Roulette has provided glamour, mystery, and excitement to casino-goers since its 17th century debut. With an array of betting options and a house edge that can be low or high, the game has something for every type of gambler. The maths behind this game are not as complex as those of craps, but it is still a game where serious players can reap big rewards.
There are several types of roulette, but the most common is European Roulette. This variant features a single zero pocket, which dramatically lowers the house edge and increases your chances of winning. If you’re a newbie, we recommend starting with this version.
The wheel is a solid, slightly convex disk with a metal rim that contains thirty-six compartments (called “canoes” by roulette croupiers) painted alternately red and black and numbered 1-36. A 37th compartment, called a green zero on American wheels and a double-zero on European ones, carries the number 0. A ball placed in the wheel will rest in one of these compartments, which are also called pockets. The odds of winning are dependent on the bet chosen and the number and color of the pocket in which the ball rests.
Unlike many other casino games, the payouts for roulette bets are based on the location of the numbers on the table map. For example, a bet on the number 1 pays out 392 chips. This is because the numbers 1, 2, and 3 all lie on the same row of the map, creating a “square.” The same is true for bets on the first and second dozen.
In addition to the three bets discussed above, you can also place a column or a dozen bet. To do so, place your chips on the corresponding section of the roulette felt. A column bet wins if the ball stops on any of the numbers in your selected column. A dozen bet wins if the ball lands on any of the three ’12’ numbers.