Roulette is a popular game that you can find at most online and land based casinos in nearly every country across the globe. Although roulette doesn’t offer you the best odds, it doesn’t necessarily offer the worst either. Here are a few tips for players new to the game of roulette.

Kinds of Roulette Wheels

Roulette has several variations, but all versions involve a gaming table with a built-in wheel that features alternate black and red numbered pockets. A casino employee, called a croupier, is in charge of spinning the wheel and the small metal ball. Players place their wagers on a betting grid laid out on the table.

The two types of roulette most frequently found at casinos are European roulette and American roulette. European roulette has pockets numbering 0 to 36 and the American version features 38 slots numbered 0 to 36 along with a 00.

The two zeroes on the American roulette hike the house advantage up to 5.26% while the European version has a house edge of 2.76%. Unlike some of the other casino games, the house advantage remains the same no matter where you place your bet on the grid. Most experienced gamblers suggest avoiding the American version whenever possible and playing on a European roulette wheel instead.

No matter what version you decide to play, find a game with a live dealer online rather than just playing the computer. One of the perks of roulette is that it is more of a fun, social activity than many of the other casino games.

Playing Roulette

Roulette players buy their chips and place their wagers. Roulette offers a wide range of betting options that fall under inside bets or outside bets.

An inside bet is a wager placed on the inside of the grid’s layout. This can include a “Straight Bet” where you predict one specific number or a “Split Bet” where you predict that the ball will land on one of two numbers. The former offers 35 to 1 odds, while the latter’s odds drop to 17 to 1.

Outside bets are wagers placed on the outer edge of the grid. These wagers can include predicting whether the ball will land on a high or low number, an odd or an even number or even a black or a red number. The odds for these outside bets are all 1 to 1. Another common outside bet is called the “Dozen Bet,” where you predict which dozen numbers the ball will land on. The payout odds for this wager run at 2 to 1.

Once all of the players place their bets, the croupier spins the wheel in one direction and the ball in the other. If the ball lands on a spot you selected, you win the bet. The croupier collects all of the losing bets and then pays the winners.

The payout odds depend on the type of wager you place. Roulette odds can be as low as 1 to 1 or as high as 2,700 to 1. Read and understand the rules of the specific casino and the payout odds before placing any bets.

It’s a good idea to play online roulette for free until you get a good feel for the game. Free-to-play games will help you become familiar with the various wagers and develop your own individual betting strategy. Once you feel comfortable with all of the rules of roulette, you can start to play at casinos that use real money wagers.

Every roulette table has a minimum wager requirement. Make sure that you are comfortable with the table’s stakes before you start playing. Remember that the house always has the edge in roulette. If you are enjoying a winning streak, have the self-discipline to walk away from the table before the house decides to take back your winnings.