Roulette is an iconic casino game, instantly recognizable by its spinning wheel and the small white ball that determines players' fortunes. As a game of pure probability, roulette is easy to learn and offers a unique kind of excitement.
How the Game Works
The core of the game is the roulette wheel, which is divided into numbered pockets. The two primary versions of roulette are:
Single-Zero Roulette: It features numbers 1 through 36 plus a single green zero, casino (atuttavita.com) for a total of 37 slots. This version offers better odds for the player, with a house edge of 2.7%. American Roulette: The American wheel adds a second green pocket, the "00", casino bringing the total to 38 slots. This additional slot nearly doubles the house advantage to 5.26%.
The objective is to predict which numbered pocket the ball will land in after the wheel stops spinning.
Understanding the Betting Options
All roulette wagers fall into one of two main classifications.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are wagers on the numbered section of the table. They offer big payouts but are harder to hit.
Straight Up: A single-number bet that pays 35:1. Split: A two-number bet that pays 17:1. Street: Betting on a three-number row. Corner: A bet on a group of four numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.
Outside Bets
These are bets placed on broader categories of results on the outside of the layout. They have lower payouts but a much higher chance of winning.
Red/Black: A bet on whether the winning number will be red or black. Payout is 1 to 1. Odd/Even: A bet on whether the number will be odd or casino even. Payout is 1 to 1. High/Low: A bet on whether the number will be in the low range (1-18) or casino the high range (19-36). Payout is 1 to 1. Dozens/Columns: A bet on one of three dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) or one of three columns. Payout is 2 to 1.
Roulette Systems
Because roulette is a game of pure chance, there is no strategy that can guarantee a win or overcome the house edge in the long run. Systems like the Martingale (doubling your bet after a loss) are extremely risky and can lead to catastrophic losses very quickly. The only effective strategy is good bankroll management and choosing the game variant with the lowest house edge.