118 Gambling - How to play Roulette

How to play Roulette

The Roulette has been one of the most popular casino games ever since it was introduced into the world of gambling in the early 1800s. It is a very easy game to learn how to play.

There are two major types of Roulette, European and American. The European Roulette is played on a table with 37 numbers to bet on, from 0 to 36, the wheel and table of the American Roulette have 38 numbers – there is an additional “00”; the house advantage over the players is therefore lower at the European version.

Be advised anyway that even though the rules of the Roulette are simple and almost the same in all casinos, there could be some small differences at the particular table where you intend to play. Take your time therefore to inform yourself about all the specific rules as they might happen to matter at a later stage of your game.

To join a game of Roulette, you should either buy chips or directly bet cash if allowed. The chips for each player are in a different colour so that they can easily be distinguished. Roulette chips have no denomination on them, so they would be useless at any other casino game; you should therefore exchange them for checks (chips with denomination) before leaving the Roulette table.

Now to betting, you are allowed to place your bet on the table, move it to another area of the layout or remove it only until the croupier (dealer) announces “no more bets”. He usually says that at the time the ball he span is just about to roll onto the wheel. After the ball falls into a pocket, the croupier places the dolly on the winning number (the number of the pocket the ball fell into), clears all the losing bets from the table and pays the winners. It is now the time to place your next bet.

To make a bet, place the chips (or cash) on the respective number, line between numbers etc., or on an outside area of the table layout. Single-number (straight-up) bets must be placed exactly on the number you are betting on; they pay the highest – 35:1; two-number (split) bets must be placed on the line separating the two numbers you bet on (payout is 17:1); three-number (street) bets – on the left line of the first number of the row with the three numbers you bet on (11:1 payout); four-number (corner) bets – on the corner in the middle of the four numbers (8:1 payout); six-number bets – on the corner between the left lines of the two rows with three numbers each (5:1 payout); dozen bets – on the outside sections marked 1st 12 (numbers 1 to 12), 2nd 12 (13 to 24) or 3rd 12 (25 to 36); the payout is 2:1; column bets – at the bottom of the respective column (2:1 payout); and finally even-money bets (1-18 or 19-36, red or black, odd or even) – on the outside section marked accordingly.

If you are playing an even-money bet and a 0 or 00 (the latter in the American Roulette) comes out, and the Roulette table uses the “En Prison” or “La Partage” rule, you are allowed to either “imprison” your bet for the next game, that is to leave it where it is, or to surrender half of it (the latter being the only option with the “La Partage” rule). In case of “imprisonment” and a repeated 0 or 00, it is most common to lose the whole bet, but there are exceptions in many casinos. Be advised with the “En Prison” rule that the croupier assumes that you are willing to imprison your bet unless you tell him otherwise.