European and American Roulette

Introduction to Roulette

Roulette is a casino game of luck and skill, and is one of the most popular gambling games. Roulette involves a spinning wheel with special numbered pockets, a ball thrown into the wheel and a betting table on which chips are placed. Depending in which pocket the ball lands, the player can be paid out between 1:1 and 35:1 on their bets.

The first form of Roulette was devised in 18th Century France, spreading throughout Europe and the USA, and quickly becoming one of the most fashionable and exciting casino games in the clubs.   

Basics

To win at roulette, a player has to correctly predict where the ball will land after each spin of the wheel. Players can place a variety of 'inside' bets (selecting the number of the pocket the ball will land in, or range of pockets based on their position), and 'outside' bets (including bets on various positional groupings of pockets, pocket colours, or whether it is odd or even). The payout odds for each type of bet is based on its probability.

The roulette table usually imposes minimum and maximum bets, and these rules usually apply separately for all of a player's 'inside' and 'outside' bets for each spin. Basic bets are paid out 1:1 while numbered bets are paid out as much as 35:1.

Roulette is played on a wheel consisting of 37 (European) or 38 (American) slots, each with its own number. The numbers are from 1-36; European wheels will have a single 0 while American wheels will have a single 0 and a double 00. The numbers alternate between pairs of odd numbers with pairs of even numbers, alternating between black and red coloured slots. The zero number slots are always green. A small ball is rolled in the opposite direction of the spinning wheel and drops into one of the slots when the spinning ends, determining the winning number.

The roulette table is where the player places his chips regarding the predicted outcome of the ball spinning in the wheel. The table is designed with the numbers (minus 0 and 00) arranged into three columns of twelve numbers. The first row across contains 1,2,3; second row is 4,5,6 etc. The rest of the roulette table is dedicated to the different types of bets that a player can make for groups of numbers.

Conclusion

Roulette is one of the most popular games in the casino. The visual spectacle of the spinning roulette wheel has always attracted attention to the game and online roulette does try to capture this exciting aspect. As an alternative form of betting, roulette makes a pleasant break from the traditional card games.

Roulette is a great game, simple to play and learn. It is fast paced, has attractive odds and is appealing to the beginner as well as the more experienced gambler. Online players can choose between the two versions of European roulette and American roulette and chose a table with a minimum and maximum bet best suited to their finances.

Find out more about how to play online roulette here ›