Roulette is a table game where players bet on which section of the wheel the ball will land on. Apparently, this seems easy. However, it can be much more exciting once you master the different rules of the game.
In roulette, a maximum of eight players per table play against the house represented by the croupier. The latter is responsible for turning the wheel, manages bets and payments. In the European version or French roulette, the game has 37 boxes, including 36 numbers and a zero. In the United States, most wheels add another double zero, and therefore 38 notches. To start, you place your bet on any number on the table, including zero. Thus done, the croupier begins to spin the wheel and launches the ball and shouts "Rien ne va plus". From this moment, no one has the right to place or modify their placements until the ball lands on a box. The dealer then puts the cart on the winning number and clears any losing bets you can start placing new bets again. The winners are those who bet on the number where the ball landed. At the end of the game, the winner will have to exchange their tokens at the cashier. Each token is colored with the amount printed on it, equivalent to a sum of real money. Once at the cash desk, the tokens will be exchanged for real tickets. To make sure you fully understand this procedure, do not hesitate to play our free roulette games .
Types of bets and their odds
In the game, the positions of the bets determine the numbers covered by the bet. A bet on a single number, called "straight-up", pays 35:1 on a European table, while it is 38:1 on the American table. A bet on two numbers, called "split" or "cheval", pays 17:1; a bet on three numbers, called a street bet, pays 11:1. A bet on four numbers, called a corner bet, pays 8:1. There is also the six-line bet, which pays 5:1. A bet on the outside dozen column pays 2:1. Finally, an outside bet corresponds to a 1:1 payout. As for the house edge on winning bets, it is 2.7% on a single European table. On the double zero table, it is 5.26%, except for numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, 3, which is 7.9%. This advantage is then deducted from the winnings during payout.
Inside and outside bets
The use of inside or outside bets allows for wagering on any number or combination of numbers. They must be placed on specific numbers or groups of numbers. If the player wins, they are paid at 35:1. Outside bets cover a larger area of the wheel without designating a specific number. The 36 numbers have been divided into three: the first, second, and third dozen. You can bet on each of these groups. The odds, however, are 1:1. Remember that each outside bet must match the minimum amount set on the table.
The rules of prison and sharing
Very popular in European land-based casinos, the Split rule divides the bet if the ball lands on green (0). This reduces the house advantage to only 1.35%, compared to the usual 2.7%. A similar rule is also called Prison. In other words, if the ball lands on green, the stake is imprisoned. The wheel is spun again and if the bet is a winner, the player releases their bet. Obviously, the best way to minimize losses is Split where you get half of your money back, rather than having to play again. So, this rule is disadvantageous to the player on an outside bet.
Other Ways to Play Roulette
In Costa Rica, roulette is called differently with different rules and is played with a double zero. However, instead of using a roulette wheel, the winning number is determined by numbered balls similar to those used in the game of bingo. When the ball is thrown, the banker takes two cards from a shoe and places them face down in the red and black rectangles. The ball then lands in a red or black slot, and the card in the corresponding rectangle is revealed to determine the winning number. Elsewhere, like in California, it is against the regulations to use a ball or dice to determine the winning number in a game. The difference in gameplay in California casinos is how roulette is played. In 2004, California legalized a form of roulette where, according to the law, the game must use cards instead of slots on the wheel to choose the winning number.