Roullete is a simple game of chance that’s been thrilling casino-goers for over 200 years. It’s a game that’s easy to understand, yet provides a surprising level of depth for serious players who know how to take advantage of the odds and the game’s unique physics. In this article, we’ll go over the basics of how to play, including the rules, how to place your bets, and a few tips that will help you win.
The Roulette Wheel
A croupier (that’s what you call the dealer) will spin the roulette wheel and throw the ball into it. You can still be placing your bets during this time, but once the croupier announces “no more bets,” everyone at the table will watch as the ball bounces around the wheel until it finally settles into a pocket that marks a number. If you made a bet on that number, you’ve won!
The numbers on a roulette wheel are arranged in groups called dozens, with the first dozen being red and the second being black. There are also two additional green divisions, marked 0 and 00. The house gets its edge from these extra green pockets, as they are not red or black and do not count for either the odd or even bets. If the ball lands on either of these two pockets, all outside bets lose.
Some players like to try to predict where the ball will land, or to follow other players’ bets in hopes that they’ll catch a lucky streak. However, these tactics won’t improve your odds more than simply sticking to a predetermined bankroll and betting wisely.
Choosing your bets
A few of the most common bets are straight up, split, and corner. A straight up bet is a wager on an individual number; simply place your chips on the number you want to win. A split bet is a wager on two numbers; place your chips in the corner of the table where the numbers intersect to make your bet. The payout for a winning split bet is 17-1.
The dozens bet is another bet that offers decent odds for players. This is a bet that says the winning number will be in one of the first twelve (12) or one of the last 18 numbers (19-36). This is an even-money bet, meaning you’ll get your money back if you’re right. Just beware that you’ll lose if the 0 or 00 comes up, as they aren’t part of the first or last dozens and will result in a loss. For this reason, we recommend only placing a dozens bet if you have a substantial amount of money to invest in the bet. Otherwise, you’ll be risking too much of your bankroll for a very small chance of winning.