Roulette has offered glamour, mystery, and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. Its rules are simple, but the game has a surprising depth for serious betters, and the right strategy can reap high rewards. This article provides a quick guide to the basic elements of the game, so beginners can get started playing.
The roulette wheel contains 18 red pockets, 18 black pockets, and one or two green pockets (depending on the version of the game). There are also a number of special pockets – either double zeros or single zeros – that add to the house edge. The house edge in a typical American roulette game is 7.12%, but this can be slashed to 2.7% in European roulette thanks to the La Partage and En Prison rules.
Before the dealer spins the wheel, players place their chips on the table according to a predetermined betting pattern. Each player gets a specific color of chip to distinguish them from the others, and even spouses are encouraged to stay separate for roulette games. A croupier will then ask what denomination you want to designate for each chip; you may choose from $1, $5, or $10. You can also purchase multiple chips of the same value, but this will cost you more money in the long run.
When you’re ready to play, simply click on the “spin” button, which is located in the bottom right corner of the screen. The winning number will be determined in a matter of seconds, and payouts will automatically be credited to your account if you’re successful.
If you don’t want to wait for a result, you can always press the “clear” button. However, this will clear all the current bets from the table, so you’ll have to start over.
Some players like to watch the other players at a roulette table, hoping that they can pick up on some hidden strategy or to see which bets are losing more than others. This can be fun, but it won’t improve your odds much more than chance. It’s a good idea to keep a predetermined bankroll, and do your best not to dip into your winnings for future bets.
There are a few different types of roulette bets, but most fall into two categories: outside and inside. Outside bets are placed on a large group of numbers, and they pay out at a higher rate than individual number bets. Inside bets, on the other hand, are placed on a small area of the table where only a few numbers can be selected. They have a lower payout but a higher probability of success. Choosing the correct bet type can make all the difference in your winnings.