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.
How the Game Works
The core of the game is the roulette wheel, casino which is divided into numbered pockets. The two primary versions of roulette are:
Single-Zero Roulette: It features numbers 1 through 36 plus a single green zero, for a total of 37 slots. This is the preferred version for players as its house edge is lower. American Roulette: This variant is identified by its 38 pockets, which include both a "0" and a "00". 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.
Placing Your Wagers
All roulette wagers fall into one of two main classifications.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are wagers on the numbered section of the table. They offer big payouts but are harder to hit.
Straight Up: Betting on one specific number. The highest payout in the game. Split: A bet on two adjacent numbers. Payout is 17 to 1. Street: A three-number bet that pays 11:1. Corner: A bet on a group of four numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.
Outside Bets
These are wagers on general outcomes and have better odds with lower payouts.
Red/Black: A bet on whether the winning number will be red or black. Payout is 1 to 1. Odd/Even: A bet on whether the number will be odd or even. Payout is 1 to 1. High/Low: Betting on the number falling in the 1-18 or 19-36 group. Dozens/Columns: These bets cover a third of the numbers (excluding 0) and casino pay 2:1.
Can You Beat the Wheel?
Because roulette is a game of pure chance, there is no strategy that can guarantee a win or overcome the house edge in the long run. Betting strategies like the Martingale system do not work and are dangerous for casino your bankroll. The smartest approach is to play responsibly, set a budget, and stick to the European version of the game.