What You Need to Know About Roulette

Roulette is one of the most popular casino games on the planet and for good reason. It’s a simple game to play, has an incredibly low house edge and offers a variety of betting options. It’s no wonder that this game has made its way from Paris gambling dens to casinos and homes around the world. But it’s important to note that roulette has many variants and each has its subtle differences.

Roulette is played on a table with a revolving dishlike device in the center. The wheel is made of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with a number of compartments or pockets arranged in alternate red and black bands around the perimeter, and two green pockets on American-style wheels. A ball, announcing the winning number and color, is spun into the compartment where it will come to rest in a final segment of the wheel.

The table has numerous types of bets based on groupings of numbers, colors, odd or even, high or low, and whether they are red or black. The bets are placed by placing chips in the desired area of the table and when a winning combination is hit, the dealer places a ‘buck’ or small symbolled object on the table to signal the amount of money won. The buck is removed when the next decision comes up, and the chips are then parceled out to players.

The best type of roulette to play is the European version since it has a lower house edge than its American counterpart. If you’re new to roulette it’s recommended that you start with this variation as it magnifies your chances of winning. Another thing to take note of is that European roulette has a rule called la partage or en prison which, when translated to English, means ‘sharing’. This rule gives players half of their even money bets back if the ball lands on zero.