Roulette is a game of chance that has been enjoyed for centuries by casino-goers. Its rules are simple enough for novice players to grasp, yet it offers a surprising amount of depth for serious betters. To play roulette, you place bets on a number or category of numbers and the dealer spins a small ball in a circle until it lands in one of the slots. There are several types of bets, and each has its own payout if you win.
The Roulette Wheel
A roulette wheel consists of two parts: a stationary bowl and a rotating, dishlike device called the roulettewheel. The stationary bowl contains a numbered compartment or “pocket” for the ball to land in, and the roulettewheel has colored segments that alternate between red and black, and between odd and even.
The ball tracks the numbered pockets on the roulettewheel as it spins, and any flaw in the wheels structure can significantly alter results. While most professional roulette wheels are made of high-quality, metal-like ivorine, amateur and home-built versions can use anything from resin to Teflon. The size, weight and material of the ball also have a significant effect. A light, ceramic ball makes more revolutions on the track and jumps more unpredictably before it lands on a number than a big, heavy ivorine ball.
Each roulette table carries a placard displaying the minimum and maximum bet amounts. Before you start betting, determine your budget and choose a table within that limit. Then, place your chips on the betting table according to your bets. Each player gets a color of chip to indicate his or her bets, and the dealer will then spin the wheel.
Inside Bets
The inside bets (or “inside”) are all wagers on specific numbers or groups of numbers, and they pay the highest payouts when you win. These bets can include single numbers, rows of three, columns of four, and a six-number combination known as a sixline.
Outside Bets
In an outside bet, you’re placing your chips on a group of numbers (called propositions) instead of specific ones. The payouts for these bets are lower than those for inside bets, but they offer greater diversity. The Straight Up Bet is a simple bet on a single number, and the Street bet straddles a line between two adjacent numbers. The Dozens Bet, or douzaine in French, is a wager that the winning number will be in the first, second, or third dozen.