Mastering Roulette: From Basics to Advanced Bets
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, casino and casino the game is one of pure chance, making it accessible and exciting for casino beginners and veterans alike.
How the Game Works
The core of the game is the roulette wheel, which is divided into numbered pockets. You will encounter two main types of roulette wheels:
Single-Zero Roulette: It features numbers 1 through 36 plus a single green zero, for a total of 37 slots. This version offers better odds for the player, with a house edge of 2.7%. Double-Zero Roulette: This variant is identified by its 38 pockets, which include both a "0" and a "00". Players face worse odds in this version because of the "00".
Your goal is to correctly guess the final resting place of the ball.
Placing Your Wagers
Roulette offers a wide variety of betting options, which can be divided into two main categories: Inside Bets and Outside Bets.
Inside Bets
These are bets placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers on the inside of the betting layout. They have higher payouts but lower odds of winning.
Straight Up: A bet on a single number. Payout is 35 to 1. Split: A bet on two adjacent numbers. Payout is 17 to 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
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: A bet on whether the number will be odd or even. Payout is 1 to 1. 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: Betting on a group of 12 numbers.
Can You Beat the Wheel?
As a game of independent random events, no betting system can alter the mathematical house advantage. While popular, betting systems like the Martingale are flawed and can wipe out your funds in a short amount of time. The best "strategy" is to manage your bankroll, casino play for entertainment, and if possible, always choose European roulette over American roulette.