Roulette Rules and Tips

Roulette, the classy game with European origins, involves a fancy spinning wheel
that contains slots numbered 1 to 36, and well as two additional slots, 0 an 00.
A white ball is spun around the wheel as the wheel rotates, and when the ball loses
speed, it drops, falling into one of the numbered slots.

Of the slots 1 to 36, half are black and half are red. The 0 and 00 slots are green.

The roulette wheel is kept spinning all the time and sped up once a game is about
to begin. The croupier rolls a little ivory ball along the inner edge of the wheel in the
opposite direction of its spin. As the wheel turns, the ball loses momentum and it
bounces among the slots and finally falls into one of the numbered slots. Bettors
can place their bets right up until the time the wheel slows down and the ball drops
into place. The number that the ball rests on is the declared as the winning number
for that game.

The purpose of the game is to try and guess which numbered slot the ball will fall
into next. You place your bets on the roulette layout according to where you think
the ball might land.

There are numerous bets you can place on a roulette wheel, but all bets fall into one
of two categories: inside bets and outside bets. You can place as many different
bets, and as many different types of bets as you want for each spin of the wheel, as
long as your bets do not exceed the table limit. Typically, a number display next to
the table will show the numbers that have hit on recent spins. The theory goes that,
if a certain number has not come up in a while, it may be a good time to bet on that
number since it will probably be coming up soon. Mathematically speaking, this
theory is total bunk. Your decision to use or discard this technique will make no
difference on your mathematical odds of winning.

Inside Bets
There are six types of inside bets you can make. They are called inside bets
because they occur within the numbered layout, between the numbers 1-36, and
the numbers 0 and 00.

Straight bets
This is a straight up wager. You bet on one number by placing chips on the center
of a number. You can bet on any number, including 0 and 00. If your number hits,
you get paid 35:1. In general, you are allowed to make as many straight bets as
you like, up to the table limit. You need not limit yourself to one number per spin.

Split bets
Split bets are also called two number bets. To make this bet, place your chips on
the line between two adjacent numbers. If either number hits, you get paid 17:1.
You can split any two numbers that have a line between them.

The trio bet
Also called the three number bet, a trio bet allows you to bet on three numbers at
once. You simply place chips on the outside line of the row you want to bet on. You
will be betting on 3 consecutive numbers. If any of them hit, the payout ratio is 11:1

The corner bet
The corner bet is a four number bet, and the payout ratio is 8:1. You make this bet
by placing chips on the "+" shaped corner where 4 numbers meet.

The five number bet
There is only one spot on the layout where you can bet on five numbers. You place
chips between as shown on the right, and if any of the five numbers - 0, 00, 1, 2, or
3 - hits, then you get paid 6:1.

Just so you know, this is the worst bet you can make on a roulette wheel. The odds
very much favor the house on this one, so it's good to avoid this bet entirely.

The six number bet
This bet pays at a 5:1 ratio. Place your chips on the outside line, between two rows.
You are betting on six consecutive numbers, and if any of them hit, you get paid.

Outside Bets
The outside bets take place outside of the numbered areas, in the green portion to
the left of the layout shown at the top of the page. They are a lot simpler to
understand than the inside bets. There are 5 different outside bets you can make.

1) Even or Odd
To make this bet, simply place chips on the box marked, "even" or "odd." If the
number that comes up matches your prediction, you win even money.(1:1)
The numbers 0 and 00 are losing numbers for this kind of bet.

 

2) Red or Black
Place chips in the red or black box. If the number that hits corresponds to the color
you select, then you are paid even money.

3) High or Low
There is a box marked "1 to 18" and another marked "19 to 36." Place chips on
either spot, and you will win even money if the ball falls in your number range you
select. 0 and 00 are losing numbers.

4) The Dozens Bet
You can bet on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd dozen numbers. The 1st dozen numbers are
1-12, the 2nd dozen are numbers 13-24, and the 3rd dozen are numbers 25-36.
If one of your 12 numbers hits, you are paid 2:1. 0 and 00 are losing numbers.

5) Columns Bet
You place these bets at the bottom of a column of numbers, on the spot marked
"2-1." If any of the numbers in your column hit, you get paid 2:1. The numbers 0
and 00 are losing numbers for column bets.