Roulette Rules, Bets, and Fundamentals That Every Player Should Know
Roulette is a game of chance that you’ll always find on the casino floor. The table and its mesmerizing wheel have a special kind of allure that can’t be matched by slots or card games such as blackjack or baccarat.
This type of gambling is also quite intuitive — even total newcomers will understand the basic goal of roulette by observing a few rounds. However, many details remain hidden beneath the surface and elude novice players. How many bet types are available? What are the payouts? Are there big differences between the various roulette versions? Our new review is here to help you get answers to all of those questions and more!
How to Play Roulette in 3 Easy Steps
- The first step is picking one (or as many as you wish) of the betting options on the roulette table and placing your chips there. You can see a full breakdown of all the wager types below this section.
- Once all the stakes are placed, the wheel is spun in one direction, then the dealer sets and spins the ball into the opposite direction.
- After a while, the ball (also known as the “pill”) loses inertia and stops in to one of the numbered pockets. If your bet covers the number or color of the pocket, you win!
A Guide to All the Roulette Bets
There are two main types of roulette bets — inside and outside. The first category covers single or small sets of numbers situated on the inside of the table. The second is more wide-ranging and allows you to select larger groups like odd/even numbers, the black/red colors, dozens and so on. Now, we’ll list them all from the smallest to the largest.
Inside Bets
Straight-up - When you put money on a single number, it’s called placing a “straight-up” bet. If you guess correctly, you’ll get the largest payout — your stake will be multiplied 35 times.
Split - Covers two numbers. You need to position your chip on the border between your two selections. It pays 17:1.
Street - This one includes a vertical row of 3 numbers. Position your chip at the lowest point of the row, more specifically on the line that connects it to one of the dozen bets. The payout is 11:1.
Corner - Whenever you feel like betting on four numbers, put your money where their corners meet for an 8:1 reward.
Basket - This one is exclusive to American roulette and covers the 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. Place it on the upper-left side of the 1st dozen area, where the zero meets one. It pays 6:1.
Line - Think of it as a double street wager, as it includes two rows or a total of 6 numbers. Its reward is 5:1.
Outside Bets
Column & Dozen - These two are quite similar to one another. The only difference is that the numbers in dozen bets are in sequential order, while the other group covers whatever is to the left of one of the “2:1” zones.
Low/High number - Put money here if you think that the ball will land anywhere on 1-18 or 19-36. 1:1 payout.
Odd/Even - Will the next result be an odd or an even number? A correct guess grants you an even-money payout.
Red/Black - Instead of betting on numbers, you can wager on one of the two main colors for a chance to double your bet.
Comparing the Different Roulette Versions
If you’ve watched a lot of casino movies or have been to Vegas, you’re most likely familiar with the American version of roulette. This is one of the three main variants of the game, famous for having the “double zero” — a second green zone. However, it’s also the worst choice if you care about your bankroll.
Since most bets don’t include the zero, having two of these areas increases the mathematical edge that the casino has over you. Also, the numbers on the American wheel are arranged differently compared to the other variants.
European roulette has the same payouts as the American kind, but the house edge is lower since there’s only one zero. If you want to get precise, the Euro version comes with a house edge of 2.70%, while this value increases to 5.26% in its US counterpart.
French roulette is the last of the three main types. It plays exactly like its European cousin but also includes a special rule for the zero. If you wager money on one of the bets that pay 1:1 and the ball lands on the dreaded green pocket, you won’t lose your entire bet. If the “En Prison” rule is active, your wager is held and can be won back on the condition that you win on the next spin.
Online roulettes typically work with another rule called “La Partage,” which returns half of your even-money wagers when the ball falls on zero. The house edge is slimmed down to 1.35% regardless of which French rule is active. This kind of roulette also features an additional betting area called the “racetrack.” It allows you to place neighbor bets (wager on 2 or more adjacent numbers on the roulette wheel) and French bets, which cover wider portions of the wheel.
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