Roulette
Roulette is one of the oldest and most iconic casino games in the world, played on a spinning wheel divided into numbered pockets. Players bet on where a small ball will land after the wheel is spun. Two main variants exist: European Roulette (37 pockets, numbered 0–36, house edge 2.70%) and American Roulette (38 pockets with an additional double-zero pocket, house edge 5.26%). A third variant, French Roulette, uses the European wheel with additional player-friendly rules. Roulette requires no skill to play — the outcome is entirely random — but the choice of wheel and bet type significantly affects the house edge a player faces.
Rules & Gameplay
Players place chips on a betting layout before the croupier spins the wheel and releases the ball in the opposite direction. Bets close when the croupier announces 'no more bets'. Inside bets are placed on specific numbers or small groups: Straight Up (single number, pays 35:1), Split (two numbers, pays 17:1), Street (three numbers in a row, pays 11:1), Corner (four numbers, pays 8:1), Line (six numbers, pays 5:1). Outside bets cover larger groups: Dozens (12 numbers, pays 2:1), Columns (12 numbers, pays 2:1), Red/Black (pays 1:1), Odd/Even (pays 1:1), High/Low (1–18 or 19–36, pays 1:1). On European wheels, the single zero causes outside bets to lose unless La Partage or En Prison rules apply. On American wheels, both zero and double-zero are losses for all outside bets.
Basic Strategy
The single most impactful decision in roulette is choosing the wheel. Always play European or French single-zero roulette over American double-zero roulette — the house edge drops from 5.26% to 2.70%. If French roulette with La Partage is available, even-money outside bets carry just 1.35% house edge, placing it among the best bets in the casino. For bankroll longevity, focus on even-money outside bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low) — they offer the highest win frequency at 48.6% on a European wheel. Straight-up single-number bets pay 35:1 but have only a 2.7% win chance per spin. No betting system can overcome the mathematical house edge over the long run.
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European Roulette
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