HOW TO PLAY: Roulette

Roulette may be the most recognizable game on the floor, but not all wheels are created equal. The secret to winning isn't in the lucky numbers—it’s in the layout. Discover why finding a single-zero wheel is the single most important move you can make to slash the house edge in half.

Online roulette features a wheel, a ball, and a board. The roulette board includes the numbers 1 to 36, and a single zero in European roulette and a double zero in American roulette. Numbers are black or red, and the zero or double zero is usually green.

 

 

Boards also feature places for odd, even, red, black, 1-18, 19-36, 1st 12, 2nd 12, and 3rd 12 bets. The wheel has the same numbers found on the board.

Whenever possible, always choose the European or French roulette game with a single zero. That cuts the house edge in half to 2.7 percent.

Roulette Bets

Bets can be made on a single number or on a combination of numbers (for example, betting on even or odd numbers). Zero and double zero are neither even nor odd.

Betting on 1st 12, 2nd 12, and 3rd 12 means bets are placed on 12 numbers at once. Bets can also be made on a line of numbers, a set of numbers forming a square on the board, and a column of numbers.

 

 

Once bets are placed, hit the Spin or Deal button to spin the wheel. The ball will bounce around and eventually stop in one of the numbered pockets. If it falls on the number you’ve bet, you will be paid out based on your wager.

Inside and Outside Bets

Roulette offers many different bet combinations, and wagers are either considered inside bets or outside bets.

 

 

Inside bets involve all the numbers on the board—0, 00, 1 through 36. Players can bet on one number or a combination by placing chips on a line or corner connecting multiple numbers. Because they involve fewer numbers, inside bets usually have greater payouts than outside bets.

Outside bets surround the board—even, odd, 1st 12, 2nd 12, 3rd 12, column bets, red and black.

Live Roulette vs. Online Roulette

Online roulette offers some advantages over the live game:

  • The online game is a lot faster, mostly because you don’t have to wait for other players to place bets.
  • Players work directly with the dealer, so it’s easy to place bets.
  • Bet minimums are lower.
  • Beginners won’t feel intimidated by more experienced players in the live game.

 

 

The individual payouts and game bonuses vary by online casino.

 

 

21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

 

 

 

Recent Articles

History Playbook

On This Day In Sports History

On May 30, 2009, Texas defeated Boston College 3-2 in a 25-inning marathon, the longest game in NCAA history. Reliever Austin Wood threw 169 pitches over 13 innings, including 12.1 innings of no-hit ball, just one day after pitching against Army. Travis Tucker eventually ended the seven-hour Austin regional contest with a walk-off RBI single.

On This Day In Sports History

On May 29, 1995, Indiana’s Rik Smits hit a buzzer-beating jumper to defeat the Magic 94-93, capping a Game 4 finish with four lead changes in the final 14 seconds.