Roulette Rules and Betting Guide

Roulette Rules and Betting Guide is an introduction to the game of roulette for those who would like to find out more about this fascinating casino game. Roulette is an easy to play and understand Casino game that dates back to the 18th century.

The name Roulette is a French diminutive “little wheel”. It has been played in Paris since 1796 and quickly became popular in Casinos across Europe and later in America.

Roulette Rules & Equipment

Roulette is played at an elongated table with a big wheel at one end and a notch in the table where the dealer is. The table is covered with boxes for numbers 1-36 arranged in 12 rows and three columns and surrounded by either a red or black rectangle or oval. Above the numbers 1, 2 and 3 at the end closest to the dealer are boxes for a zero and a double zero (only in American Roulette) with green backgrounds.

The big spinning wheel itself has 38 numbered slots for American Roulette, and 37 numbered slots for European Roulette, each with a background corresponding to the numbered box on the table layout. There’s a small, hard ball made from either ivory or plastic that the dealer spins and it moves in the opposite direction of the spinning wheel. Each player gets different coloured chips upon placing a bet and this makes it easier for the dealer to keep track of which chip belongs to which player.

Roulette Betting Guide

It is worth noting that the additional slot in the American wheel increase the house to 5.26% from 2.63% in the European wheel. It might not make sense now but as we discuss the game further you will understand.

In a practical casino setup, you must purchase the special roulette chips before you can make a bet. Unlike other casino games, the roulette chip has no value indicated on its surface. Each table will have a maximum and minimum bet set by the management. There are several different bets you can make in roulette. Generally, they are divided into two; outside and inside bets. You can make several different types of inside bets that pay-out differently.

Straight bet

Wager on a single specific number. The probability of winning a straight bet is 2.63% giving it a house edge of 5.26% in double zero roulette or 2.70% in single zero roulette. Pays 35/1.

Split bet

Wager on two different numbers. You make this type of bet by placing your chip such that it straddles the line between any two numbers. It pays 17/1.

Street bets/line bets

You place this bet by placing your chip on the vertical line separating the inside and outside betting areas. This bet pays 11/1

Corner bet / Quad bet

You place this bet by having your chip such that it is touching all the four corners of the number you are betting. This pays 8/1

Basket bet

This is regarded as the worst bet in roulette since it has the highest house edge at 7.89%. Basket bet is a five number bet on zero, double zero and numbers 1, 2, and 3. It pays 6/1

Double Street bet

You make this bet by placing your chip on the line separating the inside and outside areas like you do in street bet but in this one, you let it straddle the row below and above.

Outside bets are the bets made in the boxes surrounding the roulette numbers. Just like inside bets, there are several different outside bets you can make;

Red Black Odd & Even bet

These are all even money bets. You make this bets by placing your chips in the boxes you choose.

Dozens bet

These are bets on 12 consecutive numbers. You make these bets by placing your wager in the boxes you want. You have an option of 1-12, 13-24, 25-36. If it falls on zero or double zero, you lose. These pay 2/1.

Column bets

These are also 12 number bets but unlike dozens bets, you don’t place bets on consecutive numbers but rather, you pick numbers in one of the three vertical columns (remember the columns we mentioned earlier?). These bets are made in the boxes at the bottom of the layout. They pay 2/1.

Please note that you can’t combine your outside and inside bets in order to meet the table requirements. That is, if the table minimum is R10, you can’t bet R5 on the inside and R5 on the outside. You will have to make R10 on the inside and R10 on the outside.

The dealer sets the game into play by spinning the wheel and the ball in opposite directions. This causes the ball to jump around and spin before slowing down and landing on a number. The dealer then marks the winning number with a marker and you cannot place bets for the next spin until the dealer removes the marker from the winning number. You are allowed to place bets even after the dealer spins the ball until when the dealer will call out “No More Bets” (usually when the ball starts to slow down.)

Some books and website claim that some roulette wheels are biased; citing a heavy side and light side, with the ball tending to fall on the heavy side more often due to gravity. Truth is, modern tables are vigorously tested and precision created. This theory of gravity perhaps hold true for earlier tables. Others claim to have sure fire system for winning at Roulette but truth is, you can’t change the house edge (because it’s mathematics) and in this light you shouldn’t buy any roulette fire system otherwise you will be a victim of fraud.

Roulette can be played safely at many South African online casinos who generally offer several variants of the game.