The Basics of Roulette
Roulette is a casino game that has offered glamour, mystery and excitement to the gaming industry since the 17th century. It is a very simple game to play and yet offers a surprising level of depth for serious bettors. There are also many variations on the basic rules, and players can choose to bet on a single number, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black or whether it is high (19-36) or low (1-18).
The game is played with a small ivory ball that is spun around the wheel, which has 37 (or 38 on American tables) individual pockets numbered from 1 to 36 in alternating red and black. There is an additional green division labelled 0 on the European wheel and a double-zero in the American wheel, which has a disproportionate effect on odds. A specialized table map indicates the different areas where bets can be placed.
Once a player has decided where they wish to place their chips they can signal the dealer by placing them on the table map. The dealer will then clear the table of the previous decision and then begin to accept bets. The first step is to place your chips on the line bets, which are cheaper and have a higher chance of hitting. It is best to avoid the grandiose or complicated strategies, and to remember that the game is mostly a matter of luck.
When the table is full of bets, the dealer will spin the wheel and then stop it at a random pocket. If your chip is in that pocket you win, otherwise it is lost. The process is repeated until the game is finished and the winning number is announced.
There are several systems that claim to improve the chances of winning at roulette. A quick search on Google will return millions of results, some easy, some complicated, some well described, and others not so. Some of the more popular are the Martingale system, which advises you to make even only chip bets and to double your stake every time you lose. This strategy won’t win you every time, but it will limit your losses.
The rules of the game were first standardized in France, and then spread to America. It was in the new territories that cheating by players and operators became a serious problem, and so the wheel and betting layout were modified. The American version of the game is now the most popular at physical casinos, but the European version continues to enjoy increased popularity online. It is particularly favored by novice players as it has a lower house edge. If you decide to try out the game, we suggest starting with a European wheel as this will give you a better chance of winning.