When it comes to casino games, there is nothing quite as thrilling as the spinning wheel of the Roulette table. Roulette, which means “little wheel” in French, has been immortalised in many movies an excited crowd of beautiful people in Monte Carlo or Las Vegas look on.
As with all games of chance, luck plays a massive role in the success of the game, and this is especially true of this spinning wheel that seems to be the most random of all casino games.
Understanding the odds and which options are more likely to lead to a payout can go a long way in offering you the confidence you need to start playing.
How to play Roulette
Aside from the spinning wheel where the ball falls on red or black numbers, the table is where you’ll place your bets after selecting where you think the ball will come to rest.
However, there is one major plus in that while you can bet on one specific colour or number, you can also place bets on groups of numbers. These are the betting options available to you whether you are playing American, European or French Roulette:
- Straight Up – is a bet placed on a specific number
- Split – is a bet placed across 2 numbers
- Street – is a bet across 3 numbers in a row
- Corners – is a bet that covers 4 numbers
- Basket – is a bet that covers 1, 2, 3 and both zeros
- Line – is a bet that covers 6 numbers in 2 rows
- Column – is a bet that covers 12 numbers in a 4 x 3 grid
- Dozen – is a bet that covers 12 numbers in a line from top to bottom
- Low numbers – is a bet that covers all the numbers from 1 – 18
- High numbers – is a bet that covers all the numbers from 19 – 36
- Red/Black – is a bet that covers all the numbers in that colour
Once each player has placed their bet, the dealer will spin the wheel and drop the ball. In these casinos, the dealer will allow bets up to the point where the ball drops from the track and onto the actual wheel.
When playing at an online casino, you will click to spin the wheel and let the fun begin! As the reel spins, the ball hops from one space to another until it comes to rest.
The players who have correctly predicted which pocket the ball has come to rest in will win that round. In the case of inside and outside bets, these players will also usually receive a prize.
What is the best bet in roulette?
Despite the fact that roulette allows for groups of numbers to be bet upon, there are still many variables in play that need to be carefully managed in order to ensure success. The more specific your bet, the better the odds with groups of numbers paying out.
- Any single number usually pays at 35:1
- Any adjoining number pays at 17:1
- Any 3 numbers pay at 11:1
- Any 4 numbers in a block pay at 8:1
- 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 pay at 6:1
- Column or Dozens bet pay at 2:1
- Red, Black, High or Low bets pay at 1:1
In American Roulette, the presence of the 0 and 00 gives the casino a slightly higher house edge than in French or European Roulette that only has the 0.
What is the difference between roulette games?
There are 3 kinds of roulette, but they all play in a very similar manner:
- American Roulette – The game a house edge of 5.62%.
- French Roulette – Has a house edge of 1.35% on even bets.
- European Roulette – This version of the game is similar to French Roulette and has a house edge of 2.7%.
French Roulette tables are a popular choice for high roller and VIP areas in land-based casinos where the stakes are high, but the wins are even higher.
Which variant is best?
While French Roulette is best for high rollers simply because the stakes at these tables are set at $1,000 or more, European Roulette is best because of the ability for you to recover your losses through en prison and la partage.
When applying the en prison rule in European or French Roulette, this will help you to recover your bet in the event your even money spin lands on the 0 or 00.
The le partage rule is more generous and allows you to win half your stake back on even money bets, if the ball lands on 0.
Roulette Chips
Chips used at the Roulette table are unique and will make playing at the table even more exciting. Each table will specify the minimum and maximum inside and outside bets at that table and the chips will be valued accordingly.
- Inside Bets: Single number, Split, Street, Corner, 5 number and double street
- Outside Bets: Red/Black, Even, Odd, High, Low, Dozens, Columns
Once you’re ready to cash in your chips, the dealer will provide you with a stack of cash to do with as you please.
Is roulette fair?
Compared to online roulette, rigging roulette wheels at land-based casinos is rare, but possible. Whether it is due to an error or a dealer who changes the way the wheel spins or how the ball is dropped, interference is possible.
Sometimes players can become familiar with the placement of the ball or notice the dealer spinning the wheel at a specific speed and, in doing so, pick up on a trend where it becomes easier to tell where the ball may land.
Online roulette, which makes use of a random number generators are virtually impossible to rig and, when visiting reputable and licensed online casinos who offer casino games by award-winning software provides like NetENT, Evolution Gaming and Microgaming, these providers all have their games tested regularly by a 3rd party agency like the eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance.
Roulette Strategy
Land-based casinos maintain their wheels to a high standard in order to ensure that the wheel spins well and there is no wear and tear that could create a bias. There are many minor factors that can change the outcome of the game.
Monte Carlo Marvel
Engineer, Charles Jagger, found a casino wheel with a bias in 1873 after he gathered a team to keep an eye on which numbers came up over a period of several days. After sifting through the data, he noticed a trend on one wheel that piqued his interest. He and his team then won over $400,000 before casino officials realized what was going on.
Many have tried to follow Jagger’s example with some success, however, given how rare it is, and how much work it takes to establish a trend, us mere mortals need not concern ourselves with the details.
Casinos are very confident in their ability to keep the game fair and free from interference.
What number hits the most in roulette?
At online casinos, the games are all random number generator based which means you can play with peace of mind.
Like the Lottery, many players go with their birth or anniversary dates, lucky numbers or use other methods to decide where to place their bets.
The jury is out about exactly which numbers yield the most success although 17 comes up quite often when this question is asked.
Online Roulette
The introduction of online casinos has ushered in a world of opportunity, especially from the roulette perspective. Aside from many online casinos offering American, European and French roulette, the live casino component breathes new life into the experience as it brings all the excitement and ambience of a real-life casino into the comfort of your home.
Thanks to high definition cameras and live streaming, you get to enjoy a realistic game with professional and knowledgeable dealers who keep up the momentum of the game through banter and answering questions.
Multi-Wheel Roulette
In this version of roulette, you are able to place multiple bets as multiple wheels spin with the click of a button. Given that as many as 4 wheels spin at the same time, you have 4 times the chance to win.
Multi-Ball Roulette
In this version, you have one wheel but many balls to help create wins. This, too, gives you more chances of landing a significant win.
Vertical Roulette
Your standard roulette game, but in a top to bottom layout adds excitement and a fresh look to what is usually a fairly dated design.
Turbo Roulette
This supercharged version of the European roulette wheel will get your heart racing as you place your bets and win.
Best places to play roulette online
Playing games of chance you haven’t tried before can be daunting which is why we do the work for you. Use our game and casino reviews as a guideline when you’d like to try something new and always head to one of the licensed and reputable casinos we recommend for your safety and security, by visiting our Where to Play page.
FAQ’s
What is the best bet in roulette?
What is the difference between roulette games?