Roulette Guide

A Roulette Guide

This is a roulette guide for players of all levels and skills. Even if you’ve never play roulette, you’re bound to be familiar with the table and wheel. Many of us think of the image of James Bond. Suave and sophisticated, he always gambles with such style that he makes it all look so easy. Of course, if you were playing with endless government funds, then maybe the worry of losing might affect you playing style. But never fear. If you’re not in possession of Daniel Craig nerves of steel, then you can still win big at the roulette table. Let’s have a look at some basics. If you’re looking for a more detailed look at the the rules and strategies, have a look here.

The History of Roulette

As you’ve probably guessed from the game’s name, roulette is of French origin. But the game play most certainly came from a couple of other games that were popular in the 17th century. These were called “Even-Odd” and “Roly-Poly”. Both feature a spinning wheel with betting on the outcome of the spins. Today, most people attribute roulette to the French math genius and gambler, Blaise Pascal. He is said to of invented the roulette wheel while trying to create a perpetual motion machine.

A Roulette Guide: The Monaco Connection

In spite of the introduction of strict gambling laws across most of Europe in the late 18th century, Prince Charles of Monaco, who was facing some serious money problems, decided to open a number of gambling houses in Monaco. Because of this, the principality and roulette became synonymous. Along with the idea that the game was associated with the aristocracy and royalty.

Roulette Game Play

Simply put, when you play roulette you’re playing against the House. This is represented by the croupier, also known as the dealer. Whilst the roulette table may appear daunting at first look, the game is essentially very simple. The object is to simply pick the number on the wheel where the ball will land. That’s it! You can also bet on a combination of numbers or choose the color. Or whether the number will be odd or even.

A Roulette Guide: The Roulette Wheel

Depending on the continent you’re standing on, there are two different roulette wheels. In Europe the wheel has 37 slots which are numbered from 0 – 36. This give the house an edge of 2.63%. In the US, the wheel is numbered from 0 – 36. But it has 38 slots for the ball to fall into with an added 00 slot. This extra slot give the house an advantage of 5.26%.

The Layout

The table betting area contains a layout of individual numbers. This inside betting area is arranged in 12 rows of three numbers. The 0 and the 00 are at the top of the columns. The outside betting area has boxes which are for betting on odds or evens, red or black or different number groups.

A Roulette Guide: Buying Chips

For the sake of clarity and to avoid any confusion, each player receives chips of a different color. They are each worth a single denomination of money. These chips are only good for that particular table. That’s why they’re referred to as “table chips.” When you’ve finished playing you can cash them in for normal chips. Unlike in the movies, you cannot cash out table chips. Every roulette table has a minimum and maximum bet limit. Keep in mind that you cannot combine inside and out side bets to meet the table minimum. If the table minimum is $5 then you can’t place a $3 bet inside and simultaneously place a $2 outside. And no, you have to bet either $5 on the inside, and/or $5 on the outside.

Inside Bets

There are a number of inside bets you can make, all depending on exactly where you place your chips. for example you can bet a number by placing a bet on it. Or you can straddle the line between numbers to make a bet on both. Depending on where you place your bet, the payouts vary. These are the names of the various bets along with their respective payouts:

A Roulette Guide: The Payouts

1. “Straight Up” the bet is on a single number. It pays 35 to 1.
2. “Split Bet” is a wager on two numbers and it pays 17 to 1. Make this bet by placing your chip so it straddles the line between any two numbers.
3. “Street Bet” or “Line Bet” pays 11 to 1. This bet is made by placing your chip on the vertical line separating the outside and inside betting areas. The chip straddles the first number in the row.
4. “Corner Bet” or “Quad Bet” pays 8 to 1. Make this bet by placing a chip so it is touching the four corners of the numbers you are betting on.
5. “Basket Bet” is a five number bet on zero – double zero and numbers-1-2-3 which pays 6 to 1. On the double zero wheel, this has a house edge of 7.89% percent making it the worst bet in Roulette.
6. “Double Street Bet” is a wager on six numbers and pays 5 to 1. You place your chip on the line separating the outside and inside area as you do for the street bet but let it also straddles the row above or below.

Outside Bets

Outside bets are any of the bets in the boxes surrounding the numbers.

1. “Red/Black” and “Odd/Even” are all even-money bets. Place your chips in the boxes on the layout.
2. “Dozens Bet” are made on the 12 consecutive numbers. Place your wager in the boxes marked 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36. These bets pay 2 to 1. But if the zero or double zero comes up you lose.
3. “Column Bets” are also 12 number bets. These are the numbers in one of the three vertical columns. Put your bet in the boxes at the bottom of the layout. These bets pay 2 to 1.

Beat The House

Every gambler has a “system” that they will confidentially state will beat the house. But, and let’s be frank here, this is just an illusion. The roulette ball has no memory and each spin is completely separate from the last. There is no known betting system that will keep winning for you. The longer the game play, the more the odds start to move towards the games expectations.

A Roulette Guide: Betting Systems

A great example is the “Martingale” system. You simply double up on every bet you lose. Foolproof, no? Well, let’s just say that you’ll run out of bank roll before getting back your losses. Another system is the “Paroli” betting system. This is basically the reverse of the Martingale. In this you double your bet after every win and return to your original stake when you lose. Finally, there’s the “Masse égale” system. Here you to play the same bet over and over again until you eventually win.

The Dealer

It’s the dealer job to keep the wheel spinning even between spins. They also has the responsibility of handling the bets (wagers) and the returns (payouts). They place the ball by spinning it in the wheel head, a space above the wheel, in the opposite direction to the travel of the spinning wheel. This causes the ball to appear to drop into the spinning wheel and jump and spin before settling on a number. Once the ball has landed, the dealer will mark the winning number with a marker and clear all the losing bets. Please wait until all the winnings are placed before you take yours. Also please wait until the dealer has removed the marker before placing any new bets.

A Roulette Guide: Playing Tips

Don’t worry if the number or space you want to bet on already has a chip on it. The chips are different colors thus allowing you to place your bets on top of another. Once the dealer spins the wheel, he’ll sweep his hand over the betting table before calling out, “No more bets.” At this point all betting must stop. If you do win then the croupier will exchange your colored chips with cash chips (or will instantly payout in credits if playing online).

Playing Roulette Online

Thanks to massive advances in online technology, playing at online casinos is possible from the comfort of your own home. Roulette fans have a huge choice as new platforms seem to come online every month. No matter where you live, you can play either American, European or any number of other types of casino games. Playing on your portable devices means that you are no longer have to limit yourself to the old bricks and mortar locations. Playing at home is certainly more relaxing. You don’t have to worry or lose your concentration because of the actions of the dealer or a waitress. You can simply get on and play, work on your strategy, without all the noise and hustle and bustle that you find in a busy casino.

Online Licensing and Certification

As for the fairness of online games, there are many institutions whose job it is to enforce a strict set of rules. These involve licensing and certification, and are in place to ensure that the games are in no way rigged. Finally please be sure to read all the online information with regard to the specific site you’re interested in playing concerning odds, game play and payouts before you start to play. Then head over to check out our list of the best casino jackpot reviews. It’ll help you choose the right casino.

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