Roulette, or Roullete as it is sometimes called in French, is a classic casino game. It is easy enough for a beginner to play and has plenty of betting options for experienced players as well. It is a fast paced, fun and rewarding game.
The game of roulette consists of a spherical ball that is released into a revolving wheel of 37 or 38 numbered compartments. Players place bets on which red or black numbered compartment the ball will enter as it comes to rest. Bets are placed on a table marked to correspond with the compartments of the wheel. The wheel itself is made of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape. Around its rim are metal partitions, or frets as they are often called by roulette croupiers. Thirty-six of these compartments, painted alternately red and black, are numbered 1 to 36. On European wheels there is a green division numbered 0, and on American roulette wheels two additional green compartments numbered 0 and 00.
Once the bets have been placed on the roulette table, the croupier will spin the wheel and the ball will be dropped into one of the numbered slots. The winning bets are paid out according to their odds of hitting. The house edge of roulette varies between the European single zero and the double zero version played in the United States.
A basic understanding of the rules of roulette will make your gambling experience much more enjoyable. While there are no guaranteed methods of beating the house in roulette, some simple strategies can improve your odds significantly. You should also keep in mind that roulette is a game of chance and avoid making bets based on hunches or “hot numbers”.
To start playing, you will need to purchase chips from the croupier. When the table is clear, you can then start placing bets. The dealer will let you know how much each chip is worth before it’s handed over to you.
The simplest way to bet is on individual numbers. This can be done by placing a single chip on the end of any street (row of three numbers) on the table map. Alternatively, you can bet on a group of numbers, called outside bets. Outside bets are usually easier to win but have lower odds.
A’split’ bet is another method of betting on specific numbers by putting chips at the junction of any two adjacent outside numbers on the table layout. This type of bet pays out at up to 5:1 and gives the player coverage on six different numbers at a time. You can also make a ‘corner’ bet by placing chips on the corner of the dividing line between the zero row and the rows featuring 1, 2 and 3. This is a harder to win bet but can pay out higher payouts.
