A Deep Dive into Roulette: Rules and Strategies

Roulette is an iconic casino game, instantly recognizable by its spinning wheel and the small white ball that determines players’ fortunes. The game’s French name translates to “little wheel,” and its reliance on pure luck makes it thrilling for all types of players.

Understanding the Roulette Wheel

The core of the game is the roulette wheel, which is divided into numbered pockets. There are two main variations of the wheel:

• European Roulette: This wheel has 37 pockets, numbered 1-36 (alternating between red and black) and a single green “0” pocket. This is the preferred version for players as its house edge is lower.
• Double-Zero Roulette: This wheel has 38 pockets, including the numbers 1-36, a single “0”, casino and an additional “00” pocket, also green. Players face worse odds in this version because of the “00”.

The objective is to predict which numbered pocket the ball will land in after the wheel stops spinning.

Types of Bets in Roulette

The bets you can make are split into two groups: Inside Bets and Outside Bets.

Inside Bets

These are bets placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers on the inside of the betting layout. They have higher payouts but lower odds of winning.

• Straight Up: Betting on one specific number. The highest payout in the game.
• Split: Betting on the line between two numbers.
• Street: Betting on a three-number row.
• Corner: A four-number bet that pays 8:1.

Outside Bets

Outside bets cover large sections of the wheel. They are easier to win but offer smaller payouts.

• Red/Black: A simple color bet that pays even money.
• Odd/Even: A bet on whether the number will be odd or even. Payout is 1 to 1.
• High/Low: A bet on whether the number will be in the low range (1-18) or the high range (19-36). Payout is 1 to 1.
• Dozens/Columns: These bets cover a third of the numbers (excluding 0) and pay 2:1.

Roulette Systems

It is impossible to beat roulette consistently because every spin is random and the house edge is fixed. Systems like the Martingale (doubling your bet after a loss) are extremely risky and can lead to catastrophic losses very quickly. The best “strategy” is to manage your bankroll, play for entertainment, casino and casino if possible, always choose European roulette over American roulette.