Roulette is a game of chance that has offered glamour, mystery, and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. It is easy enough for even young children to learn, and it offers a surprising amount of depth for serious gamblers. While it’s mostly a game of luck, there are a few strategies that can give you the edge you need to win more often than not.
Before you can place a bet, you must purchase a roulette chip from the dealer. The dealer will ask you what denomination you want to designate for each chip and then mark it appropriately. Each player at the table gets a different colored chip to identify them, which is helpful for keeping track of who’s winning and who’s losing. Each person should also choose a budget before starting, so they’re not playing with more than they can afford to lose.
Once the chips are purchased, the dealer clears the table of the previous round’s winners and then begins the new betting round. Once the croupier announces “no more bets,” players can begin placing their chips in the desired number slots. Then the croupier spins the wheel and the ball bounces around the table until it settles in one of the compartments marked with a number. If you correctly guess that number, you win!
There are two basic types of roulette: the American version with a single zero and the European version with a double zero. The former is more popular in Europe, but the latter can still be found in many Las Vegas casinos and Atlantic City hotels. Each roulette table carries a placard that describes the minimum and maximum bets allowed. Choose a table that fits within your budget and read the rules carefully.
Outside Bets
There are a few basic bets you can make on the roulette table: straight up, split, and street. These bets are considered “outside” because they cover groups of numbers instead of individual digits. They pay off if the ball lands in any of those groups, but you have a lower probability of winning with these bets than if you bet on an individual number.
The Dozens Bet — known as douzaine in French — wagers that the winning number will be in the first dozen of numbers on the layout, the second dozen, or the third dozen. This bet pays out 2-1. The Odd or Even Bet — called impair et pair in French — is another even money bet, with a payout of 1-1. This bet is more difficult to win, but it has a lower house edge than other even/odd bets.