Roulette is one of those timeless games that has been with us for well over two centuries now and it continues to fascinate generations of gamers. For the uninitiated observer, roulette can be a bit puzzling, but learning the ropes is a complete no-brainer. We have put a comprehensive guide on how to play roulette, whether you prefer iGaming venues or go directly to the casino floor in Atlantic City or Las Vegas. The rules are very much the same, and we will help you learn this superb game in no time at all.
How to Play Roulette: A Look at the Rules
Learning how to play roulette is such a simple affair and you will have the greatest time learning the basics of the game. So, what are the rules to roulette? Very simple in fact. There are three main stages that you will be interested in, to name:
- Placing the bets
- Spinning the wheel
- Announcing the winners
It is quite as simple as it sounds. As soon as you have decided what numbers to back, the dealer will spin the roulette wheel and the ball will determine who the winners are. You basically pick a number and place a sum that is within the table limit of the roulette game. The dealer will sort out all the rest.
Table limits are important as they will be an essential part in determining what the best roulette strategy for you is. Let’s first take a look at how the betting process works.
How Do You Bet on Roulette?
The roulette grid does indeed look a bit overcrowded, but the logic is very simple. For the sake of simplicity, we will talk about the two main types of bets right away. These are “inside” and “outside” bets.
You just grab your chips and place them on the sectors in the grid that represent the value you want to bet on. The inside bets are all numbers from 0 to 36. In the case of American roulette, there is an extra 0 known as double zero “00”. In this case, the inside bets also include the 00.
It helps to know that the inside bets have a slightly better return rate than the outside bets, but as you have probably guessed, the odds of landing a single number out of 37 or even 38 possibilities is not exactly big. To bet, just place as many chips as you see fit on the inside bets. There are some interesting combinations when it comes to inside bets.
Put simply, you can bet on multiple single numbers by placing your chips at specific locations. Not many guides that teach you how to play roulette cover this, but we hold it to be important. Let’s use both a visual aid as well as numbers to illustrate this:
- Straight – Bet directly on a whole number
- Split – Bet on two numbers in the inside grid
- Street – Cover three numbers in a horizontal line
- Six line – Cover six numbers in two adjacent horizontal lines
- Square – Also known as a “corner” bet, you cover four numbers
- Trio – A bet on three numbers that includes the 0 or 00
- Basket – Bet on 0 (and 00 if applicable), 1, 2, and 3.
Outside Bets
The outside bets are a little more reliable in a sense and most roulette winning strategies are based upon that. There is a good reason for that.
While the probability of landing a specific number or a set of numbers is not as big, with outside bets you are often given a nearly 50% chance of winning – lower because of the clever 0 or even 00 that the game inserts.
So, let’s have a look at the types of outside bets out there:
- Red or Black
- Odd or Even
- 1-18, 19-36
- Dozens
- Columns
These bets are self-explanatory, but for the sake of clarity we will specify that Columns stands for a bet that is placed on the entire “column” you want to bet on in the main grid. So far as the dozens bets are concerned, it’s a bet on the three dozens of the grid.
The French Bets
You can’t learn how to play roulette if there are gaps in your knowledge. As you experience the different versions of the game, you are sooner or later bound to run into the French bets that are also called “announced bets”.
These bets are available in the French version of the game, which is the most generous out there, so learning them would be in your favor. There are the:
- Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero) – Covers the 12 numbers from 27 to 33 on the roulette wheel
- Le Tiers Du Cylindre (One Third of the Wheel)– This bet covers the following numbers: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23,10, 5, 24, 16 and 33.
- Orphelins (Orphans) – Any numbers not covered by Neighbors and The Third of the Wheel.
What is the Best Bet in Roulette?
Outside bets are the best types of bets you can have at both online and offline roulette. Since the chance to lose here is the smallest, and recuperating losses is the easiest, you will want to stick to these types of bets. Here is why.
Now that we have cleared up a lot about roulette, you are all ready to take your knowledge of how to play roulette and put it into practice. But first, you are probably wondering – which is the best game version you can choose?
| Roulette Versions and their House Edge | ||
| French | European | American |
| 1.35% | 2.70% | 5.26% |
he most common variants of roulette are French, European, and American. French has a special En Prison and La Partage rule which help you slash the house edge to just 1.35% compared to 5.26% for American roulette.
With this said, playing the European or French version is perhaps your best bet to date. Then, looking at the specific grid, you will probably want to stick with the outside bets. It’s very simple – the probability to lose is the smallest.
Most players agree that Odds or Even and Red or Black are the types of bets they feel most comfortable with. Of course, there is a slight chance that you will lose, but the good news is that there are strategies to help you get back in your stride in no time at all.
What’s the Best Way to Play Roulette?
The best way to play roulette is by employing a strategy. There are several strategies that have withstood the test of time and that have become a handy guide for new players and well-seasoned veterans interested in increasing their roulette odds. The main strategies you can use are:
- Martingale
- Fibonacci
- Labouchere
Each strategy is a progressive, meaning that you will be doubling in the case of losses and just continuing with a single stake in the cases when you win. Strategies are a proven way to win some money, but some casinos might object.
Meanwhile, you should also consider that it’s easy to lose money as well. If a table has a table limit of $500 and you wager at $50 per single bet, you will hit the table limit after only four losses, since the forth bet would have to be $400 based on the progression of Martingale.
For example, you place $50 and lose. You place $100 and lose. You place $200 and lose. So far you have lost $350 and to recuperate your losses, you need to place $400. If you lose here, then you will end up with a big gap in your budget.
There are purely hypothetical numbers and the majority of players would probably stick to $5 or $10 wagers. Plus, most roulette games have around $2,000 in terms of limit these days. Even if you start with a $1 by playing Martingale, you will be at $2048 after 12 losses. The chance of this happening isn’t big, but you should be aware of the possibilities altogether.
Bottom line, the table limits are quite important and when you are learning how to play roulette, you don’t want to take much chances.
How to Play Roulette: Know the Odds
On top of all other things, it would certainly help you to know what the odds say. As we have covered what the best bets are before, now we want to flesh some of the details that would convince you that outside bets are indeed the best ones you can be placing:
| Roulette Betting Odds | |
| Type of Bet | Odds |
| Red | Evens |
| Black | Evens |
| Even | Evens |
| Odd | Evens |
| Low Bet | Evens |
| High Bet | Evens |
| 1st Dozen | 2-to-1 |
| Middle Dozen | 2-to-1 |
| Last Dozen | 2-to-1 |
| Column Bet | 2-to-1 |
| Line Bet | 5-to-1 |
| Corner/Squrare Bet | 8-to-1 |
| Street Bet | 11-to-1 |
| Split Bet | 17-to-1 |
| Straight Up | 35-to-1 |
This about explains what the odds of wining roulette bets are. While this won’t necessarily have a direct bearing on your game, you will notice that you can alternate your strategies a bit by being familiar with what your exact chances of winning are.
Tips to Play Roulette Like a Pro
Most people who are successful at roulette have had the patience to find a gaming venue that would allow them to play according to a strategy. In most cases, a strategy can only get you this far and you need to understand that because of the 0 and 00, the edge is always against you.
If you played indefinitely, the house will always end up winning – there is no way around this. However, you can still get some positive results in the short term. This is why it always helps to keep a few tips in mind that the best adhere to and play by:
- Always pick the most customer-friendly casinos
- Do not chase after your losses
- One single big bet won’t undo past mistakes
- In the end, the house always gets you
- Don’t trust a strategy blindly
- Enjoy the game, don’t turn it into a job
With these simple recommendations, you can achieving a fulfilling gaming experience that will allow you to amass a bit of profit. A game of roulette can never be source of income and when you learn how to play roulette, you should always approach the tables with a clear head. Big profits do happen, but they are never based on personal skill. Remember, roulette is a game of chance, and while the strategies will get you a long way, they are not infallible.
Play Online to Experience Even Better Versions of Roulette
Thanks to iGaming, you can experience quite a few awesome versions of the game. Yes, there are the main ones and the classic iterations of the game, but there are also other worthy titles.
Live and Immersive Roulette are among the most popular. Online and offline venues are being linked as well allowing all sorts of people to mingle freely without necessarily being physically present. Ultimately, there are around 30 types of roulette created by multiple software studios, including game versions such as Age of the Gods, Ra Roulette, 3D Roulette, and many more.
A Final Thought of Dominating the Roulette Tables
For three centuries now, roulette continues to dominate gaming parlors online and offline. The game’s aesthetic appeal and interesting mechanics guarantee it a place in the casino pantheon. All technological innovations these days only serve to highlight the finesse of a game crafted in the 18th century and still being an exciting casino product.
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