Roulette is a very popular casino game involving a spinning wheel and a ball. The wheel spins in one direction while the ball in the opposite direction. Players place bets on where they think the ball will land on the wheel. Roulette wheels are divided into numbered pockets, and the outcome is determined by which pocket the ball lands in. Roulette Rules should be followed by players & casinos alike.
The main rules of roulette are as follows:
The Roulette Wheel
The roulette wheel consists of either 37 or 38 numbered pockets, depending on the version of the game. In European roulette, there are 37 pockets numbered from 0 to 36, while American roulette has an additional 00 pocket along with the numbers 0 to 36.
Inside Bets
Players can place bets on specific numbers or groups of numbers inside the roulette table layout. Inside bets have higher payouts but lower odds of winning.
Examples include:
Straight Bet: Bet on a single number by placing chips directly on that number.
Split Bet: Bet on two adjacent numbers by placing chips on the line between them.
Street Bet: Bet on a row of three numbers by placing chips on the outer edge of the row.
Corner Bet: Bet on a group of four numbers by placing chips at the intersection of the four numbers.
Outside Bets
Outside bets cover larger groups of numbers, providing better odds of winning but lower payouts.
Examples include:
Red/Black: Betting on whether the ball will land on a red or black number.
Odd/Even: Betting on whether the number will be odd or even.
High/Low: Betting on whether the number will be in the high range (19-36) or low range (1-18).
Dozens: Betting on one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36).
Zero (and Double Zero):
The presence of a single zero (0) in European roulette gives the house a slight edge. In American roulette, with the additional double zero (00), the house edge increases, making it less favorable for players. Some casinos are introducing triple zero (000) roulette which we should all boycott and never ever play it. Payouts remain the same regardless of how many zeros a wheel has. Boycott 000 Roulette!
The Spin and Winning Bet
After all bets are placed, the croupier (or dealer) spins the roulette wheel in one direction and sets the ball spinning in the opposite direction. The ball eventually loses momentum and lands in one of the numbered pockets. The winning bet is determined based on where the ball comes to a stop.
For a spin to be valid the ball must complete three full revolutions of the wheel before dropping into a numbered pocket.
You can place bets once the wheel has started spinning. A short while after the wheel and ball are spinning the croupier will call “no more bets” and wave their arms over the table. Any bets made after that are invalid.
Payouts
Payouts are based on the type of bet placed. Inside bets generally have higher payouts (up to 35 to 1 for a Straight Bet), while outside bets have smaller payouts (1 to 1 for Red/Black or Odd/Even).
En Prison and La Partage
In some variations of roulette, like French roulette, there are special rules called En Prison and La Partage that can reduce the house edge on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero. Very few casinos offer this as an option.
Finally
Remember, roulette is a game of chance, and the outcome of each spin is independent of the previous ones. So, play responsibly and enjoy the thrill of this iconic casino game!
For more information on payouts click here. Some of the popular strategies are shown here.
Read more about Roulette on Wikipedia.
Happy Roulette Adventures everyone!
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