The Roulette Wheel and Table Layout
At the heart of roulette is the roulette wheel, which features numbered pockets ranging from 0 to 36 in European roulette, with an additional 00 in American roulette. The numbers alternate between red and black, while the zero pockets are colored green. Adjacent to the wheel is the betting table, featuring various betting options and corresponding payouts.
Types of Roulette
There are several variations of roulette:
- European Roulette: Single zero (0), 37 pockets
- American Roulette: Double zero (00), 38 pockets
- French Roulette: Similar to European, but with additional betting options and rules
Basic Gameplay
The objective of roulette is simple: predict where the ball will land on the wheel. Here's how the game unfolds:
- Players place their bets on the table
- The dealer spins the wheel and launches the ball in the opposite direction
- The ball eventually lands in a numbered pocket
- Winning bets are paid out, losing bets are collected
Types of Bets
Inside Bets
These bets are placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers:
- Straight Up: Betting on a single number (35:1 payout)
- Split: Betting on two adjacent numbers (17:1 payout)
- Street: Betting on three numbers in a row (11:1 payout)
- Corner: Betting on four numbers that form a square (8:1 payout)
- Six Line: Betting on two adjacent rows of numbers
Outside Bets
These bets cover larger groups of numbers:
- Red/Black: Betting on all red or all black numbers (1:1 payout)
- Odd/Even: Betting on all odd or all even numbers (1:1 payout)
- 1-18/19-36: Betting on either the lower or upper half of numbers (1:1 payout)
- Dozens: Betting on groups of twelve numbers (2:1 payout)
- Columns: Betting on one of three vertical columns (2:1 payout)
House Edge and Advanced Rules
The house edge varies by variant:
European/French Roulette: 2.7% American Roulette: 5.26%
La Partage Rule
Found in French roulette, this rule returns half the stake on even-money bets when zero appears, reducing the house edge to 1.35%.
Strategies and Tips
While roulette is primarily a game of chance, consider these recommendations:
- Choose European over American roulette when possible
- Set a budget and stick to it
- Understand the odds of each bet type
- Consider using betting systems for money management
Popular betting strategies include:
- Martingale Strategy: Double your bet after each loss
- Fibonacci Strategy: Use the Fibonacci sequence to determine bet sizes
- D'Alembert Strategy: Increase your bet by one unit after a loss and decrease by one unit after a win
For more detailed information about roulette strategies, visit Wizard of Odds.
Online Roulette
Modern technology has brought roulette to the digital age. Online casinos offer:
- Live dealer games
- Multiple camera angles
- Automated game statistics
- Various betting limits
- Mobile compatibility
Learn more about online roulette regulations at Gambling.com.
Remember that while roulette is an entertaining game of chance, responsible gambling should always be practiced. Many jurisdictions offer resources for problem gambling support, such as the National Problem Gambling Helpline.