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Roulette rules • Roulette Table Layout • Inside and Outside Bets
Roulette is one of the most classic and popular casino games and has been played all over the world for many years. The word "roulette" is french and means "small wheel". Roulette is one of the easiest games to learn and can make for a great deal of excitement.
Up until a few years ago you would have to go to a real brick and mortar casino in order to enjoy a game of roulette. These days, playing roulette online can be at least as exciting as it would be at a real table. The technology is advanced enough now to simulate a perfect environment and to create an ambience that leaves nothing to be desired. If this was not enough, you can play this game anytime you want, you can take a break and come back whenever you feel like. There is no need to take time off to organize a trip, just play in the comfort of your home.
Roulette basic rules
When playing roulette you make a wager on the result of a ball spun around a wheel, which is divided into alternating red and black sections numbered from 1 to 36.
In traditional Roulette you would play against the House represented by the croupier. To determine the winning number and color he spins the roulette wheel in one direction and then the ball in the opposite direction. After the spin has begun, players may keep betting until the ball is about to drop from the track at the top of the wheel down toward the numbered slots. Then the dealer will call, "No more bets, please." The ball will eventually fall into one of 37 slots representing 36 numbers and one green zero pocket (European roulette), the house edge is 2.63 %. In American roulette you have a second green slot marked 00 (double zero) increasing the house edge to 5.26 %.
There is a common misconception that the green numbers are "house numbers" and that by betting on them one "gains the house edge." It's true that the house's advantage comes from the existence of these numbers, though. A game without them would be statistically fair. However, they are no more or less likely to come up than any other number.
You can place bets on either a particular number (1-36) being landed on by the ball, a range of numbers (for example, the first 12 numbers) or some characteristic of that number (the color red or black OR whether the number is odd or even).
Play roulette at online casinos
To play roulette online simply drag as many chips as you wish anywhere on the layout. Click or hit space to spin the wheel. Wherever the ball lands determines what number and side bets get paid off. Bets are paid at what the true odds would be if there were no zeros.
Therefore, a single number would pay off at 35:1 (see inside bets table below) and a bet of red, black, odd or even would pay off at 1:1 (see outside bets table below). You can bet on more than one number at a time. To play multiple numbers that are touching, just place the chips so that they are touching all the numbers. For example, to play two numbers, simply put your chips in between the two numbers you want. To play four numbers put your chips in the center, where all the fields touch. For more examples see the types of roulette bets table below.
Roulette table layout
The roulette table is composed of two sections, the wheel itself and the roulette betting layout. The roulette betting layout can be thought of a cloth with an arrangement of red and black squares numbered in correspondence with the wheel. This is where you would place your chips. The layout is either single zero (European roulette) or double zero (American roulette).
So that you have a slightly better chance of winning and to make it more interesting there are additional spaces for other types of bets (see the image below).
Roulette layouts have two betting areas:
- The inside betting area contains the individual numbers (1 to 36).
- The outside betting area contains boxes for additional bets, including: odd/even, red/black, 1st/2nd/3rd column, 1st/2nd/3rd Dozen, 1st half (1 through 18) and 2nd half (19 through 36).
Types of Roulette bets (inside and outside bets explained in more detail)
There are two categories of roulette bets and you may place these bets in whatever combination or arrangement you wish. The two types of roulette bets are:
Inside bets are bets on a single number or small combination of numbers on the internal area of the roulette table layout. The rules say that the sum of all of your bets must add up to at least the table minimum. This means if you are playing at a roulette $5 minimum table and would like to bet on unique roulette numbers you can gamble $1 on each of five numbers, $5 on a single number or any combination between both.
| Wager | Ex | Bet on | Payoff | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straigh Up | A | 30 | 35:1 | 37:1 |
| Split Bet | B | 11 or 14 | 17:1 | 37:2 |
| Street Bet | C | 19, 20, 21 | 11:1 | 37:3 |
| Corner | D | 25, 26, 28, 29 | 8:1 | 37:4 |
| Line Bet | E | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | 5:1 | 37:6 |
Outside bets are bets placed on the outside segments of the roulette table layout. Around the outside of the board lie figures of other betting alternatives, that are collectively referred to as roulette outside bets. They involve betting 12 to 18 numbers or one-third of the numbers at one time (see table below).
| Wager | Ex | Bet on | Payoff | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Column | F | Column Numbers | 2:1 | 37:12 |
| Dozen | G | 25 through 36 | 2:1 | 37:12 |
| Red | H | Red Numbers | 1:1 | 37:18 |
| Odd | I | Odd Numbers | 1:1 | 37:18 |
| Top Half | J | 19 through 36 | 1:1 | 37:18 |
On roulette outside bets each wager must meet at least the table minimum, and you cannot merge the rate of any bids. That means if you wish to bet on black and odds at the same time you must put $5 on both bets at a $5 minimum table.
This also means that roulette outside bets may not be submitted to your roulette inside bet total.
It goes without saying that bets that are harder to hit, such as a single number pay the most (35:1) compared to combinations of numbers (column numbers or dozens) that only pay 2:1.
Roulette strategies (enhance your gaming experience)
It's one thing to know the roulette rules, but if you want to get the most out of your gambling experience you should learn about a few roulette strategies as well. They are easy to understand and can enhance your gaming experience significantly. This will make your money last longer or might even earn you a nice profit in the end!
When applying any strategies it is also important to note that the right choice of casino is an important factor to consider as well. The more free bonus money you get to play with the better your chances of coming out as a winner. It's advisable to take the extra time to compare casinos for their bonus offers and promotions.
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