Mastering Roulette: From Basics to Advanced Bets
Roulette is an iconic casino game, instantly recognizable by its spinning wheel and the small white ball that determines players' fortunes. Its name means "little wheel" in French, and the game is one of pure chance, casino making it accessible and exciting for beginners and veterans alike.
How the Game Works
The core of the game is the roulette wheel, which is divided into numbered pockets. The two primary versions of roulette are:
European Roulette: It features numbers 1 through 36 plus a single green zero, for casino a total of 37 slots. This is the preferred version for players as its house edge is lower. American Roulette: This variant is identified by its 38 pockets, which include both a "0" and a "00". Players face worse odds in this version because of the "00".
The aim of the game is simply to bet on the winning number.
Placing Your Wagers
All roulette wagers fall into one of two main classifications.
Inside Bets
These bets are on the numbers themselves and casino feature long odds with high rewards.
Straight Up: Betting on one specific number. The highest payout in the game. Split: A two-number bet that pays 17:1. Street: Betting on a three-number row. Corner: A bet on a group of four numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.
Outside Bets
These are wagers on general outcomes and have better odds with lower payouts.
Red/Black: A bet on whether the winning number will be red or black. Payout is 1 to 1. Odd/Even: A bet on whether the number will be odd or even. Payout is 1 to 1. High/Low: A wager on a high or low number that pays 1:1. Dozens/Columns: Betting on a group of 12 numbers.
Is There a Winning Roulette Strategy?
It is impossible to beat roulette consistently because every spin is random and the house edge is fixed. Betting strategies like the Martingale system do not work and are dangerous for your bankroll. The only effective strategy is good bankroll management and casino choosing the game variant with the lowest house edge.