Roulette is one of the most played casino games in the world. The game is becoming more and more popular, with many variations. However, the basis is always the same, as is the goal: waiting anxiously to see which number the roulette ball will land on. In addition, roulette is incredibly simple to learn, so anyone can master this casino game.
To play roulette at a casino or at a party, you will need the following equipment:
- A roulette wheel with numbered slots for the ball to land in.
- A roulette table, which is a flat surface marked with the numbers and betting areas for players to place their bets
- A roulette ball, which is a small ball that is spun around the wheel to determine the winning number
- Chips, which are used by players to place their bets on the roulette table
In some cases, the roulette wheel and table may be combined into a single piece of equipment, but the basic components remain the same. Some online casinos may use virtual roulette wheels and tables instead of physical equipment.
Betting Areas on a Roulette Table
The roulette table consists of a grid with five columns and several betting areas.
- The first three columns contain the numbers 1-36, which are divided evenly between red and black.
- The 0 is located above the first three columns.
- The two remaining columns are used for outside bets. These include betting on a range of numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36), colors (red or black), odd or even numbers, and high or low numbers (1-18 or 19-36).
- Inside bets offer higher payouts but lower chances of winning, while outside bets have lower payouts but better odds.
The most commonly played versions of roulette are American and European roulette.
Race Track Bets
A race track bet, also known as a racetrack bet or a call bet, is a type of bet that is available in some variations of roulette. It is called a race track bet because the betting area on the roulette table is shaped like a racetrack, with the numbers arranged in a circular pattern.
To place a race track bet, players must first place their chips on the racetrack area of the roulette table. There are several different types of race track bets, including:
- Voisins du Zero: A bet on the numbers closest to 0 on the roulette wheel.
- Tiers du Cylindre: A bet on the third of the numbers on the roulette wheel opposite the zero.
- Orphelins: A bet on the numbers that are not covered by the voisins du zero or tiers du cylindre bets.
- Neighbors of a Number: A bet on the numbers adjacent to a specific number on the roulette wheel.
Race track bets offer players the ability to bet on multiple numbers at once and can be a useful way to diversify their betting strategy. However, they typically have lower payouts than other types of bets in roulette.
Roulette Betting Chips
In roulette, players use specialized chips that are different from the standard chips used in other casino games like poker. These roulette chips (or tokens), can be purchased at the roulette table from the dealer. The value of the chips varies depending on the casino, and players may receive more chips if they deposit more money. The value of each chip is usually indicated at the table, along with the maximum bet per spin.
In a physical casino, each player is assigned a different color of chips, so it is clear who has bet on what. In an online casino, players may use virtual chips with a pre-determined value. When playing roulette, players can place their bets using the chips on the roulette table.
The Croupier
In roulette, the croupier is responsible for overseeing the game – spinning the wheel and accepting bets – and ensuring that it is fair.
The croupier stands behind the roulette table in a physical or live casino, and takes care of tasks such as spinning the roulette wheel and calling out “no more bets” when it is time for players to stop placing their bets. The croupier also pays out any winnings to players and exchanges their roulette chips for standard casino chips or cash. It is important for a croupier to be familiar with the rules of roulette and to apply them correctly during the game.
How To Play Roulette
1. Buy Chips
To play roulette, players must first buy chips from the croupier (or if using an online roulette app, via the online cashier). This can be done by placing money on the table and asking the croupier to exchange it for roulette chips. Each player at the roulette table is assigned a different color of chips to avoid confusion about who has bet on which numbers. Players can then use these chips to place their bets on the roulette table.
2. Place your Wagers / No More Bets
once all players have placed their bets, the croupier will make a sweeping motion over the table and call out “no more bets” or “rien ne va plus” in French. This signals that no further bets can be placed and the roulette wheel can be spun.
Players are not allowed to place any additional bets after the croupier calls out “no more bets”.
3. Payouts are Calculated
after the ball has landed on a winning number, the croupier will pay out the appropriate winnings to players who placed bets on that number. The payouts in roulette are based on the odds of a particular bet winning, with higher payouts for bets that are less likely to win and lower payouts for bets that are more likely to win.
For example, a bet on a specific number will have a higher payout than a bet on a range of numbers, because it is statistically less likely to win.
After the payouts have been made, players can place new bets for the next round.