Roulette Rules

Understanding the Basics of Casino Roulette Rules

Roulette is one of the most popular casino games because of its simplicity and the thrill it provides. Anyone can play online roulette, but first, one needs to understand the basic rules of roulette. The game involves a spinning wheel, a small ball, and a roulette table where you place bets. The objective is straightforward – predict where the ball will land once the spinning wheel comes to a halt.

Delving deeper into the casino games roulette rules, we find that the roulette wheel consists of numbered pockets ranging from 0 to 36. Depending on the variation, you might also see a ’00’ pocket in American roulette.

You place your bets on the roulette table, which has corresponding numbers and additional betting options. These can range from betting on individual numbers to broader categories like ‘even’ or ‘odd’, ‘red’ or ‘black’, and ‘1-18′ or ’19-36’.

An example of the European roulette table and the available bets.

The roulette table can seem complicated at first glance, but it is actually pretty straightforward. The table is split into two categories: inside and outside bets – each with a range of betting options. The range of betting options makes roulette a popular choice for new and experienced gamblers alike. Newbies can keep it simple with outside bets for the best odds on roulette, while experienced gamblers can try their luck with inside bets.

Inside Bets

The Inside Bets refer to the wagers you can place directly on the numbers. Each number from 0 to 36 (and ’00’ in American roulette) is considered an ‘inside’ bet. These bets have the highest payouts but also the lowest odds of winning.

Inside bets can be further divided into several types:

• Straight: A bet on a single number.
• Split: A bet on two adjacent numbers.
• Street: A bet on three numbers on the same line.
• Corner: A bet on four numbers that form a square.
• Line: A bet on six numbers, comprising two adjoining rows.

Outside Bets

On the other hand, Outside Bets are bets that are placed on the broader categories of outcomes. These bets cover a larger group of numbers and thus have higher chances of winning, albeit with a smaller payout. Here are the types of outside bets:

• Red or Black: A bet on whether the ball will land on a red or black pocket.
• Odd or Even: A bet on whether the final number will be odd or even.
• High or Low: A bet on whether the ball will land on a number between 1-18 (low) or 19-36 (high).
• Dozens: A bet on one of the three dozen that the 36 numbers are divided into.
• Columns: A bet on one of the three columns of 12 numbers on the betting table.

Roulette Gameplay

When it comes to betting, the rules for roulette are simple. You can place your bet before the croupier announces, ‘No more bets’, after which the wheel is spun, and the ball is tossed. If the ball lands on your chosen number or category, you win. If you play at a casino fast withdrawal UK, you can even receive your winnings immediately once your session ends.

The amount you win is determined by the type of bet you place, as they all have different odds. Straight bets on individual numbers offer the highest payout, while broader bets provide lower payouts but better odds. It’s important to balance risk and potential reward in your Roulette betting strategy.

Let’s walk through a simplified step-by-step example of a roulette game to help cement your understanding.

Step 1: Choosing Your Bet

Let’s assume you’re at a physical casino, standing at the roulette table. You decide to place an ‘inside bet’ on your favourite number, 7. You exchange your money for special roulette chips and place them on the number 7 on the table. This is a ‘straight’ bet.

Step 2: The Wheel Spins

After all the players have placed their bets, the croupier announces, ‘No more bets’. The croupier then spins the roulette wheel in one direction and tosses the ball in the opposite direction. The wheel and the ball slow down gradually.

Step 3: The Result

The ball finally lands in a numbered pocket on the wheel. If it lands on 7, congratulations, you win! If it lands on any other number, you lose your bet.

Step 4: Payout

If you’re lucky enough to win, the croupier will place your winnings next to your original bet on the table. In our example, the payout for a ‘straight’ bet is 35 to 1. So, if you had bet $1, you’d receive $35 plus your original $1 bet.

Once all winnings are handed out and losing bets are collected, the next round of betting begins. You can choose to bet on the same number, change your number, or try a different type of bet.

Remember, every round of roulette is independent of the last. This means that even if the ball has landed on 7 three times in a row, the chances of it landing on 7 on the next spin are the same as the first time.

Advanced Rules for Roulette

As players delve deeper into the world of roulette, they often come across a few more sophisticated rules that add a unique twist to the gameplay. These are most commonly seen in French roulette but are also sometimes available in European and online versions.

• En Prison Rule: This rule comes into play when you've placed an even-money bet (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low), and the ball lands on zero. Instead of losing your entire bet, your wager is 'imprisoned', meaning it's held for the next spin. If you win on the next spin, you get your original stake back without any additional winnings. If you lose, the house takes the bet.
• La Partage Rule: Similar to En Prison, La Partage also applies to even-money bets when the ball lands on zero. However, instead of your bet being held for another spin, you instantly get half of your stake back.
• Call Bets: Also known as 'Announced' or 'French' bets, these are specific combinations of numbers as they appear on the wheel rather than the table. An example is 'Voisins du Zero' (neighbours of zero), which covers the 17 numbers surrounding and including zero.

Remember, these rules are not present in every game of roulette. Always check the specific rules at the table you’re playing at or in the game’s online instructions.

If you are brand new to roulette, we advise you to get the hang of the basic roulette rules before venturing into games with more advanced rules.

European Vs. American Roulette Game Rules

When looking at the roulette wheel, you’ll notice a key difference between European and American versions. This difference significantly impacts the house edge, making it vital for players to understand.

• European Roulette: In European roulette, the wheel has 37 pockets, numbered from 0 to 36. This version offers a lower house edge, standing at 2.7%, making it a popular choice among players.
• American Roulette: On the American roulette wheel, there's an extra pocket labelled '00', making 38 pockets in total. This additional pocket increases the house edge to 5.26%, nearly double that of the European version.

An example of the American roulette wheel and its double pockets.

The existence of the ’00’ pocket in American roulette changes the odds of the game. This results in a higher house advantage, meaning players are statistically less likely to win over the long run compared to European roulette. In other words, it is better to play European Roulette.

Besides the different wheels, the placement of numbers on the wheel varies between the two versions, but this doesn’t affect the game’s outcomes. Also, the advanced rules mentioned earlier (En Prison and La Partage) are usually not available on the American Roulette table.

Whether you choose European or American roulette, the game’s thrill remains the same. The choice often depends on personal preference and whether you’re willing to take on a higher house edge for a bit of American flavour. However, if your end goal is to win money, European roulette is more likely to yield better results in the long run.

Conclusion

Roulette is more than just a game of chance; it’s an experience that combines strategy, risk, and the thrill of the unknown. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking to sharpen your skills or a newcomer learning the ropes, understanding online roulette rules is the first step in your journey.

From the basic gameplay to more advanced rules and differences between variants, the world of roulette is as exciting as it is diverse. So why wait? The wheel is spinning, and the thrilling world of roulette is waiting for you!

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Kate WebbEditor in Chief

With over ten years of experience working with gambling and writing about casinos, Kate brings a lot of knowledge to CasinoTop3.com. Kate oversees all the content written on CasinoTop3.com to ensure it contains factual information with value to you as a player.