The Rules for Playing Roulette

The game of Roulette is played by dropping a small ball onto a spinning wheel. In Europe there are 37 slots on the wheel while in the United States it is 38. The basis of the game is actually luck since the player must guess where the ball will land. Each slot may be red or black and has a unique number. To play the game you bet on a particular number or color coming up. Then the wheel is placed in spin and the ball dropped onto it. The wheel continues to spin until the ball falls into one of the numbered slots. The player who has selected that color or number is a winner.

Basically there are two types of games of roulette:
• In American roulette there are 38 possible choices and this includes the 0 - 36 and the number 00.
• In European roulette there are 37 possible choices that being the numbers 0 – 36.

It is clear from the above that of the two forms of roulette, the better choice is the European version of the game. So if you are playing online and have a choice, you should choose the European version. The odds of winning at European Roulette tables are better.

There are roulette operators that offer a surrender option. This is most commonly applied when say you have bet on an even number coming up and the roll is an ‘0’. You are now allowed to play the number again for free. If you have a chance to play at such a table you should take it since it improves the odds of your winning.

It is easy to place a bet. The roulette table stands next to the wheel and all of the betting choices are marked on it. You place your bet on the number or option marked on the table that you choose to bet on.

Here is an example of a roulette betting table:

Terms Employed in the Game Of Roulette

Inside Bets:
This refers to those bets that are made when the player places a bet within the area that contains the numbers. The bet might be on a specific number or you can bet on a pair of numbers by placing the bet on the border between the two numbers. Bets may also be placed simultaneously on four numbers by placing the bet on the corner where the four numbers converge.

Outside Bets:
These are bets that are placed outside of the area where the numbers are laid out. They are placed on spots that allow for specific bets, such as betting on a whole row of numbers (called a dozen), betting on the color, or on other 1 to 1 payout bets that are explained as follows.

• Betting on either the color red or black – in this case you are betting on either the color red or black coming up. If it comes up green (0 or 00) you lose the bet. An example would be that you bet on red and it comes up red. The payout would be 1 to 1.
• Betting on the number coming up either even or odd – you bet that the number that comes up will either be even or odd. You might bet that the number will be even. If it comes up 0 or 00 you lose the bet. The payout would be 1 to 1.
• Betting on a number being low or high – you bet that the winning number will be between 1 and 18 (low) or between 19 and 36 (high). For example, you might bet on a number from the high ranking coming in. If it comes up 0 or 00, you lose. The payout would be 1 to 1.
• Betting on a particular dozen numbers – you bet that a particular number will be a part of a group of a dozen numbers. You have a choice of three boxes. The boxes are first 12, second 12, and third 12. for example, you might bet on the first 12 or numbers 1 through 12. If it comes up 0 or 00, you lose. The payout would be 2 to 1.
• Betting on a column – there are three boxes marked ‘2 to 1’. Placing a bet on any one of the three is placing a bet that one of the numbers in the column above it will come up. If it comes up 0 or 00, you lose. An example would be betting on the column of numbers 1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25,28,31,34. The payout would be 2 to 1.
• Betting on a line – when you place your bet outside of the area where the numbers appear, on the border between two rows. This is called ‘making two street bets’. An example might be betting on the six numbers in the two rows of three numbers – 31,32,33 + 34,35,36. If it comes up 0 or 00, you lose. The payout would be 5 to 1.
• A bet of five – by placing your bet on the outer boundary line, you can bet on the numbers 0,00,1,2,3 all at one time. The payout would be 6 to 1.
• Betting a corner – you can place your bet on the corner where 4 numbers come together. In this way you are actually betting on all four numbers coming up. An example would be placing your bet on the corner of the numbers 5,6,8, and 9. if one of those numbers were to come up you would win the bet. The payout would be 8 to 1.
• Placing a street bet – when you place your bet on the outer border of a row of three numbers you are betting on all three of these numbers. For example, the ‘street’ or row of numbers 25,26, and 27. The payout would be 11 to 1.
• A split bet – split by placing your bet on the border line between any two numbers you can bet on those two numbers. This is called a split bet. you are even allowed to bet on the border line between the numbers 0 and 00. An example might be placing your bet on the border line between 32 and 33. The payout would be 17 to 1.
• Betting straight up – when you place your bet on any one specific number you are betting that that particular number will come up. For example, betting on the number 17. The payout would be 35 to 1.