How to play roulette for dummies?
Some believe that the game of Roulette is a glamorous casino game, intended solely for the wealthy or sophisticated player. That could not be further from the truth. Roulette enjoys a high level of popularity in casinos all over the world. And it attracts all kinds of players who consider wagering an enjoyable and entertaining pastime. Roulette is played not only in North and South America, but also in Europe, Asia, Africa, and throughout the Caribbean. Today you will know how to play roulette for dummies? If you are interested, in the next article you can read about Slot Machines.
How to play roulette for dummies – object of the game
The word Roulette is derived from French, and means, “small wheel”. In simple terms, it is a casino game played with a small moving ivory or plastic ball that falls into one of several alternately colored compartments, located inside a wooden wheel, while it is spinning horizontally. The players bet on which of the 37 or 38 small compartments, set in the wheel, will be holding the ball when the wheel comes to rest.
Different types of roulette
North American or European Roulette
In the North American version of Roulette the player has 38 numbers to choose from. While there is one less, i.e., 37, on the wheels used in Europe. Numbers, from one to thirty-six, are printed non-consecutively inside each compartment, or pocket of the wheel. The pockets are colored alternately red or black, and set evenly around the inside surface of the wheel.
On North American wheels, one additional pocket is marked with the figure zero (0). And another additional pocket is marked zero-zero (00). In Europe there is only one additional pocket and it is marked zero (0). The 37th and 38th pockets, as applicable, are colored green. Otherwise, all wheels are similar in design.
Roulette types
There are several differences between Roulette and most of the other casino games; especially those played with cards. For example, the actual sequence and term of each play in Roulette is simplicity itself. All play centers on a single, brief, and exciting play. That is, the counter-clockwise spin of the wheel, the clockwise spin of the ball, the sharp clicking of the ball as it rolls and bounces around, and its final, decisive click as it falls into one of the pockets, and comes to rest. It all happens in seconds. The winning number and color are called out by the croupier, that is, the dealer, and all bets are paid accordingly. As a matter of interest, an experienced croupier can get in as many as ninety spins or games within an hour.
Firstly, roulette differs in many other ways as well. For example, unlike Craps or cards, the implements of play, i.e., the wheel and the ball, unlike dice or cards, are not touched by any of the players. Players do not get involved in the spins of the wheel and the ball and, therefore, can devote their full attention to the matter of betting. Players do not take turns in betting. In fact, all of them may place bets at the same time. A little unintended jostling is easily forgiven. Finally, there is no ante, no bluffing, no shooter, and there are no penalties.
How to play roulette for dummies?
The goal of any player of the game of Roulette is to win more wagers than he loses. As a first step, he must make a bet. He does so by deciding on a number and/or color he thinks will come up on the very next spin of the wheel. And then bets accordingly. It is important he places his bet on the table before the croupier calls for “no more bets.” Other than these two player moves, there is little else he can do, in terms of personal style or finesse, that will enable him to influence the outcome of any bet.
Although, having a winning system, a strategy, or gaming smarts may help a player to win, most experienced players acknowledge that the result of any spin is almost always a matter of luck.
The Roulette Table
The Roulette table is rectangular in shape and comprised of two main playing sections, the wheel, and the area called the Roulette layout, where players may place their bets. In general, there are two types of Roulette tables; one has a single betting layout with the wheel at one end, or the other. The other type of Roulette table has a wheel in the center and two identical betting layouts at either end of it. The table is covered with a green felt or baize, (a thick woolen cloth material), on which is printed the Roulette layout design. There are usually six seats, or player positions arranged around two or three sides of the Roulette table.
The Wheel
The Roulette wheel consists of a solid, wooden, circular platform that is somewhat convex in shape. The wheel, mechanically, is precision-made and balanced, and spins smoothly on a single ball-bearing, almost without friction.
A continuous grooved slot, called the back track, follows the circumference of the wheel, just below its inside edge. Evenly spaced around the wheel, perpendicular to the back track, are a number of metal partitions, known as separators or frets. The frets divide the compartments, or pockets from each other. Croupiers, dealers, and other casino staff refer to the pockets as canoes.
The pockets are colored alternately red, or black, and thirty-six of them are numbered from one to thirty-six. The European version of the wheel has only 37 pockets. The 37th is green in color and has the figure zero (0) painted on it. The North American version, however, has two additional pockets which are also green. One is painted the same as the European version, i.e., (0) and one has a double zero (00). The numbers themselves are arranged around the circumference of the wheel so that the even numbers are directly opposite to the odd numbers, i.e., three is opposite four, fifteen is opposite sixteen, 0 is opposite 00, and so on. Also, all red numbers are opposite the black numbers.
The Roulette Layout
The design of the Roulette layout generally corresponds to the numbers, figures and colors painted on the face of the wheel. There are thirty-six consecutively numbered (1-36) rectangular spaces, colored red and black alternately, which are arranged in three columns of twelve numbers each. Along one side of the columns are rectangular spaces marked 1st 12, 2nd 12, and 3rd 12. Other separate spaces are marked 2-1, 0 (zero), 00 (double zero), Red, Black, Even, Odd, 1-18 High, and 19-36 Low.
The Bets in Roulette
The player must decide which pocket the ball might fall into, and/or which color that pocket might be, then bet accordingly. To place a bet, he puts his chips, or cash, on the number and/or color on the Roulette layout, that corresponds to the numbered pocket and/or color of the wheel he hopes will win. That is, he will bet on either red or black to come up, and/or on the numbered pocket he thinks will be holding the ball when the wheel comes to rest. All bets are against the house.
So, lets start to learn how to play roulette for dummies. Many betting combinations are possible, along with varying odds and maximum stakes. The odds given in North American Roulette favor the house at 5.26 percent. Which makes it less desirable to some players than the other casino games. The European version gives odds at 2.70 percent making it a more attractive game.
It is also important to remember that rules also differ within North America. For example, if a player makes an even-money bet in Atlantic City, and the 0 or 00 comes up, he will get back one-half of his wager. If he makes an even-money bet in a Nevada casino, and 0 or 00 comes up, he will lose his entire bet.
The Betting Combinations
The Roulette table layout is imprinted with many colored and numbered spaces to correspond with the colors and numbers of the various pockets of the Roulette wheel itself, and affords the player the opportunity to make, literally, dozens of different bets. Players’ wagers must be physically placed in specific areas of the layout to constitute a bet. There are two general categories of Roulette bets, i.e., inside bets and outside bets. These are defined following the chart below.
Types of Roulette Bets
| Type of Bets | Numbers Bet | Payoff Odds | Casino Percentage |
| Straight Bets | Any Single Number | 35:1 | 5.26 |
| Split Bets | Two Numbers | 17:1 | 5.26 |
| Street (Trio) Bets | Three Numbers | 11:1 | 5.26 |
| Corner Bets | Four Numbers | 8:1 | 5.26 |
| Number Bets | Five Numbers | 6:1 | 7.89 |
| Double Street Bets | Six Numbers | 5.1 | 5.26 |
| Dozen Bets | Twelve Numbers | 2:1 | 5.26 |
| Column Bets | Twelve Numbers | 2:1 | 5.26 |
| Black or Red Bets | Eighteen Numbers | Even Money, 1:1 | 5.26 |
| Odd or Even Bets | Eighteen Numbers | Even Money, 1:1 | 5.26 |
| High or Low Bets | Eighteen Numbers | Even Money, 1:1 | 5.26 |
Note: The casino’s edge of 5.26 percent shown above is based on the North American Roulette wheel, which has the 00, i.e., double zero. The casino’s edge is lowered to 2.70 percent when using a European wheel, which has only the 0, i.e., zero.
The Inside Bets
The term, inside bets, refers to those bets made inside the Roulette layout where all of the consecutive numbers one to thirty-six, the double zero, and the zero are displayed. Following is a description of the various inside bets:
Straight Bets
The straight bet, which is also called a straight-up, or single-number bet, refers to placing one’s chip(s) in the center of any single box numbered from one to thirty-six, or zero (0), or double zero, (00). The player wins an amount that is thirty-five times his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
Split Bets
The split bet, which is also called a split, or two-number, bet refers to placing one’s chip(s) directly over the line between any two adjacent numbers. This enables the player to cover two different numbers with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is seventeen times his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
Street (Trio) Bets
The street (trio) bet, which is also called a street, row, trio, or three-number bet, refers to placing one’s chip(s) directly on the center of an outside line on the layout, where there are three adjacent numbers in a row. This enables the player to cover three different numbers with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is eleven times his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
Corner Bets
The corner bet, which is also called a carre, quad, or four-number bet, refers to placing one’s chip(s) directly on the intersection of any four adjacent numbers, i.e., where two lines intersect, or where four numbers share a corner. This enables the player to cover four different numbers with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is eight times his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
Five-Number Bet
The five-number bet, which is also called a quint bet, refers to placing one’s chip(s) directly on the center of the outside line that separates the 0 (zero) and the 1 (one), or the 00 (double zero) and the 3 (three). So, this is the only five-number bet the player can make and includes the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. This bet can only be made a North American Roulette wheel. It enables the player to cover five different numbers with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is six times his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
Double-Street Bets
The double-street bet, which is also called a line, double-row or six-number bet, refers to placing one’s chip(s) directly centered on the outside line that intersects two numbers, i.e., on an outside corner that is shared by only two numbers. This enables the player to cover six different numbers, i.e., two rows of three, with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is five times his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
The Outside Bets
The term, outside bets, refers to those bets made in any one of the boxes outside the main (inside) betting area. Following is a description of the various outside bets:
Dozen Bets
A dozen bet refers to the placing of one’s chip(s) in the center of any one of three outside boxes where the bet options are divided into three groups of twelve numbers each. These boxes will be displayed as: 1st 12, 2nd 12, or 3rd 12. In effect, each box represents a dozen numbers on the wheel. This enables the player to cover twelve different numbers with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is twice his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
Column Bets
A column bet refers to placing one’s chip(s) in one of the three outside boxes at the end of each column of numbers on the Roulette layout, where the numbers 2 to 1, are printed. In effect, each box marked 2 to 1 represents a dozen numbers on the wheel. So this enables the player to cover twelve different numbers with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is twice his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). So, see the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
Black or Red Bets
The red or black bet, which is a bet placed on a color and not a number, refers to placing one’s chip(s) in either of the two outside colored boxes, which are colored Red and Black respectively. Betting on one or the other enables the player to cover eighteen different numbers with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is equal to his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
Odd or Even Bets
The odd or even bet refers to placing one’s chip(s) in either of the two outside boxes, which are marked Odd and Even, respectively. So, betting on one or the other enables the player to cover eighteen different numbers with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is equal to his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
High or Low Bets
The high or low bet refers to placing one’s chip(s) in either of the two outside boxes. Which are marked High and Low, respectively. Firstly, betting on one or the other enables the player to cover eighteen different numbers with a single bet. The player wins an amount that is equal to his bet if the spinning ball comes to rest on any one of his number(s). See the chart, Types of Roulette Bets, above.
The Zero Bet
The zero bet refers to placing one’s chip(s) in either of the two outside boxes marked 0 and 00 respectively. So, betting on one or the other does not result in any direct payoff to the player. In fact, all of the other inside and outside bets mentioned above usually will lose if the spinning ball comes to rest in either one of them. Betting on one or the other zero bets may enable the player to break even, at times, depending on the rules of the house.
Roulette for beginners – the Play
How to play roulette for dummies? Before play begins, the croupier assigns each player a different colored stack of chips, which they purchase right at the table. The colors assist the croupier and the players to differentiate the players’ bets from one another.
The game of Roulette begins when the croupier calls for the players to make their bets. So, the players bet by placing their chips on their choice of a number, group of numbers, color, figure, or other classification displayed on the Roulette layout. Then the croupier spins the wheel in a counter-clockwise direction. While it is turning, the croupier spins the small ivory or plastic ball in the opposite direction, along the back track located near the outer edge of the wheel.
When the wheel slows, the ball falls out of the back track downwards into one of the pockets. When it comes to rest it marks the winning number, or figure, and the color. The croupier immediately calls out the winning number and its color while pointing to its corresponding box on the table layout.
Without disturbing any of the chips on the winning spaces of the layout, the croupier collects all losing bets. Then, he pays off the winner(s) with chips, according to the amount and type of bet made. Normally, a winning player is rewarded in an amount equal to, or calculated as a multiple of, the wager or wagers he has made, i.e., 35 to 1, 2 to 1, even money etc.
In conclusion – how to play live roulette?
Roulette rules for dummies here.