Roulette, one of the world’s most popular casino games, offers a bit of glamour and mystery to casino-goers. But it’s also a game that requires some serious strategy to win big. If you’re new to roulette, the first thing you should do is to understand the rules of the game.
There are three main variations of the game, which you can find at most casinos: American, European and French. Each has its own subtle differences that every player should know about.
The wheel
In roulette, the spinning wheel is a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape and about the size of a baseball bat. It has a number of compartments, or pockets, that are separated by metal partitions called frets. Each compartment is painted either red or black, containing nonconsecutively numbered slots that carry the signs 1 to 36 on the European version of the game and zero on the American version.
The wheel has an inside groove to catch the ball that spins around it, and there are small markers on each side to indicate which numbers have been hit. The most important thing to remember when playing roulette is that the dealer will spin the wheel, allowing you to place your bets on the various numbers on the wheel.
A “buck” or “puck” appears on the table during the middle of the game to indicate which numbers have been hit, and then the betting begins. Players can choose to place their bets on individual numbers or groups of digits, and the dealer will then spin the wheel and mark the winning numbers on a special table map.
There are many ways to win at roulette, but there are some strategies that are worth considering. These include betting on “outside” bets (groups of digits rather than individual ones) and using the wheel’s best features to your advantage.
Choosing the right chips
The most important thing to remember when playing roulette, is that you don’t play with normal casino chips. Each player gets a different color of chip. This is important to distinguish between you and other players at the table, and to help you keep track of your winnings or losses.