How to play roulette
Roulette is a casino game that is shrouded in excitement, mystery, and glamor for players as far back as the 17th century. The rules of roulette are relatively simple, and most casino-goers find the game easy to understand.
However, heavy bettors have discovered that a surprising depth of understanding is required if one is to keep winning at playing roulette. This, we believed is why it’s essential to learn the basics of this exciting game before trying your luck.
Before we dive into the rules of the game, it’s essential to mention that there are officially three variations of roulette – American, European, and French roulette; but all three variations follow the same rules.
It consists of a spinning wheel, a ceramic ball (which is spun by a casino worker or croupier), a betting table and several wager options that are available to every player.
You place your wager in the form of chips on the roulette table before each round (though some casinos still allow you to place bets even after the ball is dropped). Then the croupier spins the wheel with the roulette ball in motion, but in the opposite direction.
After a short while, the roulette ball starts slowing down and then lands in any of several numbered pockets.
You become a winner if the final destination and resting place of the roulette ball matches your wager. But if you don’t win, you are welcome to try again.
Players place bets on either a single or range of numbers, colors – black or red, odd or even, high (19–36) or low (1–18). The winning number is determined when the roulette ball falls into any one of 36 numbered and colored pockets on the wheel of fortune or a zero pocket. Take note also, that American roulette makes use of double zeros.
You are at liberty to choose the way you want to play which of course depends on your betting strategy as well as your bankroll.
Before you can begin play, first obtain your colored chips – they’re colored differently for each player to avoid confusion – then proceed to place your bets.
You can place either an inside or outside bet in roulette. The inside betting area has individual numbers on the layout while the outside betting area contains different groups of numbers, boxes for the columns, and red/black and odd/even. The numbers on the inside are laid out in 12 rows of three numbers, thus forming three vertical columns. The 0 and 00 are positioned at the top of the columns.
At every roulette table, there is a maximum and a minimum bet. Players cannot combine both the inside and outside wager or bets to meet the table minimum. For instance, if the minimum bet is ten dollars, you have to bet $10 on the inside and $10 on the outside.
In conclusion, always have it at the back of your mind that the house always has the advantage anytime you play at the roulette table. After all, every casino is in the business to make money, not to lose it.