There are few games in a casino that are equally daunting to the rookie player as well as to the Roulette table – there’s a sea of colors, numbers and impending impossibilities. Don’t you think it is much easier to press buttons and watch the reels spin on the slot machine rather? Though you may think yes, but surprisingly, it isn’t!
The Roulette table might seem to be confusing and intimidating at the first glance but you can’t deny that it is a simple casino game to understand. Once you get to know the tips and tricks of this game, you will gradually learn to master the techniques. The key is however to know how to place your bets properly. Read on this guide that will teach you how to play roulette.
The Simple and Easy-to-Understand Rules of Roulette
Roulette is a game that has added glamour and a sense of mystery to the casino-goers since the 17th century. For the serious bettors, Roulette offers an interesting level of depth. Read on to learn the basics of the game.
THE BASICS
Understanding the Equipment
Roulette is a French word that means ‘little wheel’. On this wheel, you’ll find 36 different numbers along with a 0. On few American tables, you may also find ‘00’.The dealer will spin a white ball that will gradually land on any of the numbers. The bets will be placed on the Roulette table corresponding to the slots on which the ball may land. On the table are the numbers and few options like:
- 1st 12
- 2nd 12
- 3rd 12
- 1-18
- 19-36
- Even
- Odd
- Black Red
Understand the array of ‘Inside Bets’
In a game of Roulette, you have to predict the type of pocket on which this ivory ball will possibly land. For this, you can make inside bets which are bets placed on definite numbers. Usually, these are high-paying odds. Other bets you can place are:
- ‘Straight up’ betting on single number pays 35-1
- Split betting on two number pays 17-1
- ‘Street betting’ on three numbers pays 11-1
- Corner betting on four numbers pays 8-1
- Six line betting on 6 numbers pays 5-1
- The chip lies on the edge of two adjoining streets
Understand what ‘Outside bets’ are
‘Outside bets’ don’t comprise of specific numbers and they are made on the outside of the number map. So, it deals with the name.
- Color betting (black or red) pays 1 to 1
- Odd or even betting pays 1 to 1
- Column or betting on number 12 pays 2 to 1
- Dozen betting (1st 12) pays 2 to 1
- High or low bets that pay 1 to 1
Comprehend your betting odds
You can’t forget that at every Roulette table, the house will definitely have an edge. All sorts of bets, at both wheels are paid at odds that would turn true only when the 36 numbers are there on the wheel. Their benefit arises from to 0 and 00 in America. Although you’ll come across several theories on how you can improve your odds, yet they mostly don’t work.
PLAYING THE GAME
Look for a table
Each one will carry a placard that will speak about the minimum and maximum bets placed on the table. The maximums on table are lower on inside bets as they offer higher payoffs. Each table will have a board which emphasises the previous numbers on which the ball has landed. With each spin, the odds of each number will stay the same and it will be the same ball and the same wheel each time.
Look forward to what is happening
For all purposes and intentions, there can be no specific strategy of playing roulette. This is sheer luck! Sometimes, the dealers or the bankers have specific habits. They may spin the ball exactly at the same velocity and angle every time during a definite session. As the dealer releases this ball, the same numbers pass every time, boosting the chances of the ball resting on the same portion of the wheel time and again. A wheel can also go off-kilter but the casinos are great at spotting this.
Hand over your chips to the dealer
In France and Europe, this man is also called the croupier. In a game of Roulette, you don’t play with the usual casino chips. Each player will get a definite color to differentiate between the bettors. If a husband and wife play together, they are also considered as separate. You get your chips in various denominations and when you hand them to the chips, he will ask you about the denomination that you wish to designate. Roulette chips don’t have any value away from the roulette wheel.
Know the process of a Roulette round
Once the dealer clears off the table and pays the winners, another round of a new game begins. He will however halt for a bit, give time to everyone to decide on their bets. Once that is done, he will throw the ball on the wheel and spin it. When the ball drops on the wheel from the tracks, the dealer will announce, ‘No more bets!’ As the ball settles on a number, the dealer places a marker on the winning number. Losing bets will be cleared off first and this process is repeated.
Place your bets
The initial six bets are placed on those pockets that are numbered between 0 and 36 on the Roulette table. In case you wish to bet on a column, place the bets on an empty pocket under the 3 columns. For betting on the dozen, select the P12 pocket for the initial 12 numbers, M12 for the 12 numbers in the middle and D12 for the last 12 numbers. On the contrary, when you bet on ‘outside bets’, you may use black, red, odd, even, low or high pockets.
Therefore, now that you’re well-versed with the game of Roulette, you can start practicing it either in physical casinos or in the offline ones. Try to master the art of the game eventually so as to become an expert.