Roulette is a quietly fun and potentially exciting table game named after the French word meaning "small wheel". In roulette, players may choose to place bets on either a number, a range of numbers, the color red or black, or whether the number is odd or even. Each bet has a different payout based on the odds of winning losing with that particular game. Roulette has a classy feel and is one of the easiest casino games to catch on to.
Roulette In Action
To determine the winning number and color, an attendant spins a wheel one way, (automated croupier in online roulette) then spins a ball the opposite way around a circular track running around the edge of the wheel. The ball eventually will lose speed and fall on to the wheel and into one of the numbers on the wheel. There are 37 number pockets in European Roulette and 38 number pockets in American roulette.
Roulette Wheel Numbers
The slots of the roulette wheel are numbered from 1 to 36, alternating between red and black. There is a green slot numbered 0. In American roulette, there is an additional green pocket marked 00. If The Ball Lands On the 0 or OO spot of the board then the casino basically wins every single bet placed on the board. These two spots are solely what give the casino a slight winning advantage over time. If you think about it, the extra dead spot in American Roulette causes it to have a slightly bigger house advantage than European roulette.
Roulette Bets
Roulette bets are pretty easy to understand. Before the wheel is spun you place a bet on a number, range of numbers, color, or whether the number will be odd or even. Some of these bets are less likely to hit, so if you hit for example a single number, you will get a big payoff. On the other hand if you place a bet on whether the number will be red or black, then you have a 50/50 shot at getting that correct, so the payoff is only 1:1.
Inside bets
Split: You'll bet on two adjacent numbers, either on the vertical or horizontal line. Your bet placed on the line between two numbers.
Street: You'll bet on three numbers on a single horizontal line. Your bet is placed on the edge of the line of a number at the end of the line (either the left or the right, depending on the layout).
Corner: You'll bet on four numbers in a square layout (as in 11-12-14-15). Your bet is placed at the horizontal and vertical intersection of the lines between the four numbers.
Six Line: You'll bet on two adjacent streets, with the chip placed at the corresponding line, between where two street bets would normally be placed.
Trio: You'll bet on the intersecting line between 0, 1 and 2, or 00, 2 and 3.
Outside Bets
19 to 36: You'll place a bet on a spot marked 19-36. You're Hoping that the ball drops on a number 19-36
Red or Black: You simply place a bet on whether the ball will drop on a red or black number on the wheel
Even or Odd: You simply place a bet on whether the ball will drop on a even or number on the wheel
Dozen Bets: You bet on the first group (1-12), second group (13-24), or third group (25-36) of twelve numbers.
Column Bets: You bet on all 12 numbers on any of the three vertical lines (such as 2-5-8-11-14).
Roulette Strategy
Roulette is simply a guessing game where the odds are slightly against you because of the 0 and 00 spots on the board/wheel. So winning will require a lucky streak. However, online roulette can be a good game to milk out great bonuses from online casinos. The way to do this is find great casino bonuses that allow roulette play and make the maximum deposit. Then place bets on only outside bets.
If you manage your bankroll well and keep a consistent win-lose pattern goin on (resulting in even money), you can add bonus money to your bankroll and then cash out your winnings after meeting wagering requirements.
