Roulette is a casino game of chance that has offered glamour and mystery to many gamblers since the 17th century. Although the rules of the game are relatively simple, the correct strategy can reap high rewards for serious players. This article will take a look at the history of roulette, its different variations, and the most common bets and payouts in order to help players decide where and how to place their chips at the table.
Before the dealer spins the wheel, players bet on what number or type of number they think will appear by placing their chips on the betting mat. The winnings are paid out after the ball comes to rest in one of the numbered divisions on the roulette wheel. The wheel is a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with thirty-six metal compartments, or frets, around the circumference that alternate between red and black and are numbered non-consecutively from 1 to 36. There is also a green compartment, or ‘zero’, on European roulette wheels and a second green one on American ones.
There are several types of roulette games, the most popular being European and American. The European roulette version has a lower house edge than the American one due to its single zero pocket and it is recommended that novices should play this variation.
Other roulette variations include double ball, mini, and multi-wheel. Each of these variations has its own rules and payouts which should be studied before playing.
Unlike other casino games, there are few different bets in roulette. The bets that are placed on the numbered section of the board are known as inside bets and offer higher chances of winning. Outside bets are those that are made on the outer portion of the wheel and typically pay out lower amounts.
The most important factor in a winning roulette bet is understanding the odds. These are defined as the probability of hitting a particular outcome and can be found in any online gambling site. The odds are calculated as a percentage of the total amount wagered by the players. This percentage is then multiplied by the number of bets placed on that outcome.
The best type of roulette to play is the French version which is a little more intimidating for new players due to the French terminology used on the betting mat. However, it is well worth persevering as this variation has a minuscule house edge of only 1.35% (Vive le France!). There are two specific rules within this roulette version; la partage and en prison. La partage means’sharing’ in English and allows players to get half of their even money bets back on the table if the ball lands on zero while en prison is similar to this but keeps the player’s stake on the table for the next bet rather than returning it to them.