Roullete (roh-LAY-tuh) is a game of chance that’s been offering glamour, mystery, and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. While its rules are simple, it has a surprising depth that can yield high rewards for those who know how to play. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned pro, this guide will help you understand the game and make smart bets.
Before you begin playing roulette, you’ll need to purchase a color of chips from your dealer. The dealer will then ask you what denomination you want to designate each chip. You can choose from $1 to $100 per bet. After you’ve placed your bets, the croupier will spin the wheel and then throw the ball into it. Players can still place their bets during this time, but once the croupier says, “No more bets!” it’s game on!
The roulette wheel has 37 or 38 numbered pockets, depending on the type of game you’re playing. Each pocket alternates between red and black colors and contains either an odd number or an even number. The pocket that the ball lands in determines the winning number.
There are two types of bets in roulette: inside and outside bets. Inside bets are bets on a specific numbered pocket and offer higher payouts. Outside bets are broader bets that cover groups of numbers. These bets include the straight-up, split, street, corner, and six-line bets.
To win a straight-up bet, you have to correctly guess the exact number that will appear on the Roulette wheel. If you do, you’ll receive a payout of 392 chips. You can also place a split bet, which requires you to wager on two adjacent numbers. A street bet covers three consecutive numbers on the Roulette table and pays 17-1. A corner bet covers four numbers that meet at the edge of the Roulette table and pays 8:1. A six-line bet consists of betting on two sets of three consecutive numbers and pays 5-1.
A dozens bet is another popular way to play roulette. By placing your chips on one of the dozens on the Roulette table, you’re predicting that the winning number will be in the first dozen (12 numbers), second dozen (18), or third dozen (24 numbers). You can also bet on all three dozens at once, but this bet offers only a 2-1 payout. Other bets in roulette include the odds or evens, high or low, zigzag, and columns. These bets offer a lower payout but are more conservative than other bets in roulette.