Roulette is an iconic casino game, instantly recognizable by its spinning wheel and the small white ball that determines players' fortunes. Its name means "little wheel" in French, and the game is one of pure chance, making it accessible and exciting for casino beginners and casino veterans alike.
The Basics: Wheel Layout and Objective
At its heart is a large wheel sectioned into pockets, each with a unique number. The two primary versions of roulette are:
Single-Zero Roulette: This wheel has 37 pockets, numbered 1-36 (alternating between red and black) and a single green "0" pocket. This is the preferred version for players as its house edge is lower. Double-Zero Roulette: The American wheel adds a second green pocket, the "00", bringing the total to 38 slots. This additional slot nearly doubles the house advantage to 5.26%.
The objective is to predict which numbered pocket the ball will land in after the wheel stops spinning.
Understanding the Betting Options
The bets you can make are split into two groups: Inside Bets and Outside Bets.
Inside Bets
These are bets placed on specific numbers or casino small groups of numbers on the inside of the betting layout. They have higher payouts but lower odds of winning.
Straight Up: A bet on a single number. Payout is 35 to 1. Split: Betting on the line between two numbers. Street: Betting on a three-number row. Corner: A bet on a group of four numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.
Outside Bets
Outside bets cover large sections of the wheel. They are easier to win but offer smaller payouts.
Red/Black: A bet on whether the winning number will be red or black. Payout is 1 to 1. Odd/Even: Betting on the number being odd or even. High/Low: A wager on a high or low number that pays 1:1. Dozens/Columns: A bet on one of three dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) or one of three columns. Payout is 2 to 1.
Can You Beat the Wheel?
It is impossible to beat roulette consistently because every spin is random and the house edge is fixed. Betting strategies like the Martingale system do not work and are dangerous for casino your bankroll. The smartest approach is to play responsibly, set a budget, and stick to the European version of the game.