience. The rules of playing apply the same to European and American roulette games. It's worth mentioning that there might be a slight difference in the arrangement of pockets and the number of pockets depending on the games you are playing.

Nevertheless, both are games of chance; therefore, knowing where the ball will settle is not possible. As you are aware, the objective of roulette is to predict where the ball lands on the wheel. Here is a step by step guide to playing a roulette game:

  1. Placing Bets
  2. In land-based and live dealer casinos, the dealer announces the beginning of a betting session by saying, "Place your bets." But in online casinos, you go straight to choosing your chip value and then place your bet. Players can choose inside bets, outside bets, or called bets.
  3. Spinning Roulette Wheel
  4. After all the bets have been made by players, the dealer spins the roulette wheel in one direction and throws the ball in the opposite direction. If it's in an online casino, you click or tap on the "Spin" button on the screen.
  5. Winning Bets
  6. Once the ball lands, all winning bets are calculated and paid based on the wagers that the player selected. After the bets are paid, the dealer prepares the table for the new round. The previous bets will be cleared from the screen in online roulette games.

From the above steps, you can see that the gameplay in roulette is easy to follow. This explains why this game is a top priority for beginners. You can follow this procedure whether you are playing American, French, or European roulette games.

Special Roulette Playing Rules

You will find some roulette games with special rules in addition to the standard rules. The good thing with these rules is that they lower the edge in favor of players. The special rules in roulette are:

  • La Partage Rule: This is the most common special rule in European and French roulette games. The la partage rule is applied on even money bets, where you have equal chances of winning and losing. If you place an even bet and the ball lands on o, half of your wager is returned.
  • En Prison Rule: This works like la partage, only that the dealer keeps half of your bet in prison until the next betting round. If you lose your bet, you also lose the en prison bet.
  • Surrender Rule: The surrender rule applies to the American roulette wheel. The difference between this rule and la partage is that it covers the 0 and 00. So, you get back half of your bet if the ball lands on 0 and 00.

Main Types of Roulette Bets and Payout Odds

One of the distinguishing aspects of roulette from other casino games is the wide range of bets it has. These bets are in two main groups, the inside bets and outside bets. However, some variations like French roulette come with an additional racetrack with extra betting options. So, these are the main wagers and the possible payouts in roulette:

Inside Bets

The inside bets are the first you will spot on the roulette table. The betting chips are placed on the numbered section on the layout. While the payouts of inside bets are higher, the chances of winning are pretty low compared to outside bets. Below are the main inside bets and the payout odds:

  • Straight Up Bet: This bet is made on a single number on the roulette table. It has the highest payout odds of 36 to 1.
  • Split Bets: This bet is made on two numbers that are adjacent to one another on the roulette table. The payout odds of split bets is 18 to 1.
  • Street Bets: This bet covers three numbers in the same row on the roulette table layout. The payout odds of winning in a street bet is 12 to 1.
  • Six Line Bets: The betting chips in this wager are placed on adjacent rows of three numbers which makes it a six-line bet. The payout odds in this bet is 6 to 1.
  • Corner Bets: This bet involves a block of four numbers forming a square. The betting chips are placed at the center of the four numbers. You win if the ball lands on either of the numbers. The odds for this bet is 9 to 1.
  • Trio Bets: This wager covers three numbers, 0, 1 & 2 or 0, 2 & 3. The roulette chips are placed on the line that links the three numbers you want. The payout odds for this bet is 12 to 1.
  • Basket Bet: This bet applies to European roulette tables only. Bets are made on numbers 0, 1, 2, and 3 simultaneously. The payout for a basket bet is 9 to 1.
  • Top Line Bet: The top line bet covers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This wager applies to American roulette wheels only. The payout is 7 to 1.

Outside Bets

The outside bets are placed on a portion of numbers instead of betting directly on a specific number. The chances of winning increase when you wager on a portion of numbers, but the payouts are smaller compared to inside wagers. These are the main outside bets in roulette:

  • Red or Black Bet: This bet is made on whether the ball will land in the red or black box on the roulette wheel. The payout for even-money bets is 1 to 1.
  • Even or Odd Bets: This bet is made on whether the ball will land on an odd or even number of the table layout. Likewise, the payout for this bet is 1 to 1.
  • High or Low Bets: This bet is made on the high numbers (19 to 36) to low numbers (1 to 18). This bet offers an even payout of 1 to 1.
  • Column Bets: This wager involves betting on one of the columns of numbers on the roulette table. The bet covers 1/3 of the table layout, and winnings are paid on any number in the column you choose. The payout for this bet is 2 to 1.
  • Dozen Bets: This bet is made on 12 different numbers, such as 1 to 12, 13 to 24, or 25 to 36. Also, this wager involves betting on 1/3 of the roulette table. The payout for this bet is 2 to 1.

Announced Bets

Announced or call bets are more complex than the inside and out bets and are recommended for advanced players. It should be noted that these wagers are available in French and European roulette games only. Also, betting chips are not involved in announced bets as they are called out verbally. These bets are:

  • Voisins du Zero: The neighbor bets cover 17 numbers of the roulette layout. The numbers are 22 to 25 (22,18,29,7,28,12,35,3,26,0,32,15,19,4,21,2,25). It is played using 9 betting chips.
  • Jeu Zero: This bet covers seven numbers that are close to zero. These numbers are 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, and 15. The wager uses four chips that can be split into multiple bets.
  • Le Tier du Cylindre: This wager covers a third of the wheel and features 12 numbers. These numbers are placed as 6 splits.
  • Orphelins: These are two numbers outside Voisin and tier. Five betting chips are used in this bet, and they can be split to increase payouts.
  • Final Bet: This is a wager involving numbers 0 to 36 that ends with the called number. For instance, the final zero is a wager on 0, 10, 20, and 30.

Main Roulette Variations

When you visit an online or brick-and-mortar casino, you will find different types of roulette games. These variations range from European roulette, French roulette, and American to mini roulette games. As aforesaid, these games may have notable differences, but the rules of playing are the same. These are the main versions of roulette table games:

European Roulette

European roulette is the most popular and played version. The wheel features 36 regular numbers that are divided into equal columns. Also, the table layout has a green single zero box which brings the total to 37 boxes. The house edge in this game is 2.7%, making it more attractive than its American counterpart.

American Roulette

American roulette is the second most popular variant in online and land-based casinos. The key difference with the European version is the presence of the double zero boxes, which brings the total to 38 boxes. The extra double zero box increases the house edge to 5.26%. Additionally, these games vary in the arrangement of numbers.

French Roulette

French roulette has many similarities with the European version. However, French roulette has additional rules, la partage, and en prison, not found in other versions. Additionally, this version has the lowest house edge of 1.35%.

These are the main versions of roulette tables. Nevertheless, you will come across other less popular variations at online casinos. These games include Double Ball Roulette, Multi-Wheel Roulette, Mini roulette, African roulette, and Lightning roulette.

Popular Roulette Betting Systems

The first thing you must remember is that roulette is a luck-based table game, and there is a strategy that can lower the house edge. The betting systems we are going to share can only increase your possibilities of winning. The most popular and recommended roulette betting systems are:

Martingale System: The martingale is one of the most basic betting systems to use. It follows the simple logic of doubling the bet amount every time you lose a hand. And when you win, you recover your previous losses. However, this bet is good for people with huge bankrolls.

Labouchere System: Another popular betting system in roulette is labouchere. Here, you must set your desired win amount and change the stake depending on whether you are winning or losing. Since you decide how much to win beforehand, you'll avoid many losses in the process.

Fibonacci System: This betting system is common among conversative roulette players. This strategy requires you to bet as per the Fibonacci sequence. The sequence is 1 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 8 – 13 – 21- 34 – 55 – 89 – 144 – 233 – 377.

D'Alembert System: The D'Alembert strategy has similarities with the martingale. You are required to raise your stake after every losing bet. 

Where to Play Roulette Online

Numerous US online casinos offer roulette games. As earlier mentioned, the number and types of games will vary from one casino to another. Nevertheless, the biggest challenge is finding a reliable and secure online casino site. Players must consider the following factors when sourcing for the casino to play roulette online:

  • Licensing and Security: The online casino must bear the seal of the licensing authority. Also, it should use the latest technology like SSL to safeguard your data and information.
  • Bonuses and Promotions: A good online casino rewards different bonuses, including welcome, reload, cashback, and VIP bonuses. You must consider the bonus terms and conditions too.
  • Payment Options: The best casinos support multiple cryptocurrencies and traditional FIAT methods for deposit and withdrawal.
  • Mobile Compatibility: The website should be optimized for all mobile devices and preferably also have dedicated apps for Android and iOS.
  • Customer Support: The casino support service must be available 24/7 through email, live chat, and telephone.

Conclusion

We hope our comprehensive roulette guide has answered the questions you had. As you can see, roulette is a simple game that can be played by anyone, with or without skills. Make sure you practise and learn the ins and outs of the game before playing for real money.

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