Meaning ‘a little wheel’ in French, roulette is one of the most popular casino games played worldwide. The game originated in the 18th century France. Roulette has the reputation of being an easy and exciting game amongst the many casino games. Bets are placed on a single number, a group of numbers, a colour – either black or red- or on an odd or even number. In this article, you will find information on how the game of roulette is played and its various components. The online version of roulette is found at all real money casinos.
Roulette Table Layout
There are two betting areas on the roulette table. The inside betting area is the wheel, which is on one side of the table, and the outside betting area is on the other side. The outside area for betting is divided into small square boxes of red or black colour, and with odd or even numbers. European roulette layout has single zero; however the American roulette table has a double zero on it as well.
The Roulette Wheel
The game of roulette is played on a numbered wheel, using a tiny ball. The European or the French wheel has numbers up to 37, whereas the American wheel has 38 numbers. In American wheel, you can see a single zero (0) and a double zero (00), which are marked in green. The wheel is placed on one edge of the roulette table. The wheel has small pockets with numbers coloured in red and black alternatively. The circumference of the wheel has a small track, which is slanted, and used for the ball to roll. The wheel is made in such a way that it rotates anti-clockwise. The tiny ball goes in the clockwise direction when put on the rotating wheel. When the ball loses momentum, it falls into any one of the small pockets with numbers.
Roulette Chips
To play the game of roulette, you need to purchase roulette chips from the casino. You will be given chips of the same colour, which will make it easy for the dealer to know who placed the bet for how much money. This also helps in distinguishing each player’s chips so that the game is conducted without any disputes. After playing the game, you can exchange the roulette chips for the usual casino chips.
Playing Roulette
In order to start playing roulette, after you buy the roulette chips, you need to join one of the active roulette tables. There are different kinds of bets under the two categories – inside bets and outside bets. You can place your bets even after the dealer starts spinning the wheel. But when he says ‘No more bets’, you can’t bet anymore.
Inside Bets
Straight Up – You can bet on any single number on the wheel from 36 to 1.
Split Bet – You can bet on any two numbers on the wheel. You need to place your chip on the line between the two numbers you have selected.
Street Bet – You can select three numbers on a horizontal line from the wheel. Place the chip on the line at the end of the number.
Corner or Quad Bet – You need to bet on four numbers and place the chip on the intersection of horizontal and vertical lines connecting these four numbers.
Basket – In this bet, you choose to bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3.
Double Street Bet – You wager for six numbers.
Outside Bets
Outside bets are made on the boxes on the layout of the roulette table. The different types of outside bets are:
Even or Odd – You can bet on ‘even number’, and if the ball falls on any even number, you get to win.
Red or Black – You can bet on either black or red colour.
High 18 – You can place bet on any number more than 18, i.e. on any number in the range of 19 to 36.
Low 18 – You can bet on a number less than 18, i.e. in the range of 1 to 18.
Column Bet – You are allowed to bet on 12 numbers on the layout, which are in the vertical column.
Dozens Bet – You can bet on a group of 12 numbers in a row on the layout. It can be from 1 to 12, 13 to 24 or 25 to 36.
Snake Bet – This is a special type of ‘dozens bet’. In this, a player has to bet on numbers 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34, which forms a zigzag path on the layout.
House Edge
It is the amount the players loses on an average with respect to any bet made. It is also referred to as house average and expected value. In European roulette, the chance of a player winning his bet on a single number is 1/37 and losing on it is 36/37.
