Each player buys-in different coloured chips so their
bets don't get mixed up. At the end of play, if you
win, you exchange back the colored chips with cash chips.
These are special chips with the vale amount imprinted
on them. There are several denominations in various
colours. You then take these chips to the cash desk
where they'll give you actual cash money in exchange.
To play, you place your bet or bets on numbers (any
number including the zero) in the table layout or on
the outside, and when everybody at the table had a chance
to place their bets, the croupier starts the spin and
launches the ball. Just a few moments before the ball
is about to drop over the slots, the croupier says 'no
more bets'. From that moment no one is allowed to place
- or change - their bets until the ball drops on a slot.
Only after the croupier places the 'dolly' on the winning
number on the table and clears all the losing bets can
you then start placing your new bets while the croupier
pays the winners. The winners are those bets that are
on or around the number that comes up. Also the bets
on the outside of the layout win if the winning number
is represented.
The house advantage
On a single zero roulette tables the house advantage
is 2.7%. On a double zero roulette table it is 5.26%
(7.9% on the five-number bet, 0-00-1-2-3). The house
advantage is gained by paying the winners a chip or
two (or a proportion of it) less than what it should
have been if there was no advantage.
The payouts
A bet on one number only, called a straight-up bet,
pays 35 to 1. (You collect 36. With no house advantage
it should be 36 to1).
A two-number bet, called split bet, pays 17 to 1.
A three-number bet, called street bet, pays 11 to 1.
A four-number bet, called corner bet, pays 8 to 1.
A six-number bet, pays 5 to 1.
A bet on the outside dozen or column, pays 2 to 1.
A bet on the outside even money bets, pays 1 to 1.
Object of the game
To win, the player needs to predict where the ball will
land after each spin. This is by no means easy. In fact,
luck plays an important part in this game. Some players
go with the winning numbers calling them 'hot' numbers
and therefore likely to come up more times. Others see
which numbers didn't come up for some time and bet on
them, believing that their turn is now due. Some players
bet on many numbers to increase their chances of winning
at every spin, but this way the payout is considerably
reduced. Other methodical players use systems or methods.
Roulette Strategies
(Click HERE to return to ROULETTE RULES)
Players, usually up to eight, play against the house represented by the croupier (also called the dealer) who spins the roulette wheel and handles the wagers and payouts. The wheel has 37 slots, representing 36 numbers and one zero. In the USA most wheels have two zeros and therefore 38 slots.
As we have mentioned in previous articles, the house has the advantage when it comes to roulette. The secret is to leave the table while you're ahead; easier said than done, I know, but statistically speaking if you are beating the table, eventually you'll lose your money back.
Don't forget - the house has a +5% advantage on every spin of the wheel.
A few tips to get started? Play for fun to begin with. There is absolutely no point in playing with real money until you are comfortable with the different types of bets and payoffs in roulette. You should probably expect to put in a good 8 - 10 hours of practice before you graduate into playing with real money.
Print out the odds associated with each different type of bet. Go through this list and commit the list to memory. Read everything that you can on the game of roulette.
Read every article in our Articles section, and read every page on this site. It will enhance your playing skills immensely.
Unlike a game like blackjack or poker, the only involvement that a player has is in placing his bet and watching as the dealer spins the ball. There are no "tells" like in poker, or no counting of the cards like in blackjack. You are completely at the mercy of the dealer (or "croupier" as they are called).
The first thing you should do in order to improve your odds, is to seek out a European roulette wheel. There is one less number, so that odds of you winning are slightly greater. Over a full night of roulette, this will prove to be a big advantage to you, as the house % edge is reduced by a couple of %.
So, to recap: knowledge of the different kinds of roulette tables, knowledge of the odds and different types of bets is the greatest advantage that a roulette player can give themselves.
Roulette Terminology
American Wheel - a roulette wheel with 38 numbers total. Compared to a European wheel which only has 37 numbers, the American wheel has the 00, which allows for the 5 number bets.
Ball - the small white ball that is spun in the roulette wheel. Fortunes are made and lost when this ball settles into one of the roulette slots
Column Bet - when you bet on a vertical column of 12 possible numbers at a time. The payout for this type of bet is 2 to 1.
Combination Bet - when you bet on more than one possible outcome at a time.
Corner Bet - when you bet on one of four possible numbers landing at one time.
The payoff is 8 to 1.
Dozen Bet - similar to the column bet, in that you are wagering on one of three different possible groups of numbers hitting; 1-12, 13-24, or 25 to 36.
European Wheel - Similar to the American wheel, except there is no 00. This means that the odds of winning are slightly increased.
Even - Odd Bet - Odd Bet - when you bet on either odd or even showing up on the wheel. The payoff for this type of bet is 1 to 1. .
High - Low Bet - when you bet on either a high number (19-36) or low number (1-18) showing up on the wheel. Similar to an even / odd bet, it pays 1 to 1.
Inside Bet - any bet placed on the number grid part of the table.
Outside Bet - any bet other than a number bid. These would include red, black, odd, even, etc.
Red-Black Bet - when you bet on either a red colored or black colored number showing up on the wheel. Pays 1 to 1.
Split Bet - A combination bet, where you bet on two possible numbers landing.
Straight Up Bet - betting on one possible number showing up on the wheel. Pays 35 to 1.
Trio Bet - A combination bet, where you bet on one of three possible numbers landing.
Zero, Double Zero - Green in color, at opposite sides of the wheel. The Double Zero only exists on an American wheel.
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