A Deep Dive into Roulette: Rules and Strategies

Roulette is an iconic casino game, instantly recognizable by its spinning wheel and the small white ball that determines players’ fortunes. As a game of pure probability, roulette is easy to learn and offers a unique kind of excitement.

How the Game Works

The game centers on a wheel featuring 37 or 38 numbered slots. You will encounter two main types of roulette wheels:

• European Roulette: It features numbers 1 through 36 plus a single green zero, for a total of 37 slots. This version offers better odds for the player, with a house edge of 2.7%.
• American Roulette: This wheel has 38 pockets, including the numbers 1-36, a single “0”, and an additional “00” pocket, also green. Players face worse odds in this version because of the “00”.

Your goal is to correctly guess the final resting place of the ball.

Placing Your Wagers

Roulette offers a wide variety of betting options, which can be divided into two main categories: Inside Bets and Outside Bets.

Inside Bets

These bets are on the numbers themselves and casino feature long odds with high rewards.

• Straight Up: Betting on one specific number. The highest payout in the game.
• Split: A bet on two adjacent numbers. Payout is 17 to 1.
• Street: A three-number bet that pays 11:1.
• Corner: A bet on a group of four numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.

Outside Bets

These are wagers on general outcomes and have better odds with lower payouts.

• Red/Black: Betting on the color of the winning number.
• Odd/Even: Betting on the number being odd or casino even.
• High/Low: A bet on whether the number will be in the low range (1-18) or the high range (19-36). Payout is 1 to 1.
• Dozens/Columns: Betting on a group of 12 numbers.

Is There a Winning Roulette Strategy?

As a game of independent random events, no betting system can alter the mathematical house advantage. While popular, casino betting systems like the Martingale are flawed and can wipe out your funds in a short amount of time. The best “strategy” is to manage your bankroll, play for entertainment, and if possible, always choose European roulette over American roulette.