Roulette
| Updated: Introduction to Roulette
Roulette is a game that has become a symbol of the gambling industry. There is hardly any person in the world who will not recall the emblematic red-and-black wheel when thinking of a casino game. Not to mention that every movie featuring casino scenes focuses mainly on the roulette table. The reason for this might be that roulette is one of the oldest games played in casinos. The image of the roulette wheel has become iconic in the gaming industry.
The current publication will cover some basic roulette concepts that will be beneficial for both novice and experienced players. From roulette’s history and most popular variations to the diversity of bets and systems, we strive to provide a comprehensive guide on this beloved game of chance.
A Brief Historical Overview
Looking back at the history of the game means jumping in a time machine and travelling all the way to 17th-century France. Everything started with the invention of the wheel. The person responsible for this great achievement was the French mathematician and physicist Pascal. His main intention was to create a machine capable of perpetual motion. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately for roulette fans, his attempt failed.
Even though various speculations and theories about the true origin of the game exist, everything indicates that France is indeed the birthplace of this amazing game. The two French brothers François and Louis Blanc decided to develop Pascal’s initial idea further. They followed the design of the wheel and created the game we now know as roulette. In fact, the name of the game should hardly surprise anyone, since it means a “small wheel”. The wheel originally consisted of a single-zero pocket until it crossed the Atlantic.
The game encountered many obstacles before it captured the hearts of people around the world. Like every great invention, roulette was denounced many times and even declared illegal in its own birthplace. This is one of the main reasons why the two brothers introduced the game to European society. Unlike in France, the game was welcomed with open arms across the continent.
Thanks to fleeing French immigrants, the game made its way across the ocean to America. At first, it appeared in New Orleans during the Gold Rush. The only problem for casino owners was the game’s low profit margin, so a second zero pocket was added to the American wheel to increase the house advantage.
The game later returned to France after King Charles’ kingdom faced financial decline. To increase revenue, the King lifted the restrictions and even built a casino. Of course, roulette took centre stage. Soon the roulette tables became overcrowded, and the casinos in Monte Carlo embraced the wheel as a symbol of casino culture.
The Rise of the Roulette Variations
Thanks to its immense popularity worldwide, roulette has evolved into three main variations – American, European and French. The game is played under the same basic rules – the aim of every player is to predict the winning number. Of course, that is only the foundation, and it is far from enough to join a roulette table straight away. One should be aware of all the peculiarities that govern the different tables.
The Birth of Online Roulette
Thanks to modern technology and the rise of the Internet, roulette is now available at virtually every online casino. It is worth trying to play roulette online, since you can find many interesting variations of the game besides the three main ones. The engaging graphics and user-friendly interfaces are a fresh development in the gaming industry. Before starting your online experience, all players should read the terms and conditions under which the casino operates.
Playing Roulette with Live Dealers
If you are the type of person who doubts modernisation, online casinos have found a way to prove their credibility. Thanks to the option to play roulette with a live dealer, you can follow every detail of the game through high-definition video streaming. The game itself is held in real time and managed by a professional dealer.
Players can interact with the dealers and other fellow players via live chat. The feeling you can get from games with live dealers is the closest to that in a brick-and-mortar casino. The only difference is that players save themselves the walk to the casino and enjoy the comfort of their home.
The Differences between Roulette Variations
The building blocks of every roulette table are the wheel, the betting layout and the small marble ball. The wheel itself consists of 37 pockets, numbered from 0 to 36. One might be surprised to learn that the American wheel has one additional pocket. The reason is that the European and French wheels contain only a single-zero pocket, whereas the American wheel has two zero pockets.
In fact, the main difference between the three variations of the game stems from this extra zero pocket on the American wheel. The zero pockets represent the advantage of the casino over the player. That is why American roulette offers a 5.26% house edge, as opposed to the European version, which is almost half of that – only 2.7% (even 1.35% in certain cases).
The Role of the House Edge
At first sight, the extra pocket may seem inconspicuous, but it affects not only the house edge, but also the player’s chances of winning. Many inexperienced players fall for the idea that even-money bets offer equal chances. This is not entirely accurate. On a single-zero wheel, the chances are 18 to 19 – 18 chances to win against 19 possibilities to lose (18 numbered pockets plus the zero), or 48.65% to win and 51.35% to lose. On the American table, players have 18 chances to win against 20 to lose, which means 47.36% to win and 52.63% to lose – a 5.26% higher chance of losing.
Besides the house edge, there are also some differences in the arrangement of the table and the numbers on the wheel. This, in fact, does not change the rules, of course, but it is essential to mention, since these are innate features of the different variations of the game. It is not hard to recognise the different types of tables.
Additional Rules on the French Table
In terms of rules, there is one major difference that also affects the house edge. Some French tables offer the so-called “En Prison” and “La Partage” rules, which decrease the house edge to 1.35%. These apply when the ball falls in the zero pocket and you have placed an even-money bet. Then, the player may either split the bet with the house, or leave the bet on the same outside option for the next spin.
Diversity in the Betting Options
Talking about roulette, it is impossible to overlook the fact that this game provides various betting options. In a nutshell, the layout consists of 2 main parts – “inside” part, representing all the numbers on the wheel and “outside” part for placing bets on a particular category of numbers. Thus, there are 2 major types of bets. The “inside” bets are placed on a particular number or group of numbers, while the “outside” bets cover a bigger section of the layout, since these cover a whole category. On this basis, it is reasonable to say that outside bets are much safer. Unfortunately, in this case, safety comes at a price – lower payouts than the inside bets.
The French table also offers the well-known “called bets”, which are inherent to the French variation of the game. These are placed on all the numbers of a particular section of the wheel. Being a combination of split (on two numbers) and straight-up (on one number) bets, these can appear difficult for inexperienced players. That is the reason why the dealer places these bets upon the player’s request.
One of the reasons why roulette is such a popular game is its simplicity. The bets are easily placed by use of the layout. The player just needs to stack the chips on the preferred section of the layout and wait until the croupier announces the winning number. When placing bets, players should take into account the minimum-to-maximum limits of the table and adjust their stakes accordingly.
The Secret is in Self-Control
When the dealer tosses the ball, there is no power that can control it. Therefore, roulette is often referred to as a game of chance. Of course, luck plays a part, but seasoned players know that the right plan can save their bankroll. The thrill of gambling often gains the upper hand over common sense. That is why it is highly recommended to stay disciplined and control your bankroll. The best plan is to set yourself a loss limit and a winning goal. No matter which one you reach first, you need to end the game. Before you learn how to win, you need to know how to lose!
Planning the Bets in Advance
Many advanced players follow a strategy. As mentioned above, it is impossible to predict the pocket where the ball will settle. So, under the term “strategy”, players should understand a betting strategy that they can stick to. Thus, two major strategies can be outlined – negative and positive progression strategies. In fact, these two represent exactly the opposite approach.
With negative progression systems, players increase the stake after every loss and decrease it after every win. It may sound counter-intuitive, but the idea is to recover all lost money with a single win. The problem is that no one can predict when bad luck will cease, so players risk bumping into the maximum limit of the table very quickly.
Positive progression systems require you to increase the bet after a win and decrease it after a loss. The idea is to protect yourself from consecutive losing streaks. Do not rely on the belief that since the ball landed four times on a red pocket, the next spin will give you a black pocket.
There are different subtypes of these strategies. Some of them are easier to follow, while others are used only by advanced players. The universal truth about winning roulette is simply to know how to manage your bankroll properly. Be modest in placing bets and stay within the limits you have set. Remember to use only money that you do not need for rent or bills. Think of this money as spent and do not count on becoming rich with a single spin of the wheel.
Number Sequence and Patterns & Hot and Cold Numbers in Roulette
One of the things that make roulette such an exciting game is its extraordinary wheel. Nowadays it is possible to play roulette games that feature either a single-zero or a double-zero wheel. You can easily tell them apart by simply counting the green pockets on the respective wheel. The reason why it is highly recommended to be able to recognise both types is that your odds of winning greatly depend on the wheel in use. In general, the games that feature a double-zero wheel are less beneficial for you as they significantly increase the house edge. Also, the numbers on the wheel are not randomly arranged, as they are placed according to a specific pattern.
Even though roulette is regarded as a game of chance, many players still try to find out whether the ball follows any pattern. They consider the outcome of the previous rounds and search for a connection between them. However, the truth is that every time the ball is spun, your odds of winning are always the same, regardless of the previous outcomes. Another popular concept among many roulette players is that at some point during the game some numbers become hot. In other words, they have won several times in a row.
Roulette Casino Systems
Roulette is one of the few casino games that is perfectly suitable for applying a betting system. Throughout the years, a number of betting systems have emerged, some of which were specially designed to be used in this game. All of the betting systems offer you the opportunity to place your bets according to a specific plan and thus decrease your losses as much as possible. Some of them even give you the chance to turn a profit and walk out of the casino with more money in your pocket.
Several types of betting systems can be distinguished – positive and negative progression systems and flat betting systems. Some of the most popular betting systems for roulette are Martingale, Labouchere, Parlay, Fibonacci and D’Alembert. No matter whether you are a seasoned player or a novice, you will be able to learn a betting system, as they differ from one another in terms of difficulty. However, all of them give you the opportunity to follow a plan according to which you can place your bets and thus enjoy the gaming process more.
| Roulette Martingale Betting System | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet Number | Bet Size | Spin Outcome | Net Winnings |
| #1 | 1 | LOSS | -1 |
| #2 | 2 | LOSS | -3 |
| #3 | 4 | LOSS | -7 |
| #4 | 8 | WIN | +1 |
| #5 | 1 | WIN | +2 |
| #6 | 1 | LOSS | +1 |
| #7 | 2 | LOSS | -1 |
| #8 | 4 | WIN | +3 |
Roulette Tournaments & 3D and Progressive Jackpot Roulette Games
A great way to enhance your gambling experience is to participate in a roulette tournament. Nowadays a number of casinos hold such events exclusively for their roulette players. They give them the chance to compete against other fellow players and win great prizes. In some events you don’t even have to take first place in order to be rewarded for your participation. You can take part in different types of roulette tournaments, depending on the casino of your choice. Sometimes the winner is the player who manages to win the most chips for a set time, whereas in other cases your main goal is to collect as many chips as possible during a set number of spins.
Presently, two exclusive variations are gaining in popularity among roulette players all over the world – 3D Roulette and Progressive Jackpot Roulette. Both games give you the chance to diversify your online gambling experience and enjoy the game like never before. Progressive jackpot roulette games feature an exclusive jackpot whose amount grows every time someone plays. Thanks to this exciting format, you have the chance to win big while playing roulette.
Mobile Roulette
Nowadays almost every online casino has a mobile platform which is suitable for various mobile devices. No matter whether you have an iPhone, iPad or an Android device, you will be able to play roulette at any time and place. It is no longer necessary to go back home in order to play roulette as now you can do so on the go. Mobile casinos offer you the convenience to choose when, where and how to play roulette.
You can either use your tablet or smartphone to place real-money bets on the numbers of your choice. It is possible to enjoy the game by accessing the casino website directly via your most trusted browser or by downloading the app of the respective casino. Both options are very convenient and handy and it is entirely up to you to choose how to play.
Roulette for Real Money & High Roller Roulette
You can play roulette at various online casinos as it is one of the most popular games of all time. In order to be able to win real money, you need to open an account at an online casino and make a deposit. Usually, you are given the opportunity to choose from a wide range of payment solutions so that you can choose the one that suits your needs best.
However, before you risk your own funds, it is best to take into account all of the game’s aspects and subtleties. If you are fully prepared for the gaming process, you will be able to make better choices for your bets. It is also essential to get familiar with your odds of winning and the house edge in advance. If you are more of a risk-taker and you love applying a more aggressive approach to your bets, roulette is the perfect game for you as most versions have an extremely high table limit. Most online casinos highly cherish high rollers, so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that a great number of web-based casinos offer high-stakes tables.