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Roulette Rules

February 18, 2011

Roulette is generally considered one of the classier games in the casino, often thought to attract the ritzier types with excessive bankrolls. Just because it is known as the “game of kings” – a nickname derived from its origins, when only members of French nobility were allowed to play – does not mean the casual casino player isn’t welcome to join in.

Roulette rules are simple and it is one of the easiest games in a casino to learn. There are a lot of betting options within the table diagram, but they are quickly comprehensible. We’ll introduce you to the different types of Roulette games, how the wheel works, the various betting options, and the fundamentals of how to play Roulette.

European Roulette vs American Roulette

As you may know, there are regional variants of Roulette. The most popular are American Roulette and European Roulette. The difference is nothing more than a single zero (0) in the European version, while American has the single zero (0) and double zero (00). Doesn’t seem like it matters much, right? Wrong.

If you place a wager on a single number in European Roulette, such as 15, the odds of that number hitting are 37:1, with a payout of 35:1. In American roulette, the odds are 38:1, but the payout is the same, 35:1. The key to choosing the right casino game is the house edge. You should always go where the house edge is lowest, and that’s European Roulette. You won’t often find European Roulette in the US, but its always available at online casinos.

Because European Roulette is the most preferred variant of the game, we’ll be using it in the rest of this introduction to Roulette.

The Roulette Wheel

The Roulette Wheel is where all of the real action takes place. There are 37 pockets, numbered 0-36. The numbers seem to be scattered at random around the wheel, but if you study it, there is actually a method to its madness. Low numbers are across from high numbers, odd across from even, black and red alternating. Numbers 1-12 are scattered about, just like 13-14 and 25-36. The Roulette wheel gives no advantage to the players when placing bets.

Once every bet has been placed, the wheel is spun. A small ball is dropped into the wheel tossed in the opposite direction. The pocket this ball finally comes to a rest in will depict the winning number and color.

The Roulette Table

The roulette table is a rectangular display of all possible bets. The diagram offers all numbers, 0 and 1-36, with each backdropped in the same color as found on the wheel. Players will place their chips in the area of the table that corresponds with their desired bets.

Roulette Bets – Inside Bets

Inside Bets are those made on the actual numbers, within the inside of the table’s betting diagram. These are all listed below.

Single Number Bet [Pays 35:1] A bet on a single number.
2 Number Combo Bet [Pays 17:1] A bet on two adjacent numbers.
3 Number Combo Bet [Pays 11:1] A bet on 3 numbers in a column.
4 Number Combo Bet [Pays 8:1] A bet on 4 intersecting numbers.
Street Bet (6 Numbers) [Pays 5:1] A bet on 6 numbers in two adjacent columns.

Roulette Bets – Outside Bets

Outside Bets have smaller payouts, but a lower house edge. We’ll list each of these below.

Black [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be Black.
Red [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be Red.
Low [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be 1-18.
High [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be 19-36.
Odd [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be Odd.
Even [Pays 1:1] A bet that the winning number will be Even (0 not included).

1st 12 [Pays 2:1] A bet that the winning number will be 1-12.
2nd 12 [Pays 2:1] A bet that the winning number will be 13-24.
3rd 12 [Pays 2:1] A bet that the winning number will be 25-36.

First Row [Pays 2:1] a bet on 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31 and 34.
Second Row [Pays 2:1] A bet on 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32 and 35.
Third Row [Pays 2:1] A bet on 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36.

How to Play Roulette

Actually playing roulette is very simple. Choose the bet type you would like to make, then place on chips on the area of the Roulette table diagram that corresponds with your bet. If the bet is won, you are paid, and your bet is returned. If the bet is lost, the chips are collected.

Written by Rob · Filed Under Casino Rules 

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