Roulette is arguably one of the most popular games in online and land-based casinos. It is fun to play and comes with many variants. All the variants follow the same principle: a ball is rolled on a wheel that has numbered pockets. The players are to determine the number where the ball will come to a stop.
This game is extremely simple to play given that players do not need to apply a skill to play it. It is very popular across online platforms and in land-based casinos because it is based on luck and has many betting options.
Where Did Roulette Originate From?
The word roulette comes from the French name for a small wheel. However, the game was developed from an Italian game called Biribi which has a wheel-like item. The first game was made out of a perpetual motion machine that was then adapted to add numbers and pockets. This game has been played in its present form since 1796.
It is believed that a mathematician named Blaise Pascal created the first formal roulette wheel. However, the game was banned in much of Europe for a period before being revived in the Kingdom of Monaco to help increase the revenues of the state.
How Does Roulette Work?
The game of roulette is built around the roulette wheel. This wheel has either 37 or 38 slots (the former being European and the latter being American), each with its own number. The wheel is divided into an equal number of sections, alternating black and red. There are also one or two green sections labelled zero and double zero. American roulette has both green sections. The BC.Game Casino review is an excellent guide about the available roulette options.
In addition, the game comes with a table where the player places bets. The table has the same numbers and colours as the wheel. There are several bet options on the table, including predicting a single number, determining the colour of the slot where the ball will fall, picking odd or even numbers and predicting whether the slot will be under the first half or the top half, among other bet options.
At the live casino, the croupier allows players to place their bets before spinning the wheel. Once the ball falls into a slot, the winning numbers are paid out before the table is cleared for the next round of betting. In the table section of the live casino, the random number generator software determines where the digital ball comes to a stop. Just like in the live casino, the payments are done before the next round commences.
Inside and Outside Wagers
As explained earlier, there are several betting options on the table that adjoins the wheel when playing roulette. However, these betting options can be divided into inside and outside bets. Inside bets are those in which you predict that the ball will stop at a specific number.
Given that this is quite hard to predict, the bet has a high payout. The payout varies according to the variants of roulette that you are playing. However, it typically pays at a ratio of 35:1. The odds of winning it are higher at 37:1. Your casino expects you to lose the difference.
Any other bet that you make besides picking a single number is called an outside bet. You can choose the first dozen (1-18), second dozen (18-36), red, black, even, or odd. Remember, the numbers are not arranged in a way that correlates with the layout. This presents a challenge when trying to figure out where the ball may come to a stop.
The inside and outside bets are then divided into different types. For the inside bet, you may place a straight-up bet on a single number, a split bet on two adjacent numbers, a street bet that picks three adjacent numbers, or a corner bet that encompasses four numbers. There are also five- and six-number bets in the inside bets.
On the other hand, the outside bets come in various options, including column bets where you bet 12 numbers in one of the three columns, a dozen bets where you bet on 12 numbers in the numerical order (either the first 12, 13-24, or 25-36), in addition to the options discussed above.
What is the House Edge in Roulette?
As explained earlier, roulette variants are either based on the European or the American format. They all have 1-36 numbered black and red slots, but the European one has a single green zero while the American wheel has two green slots.
It means the probability of the ball stopping in an American slot is 1/38 and 1/37 in the European version. Since the probability of losing is an average of two out of every 38 spins, you get an average loss of 3/38, which is 5.26% in the American version.
On the other hand, your chances of a loss in the European version are significantly lower at 2.70%. These house edges are apparent when you place bets on several rounds at the table. You are likely to lose a lower amount when playing on the European version than on the American one.
Most gaming platforms allow you to play table games for free. This is a chance for you to get a feel of the game before you place your wager. Try various variants and see what potential winnings you are likely to get from them. Besides, be careful with your bankroll and determine the amount that you can play for several rounds to increase your chances of winning.
There are several strategies that you can employ to beat the wheel. Many of the strategies are dependent on the amount you bet and your actions after either a loss or a win. Popular ones include Martingale and random increases or reductions of bets.
