Roulette is an iconic casino game, casino 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.
Understanding the Roulette Wheel
The core of the game is the roulette wheel, which is divided into numbered pockets. 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. Due to the single zero, the house advantage is a favorable 2.7%. American Roulette: This variant is identified by its 38 pockets, casino which include both a "0" and a "00". This additional slot nearly doubles the house advantage to 5.26%.
Your goal is to correctly guess the final resting place of the ball.
Types of Bets in Roulette
All roulette wagers fall into one of two main classifications.
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 two-number bet that pays 17:1. Street: A bet on a row of three numbers. Payout is 11 to 1. Corner: A bet on a group of four numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.
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: An even-money bet on the number's property. High/Low: Betting on the number falling in the 1-18 or 19-36 group. Dozens/Columns: A bet on one of three dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) or casino one of three columns. Payout is 2 to 1.
Is There a Winning Roulette Strategy?
It is impossible to beat roulette consistently because every spin is random and the house edge is fixed. While popular, betting systems like the Martingale are flawed and can wipe out your funds in a short amount of time. The only effective strategy is good bankroll management and choosing the game variant with the lowest house edge.