Roulette is a game of chance that has been entertaining casino-goers since the 17th century. Its enduring popularity is due in large part to the game’s simple rules and high rewards. But there’s more to roulette than meets the eye – this fast-paced, fanciful table game offers a surprising amount of depth for serious betters. This quick-and-easy guide to the basics will help you make the most of your time at the roulette table.
There are two basic types of bets in roulette: inside and outside. Inside bets cover a specific number or grouping of numbers while outside bets cover an entire section of the wheel. Each bet type has different odds, so it’s important to understand the odds of each before placing your chips on the table.
The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with a series of metal partitions or frets around its perimeter. Thirty-six of these compartments are painted alternately red and black, and numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. On European-style wheels there is also a green compartment with the sign “0” and, on American-style wheels, there are two green pockets marked “00.”
Each roulette game has its own house edge, which is the percentage of your bet that the casino will keep. The lower the house edge, the better your chances of winning are. The best way to reduce the house edge is by playing outside bets, which cover a larger area of the table and offer more winning opportunities than individual numbers or groupings of numbers. The other way is by choosing a table with La Partage or En Prison rules, which offer players half of their original bets back when they lose.
Before you head to the casino, set a budget for your roulette play and choose a table within that range. Each roulette table carries a placard describing the minimum and maximum bets allowed. The minimum and maximum bets are based on the type of bet you’re making: inside or outside, high or low (1-18 or 19-36).
Once your betting limit has been reached, cash out your chips before the start of the next round. This will prevent you from dipping into your winnings, which will leave you less money to bet with in the future. Some players like to watch the other players at the table, hoping that they can pick up a clue about what bets their opponents are making. However, this practice won’t improve your odds any more than watching television will.
Whether you’re new to roulette or an old pro, there are some common mistakes that all players make. The most important ones are: