Roulette is one of the casino’s most popular games. It is easy enough for novice players to pick up and fast-paced, which keeps more experienced gamblers engaged. Roulette can be found in almost every casino that offers table games.
The game consists of a spinning wheel and a ball which is spun around it until the ball comes to rest in one of the divisions on the wheel that are numbered 1 to 36. These divisions are alternately red and black. The American roulette wheel also has an extra green zero, which makes the game a worse proposition financially than the European version of the game.
Once a player has made his or her bets the dealer clears the table and pays any winners. Then the croupier or dealer will spin the wheel and throw the ball into it. If the ball lands on a number slot, the winner will be paid based on his or her betting odds. Players make bets by placing chips on a special betting mat with the specific placement of the chips indicating the type of bet. Bets on numbers, groupings of numbers or colors are called “Inside bets” and bets on larger groups of numbers like the first, second or third dozen are referred to as “Outside bets”.
In the United States, roulette has only a small following compared with video poker, blackjack, or craps, but it is still a mainstay at Monte Carlo casinos and other European gaming establishments. It is also an important element of many online gambling sites.
Frank Scoblete grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He spent the ’60s getting an education; the ’70s editing, writing and publishing; and the ’90s and 2000s in casino gambling. He is the author of 35 books and a well-known casino specialist. He lives in Long Island, New York. He is a regular contributor to RPS video and has been the host of numerous online gambling shows. He has won two Emmy Awards and three Writers Guild of America Awards for his work.