Roulette Rules
Roulette is a popular gaming title in land-based and online casinos. It is simple and fascinating especially due to the different types of bets available to players as they allow them to create unique strategies when playing the game. It all begins with acquainting yourself with basic roulette rules. The game has a wheel that has red and black slots with numbers 1-36, and one or two zero slots, depending on whether you are playing American or European roulette. There is also a table where players place bets. The dealer spins the wheel and throws the small ball when all the participants have placed their bets on the table. This guide looks at the different versions of roulette bets and how to choose the right one.
European Roulette
Roulette is one of the most popular casino games all over the internet. The European form of roulette is one of the most common variants with gamblers. This is because it has a house advantage of just 2.63%, which is …
Types of Bets
Roulette bets can be made on a single number or a combination of numbers. Players wagering on combinations of numbers enjoy different pay-outs and odds of winning. The more the numbers a player bets on, the higher his chances of winning; the opposite is true. Roulette bets are divided into three categories:
A. Inside Bets
The roulette table layout has the main part, which consists of numbers from 0-36, and the other sections have groups of numbers that comprise odd/even, 1-18/19-36, red/black, dozens and columns. Bets placed on the numbers are inside bets while those placed on other sections are outside bets. Inside bets have a higher pay-out, but the probability of winning is pretty low. Only players who are willing to take on more risk make inside bets.
There are six types of inside bets:
- Straight bets: This kind covers one number only and has a winning pay-out of 35:1. An example of a straight up bet is when the player bets on Red 18. The ball is required to land on the same colour and number to win. A straight bet is straightforward are rewarding roulette bet, yet the most difficult to win.
- The split bet: The player bets on two adjacent numbers by placing a chip in the shared line of the two numbers. The winning pay-out for this bet is 17:1.
- Street bet: In this case, the player bets on three consecutive numbers located on the same line to get pay-out of 11:1. For example, 7,8, and 9. When making this bet, the player places the chip on the outer corner of the two lines.
- Corner bet: It is similar to a street bet only that the player is betting on four numbers instead of three. The player makes this bet by placing the chip on corner of the four numbers hence, the name square bet. A corner bet has a winning pay-out of 8:1.
- Six-line bet: This bet is made on two adjacent lines. The player places the chip on the shared outer corner of the two lines to win a pay-out of 5:1.
- Five-number bet: When placing this wager, the player places the chip on numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3. The house pays 6:1 if the player wins, though the probability of winning is 0.1316. It is one of the worst bets to place when playing the roulette.
- Basket: It is a bet on the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, though the American Roulette includes the double zero. The chip is placed at the corner shared by the first line and the zero box. It has a pay-out of 6:1.
- Snake bet: This kind covers a range of numbers: 1, 5, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32, and 34 to make a snake pattern. The pay-out for this bet is 2:1.
B. Outside Bets
These are bets placed outside the number field, i.e., on the sectors that cover larger groups of numbers. Unlike inside bets where the player bets on a specific number, when placing an outside bet, the player wagers on a group of numbers.
There are five types of outside bets:
- Column bet: When placing this bet, the player wagers on the outcome being a number within one of the 12 numbers in the three columns. The first column covers numbers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34, the second covers the numbers 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, and 35 while column three covers numbers 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36. The pay-out for this bet is 2:1. Note that the table coverage for European roulette and American roulette is different as the latter covers 31.6% and the former 32.4%.
- Bet on colour bet: These are bets made on colours red or black. It is straightforward hence, ideal for new roulette players. Bet on colour bet has a pay-out of 1:1.
- Dozen bet: This bet allows players to bet on a dozen numbers arranged in order. The first 12 cover numbers 1-12, the second 12 include numbers 13-24 while the third 12 covers numbers 25-36. The pay-out for this bet is 2:1.
- Odd/even bets: Here, the player bets on whether the winning number is an odd or even number. The pay-out for this bet is 1:1.
- Low / High: The chip is placed either in the low number field between 1 and 18 or in the high number field between 19 and 36.
C. Announced Bets
This kind is called out so that the player does not have to place his monies on the table. They are also called call bets and are only available on French and European roulettes. Announced bets usually involve players known to the casino and have the means to cover each wager as it involves much higher limits compared to casual players.
Which Bet to Choose
The type of bet a player places depends on his skill, roulette odds, and the amount of cash he is willing to wager. Inside bets, for example are ideal for high-risk players who have large bank rolls. The odds of winning using this betting style are pretty low, but they guarantee a high pay-out.
Outside bets, on the other hand, offer a lower pay-out than inside bets but players have a higher chance of winning. As such, they make a great betting style for players looking for long gaming sessions and those who want to play more conservatively. Therefore, players learning how to play roulette prefer this betting style to others. Outside bets also allow players to take advantage of ‘en prison’ and ‘la partage’ rules, which give players a chance to earn some or all their monies back when the ball lands on zero. Announced bets are ideal for high-rolling players.