Roulette Rules Explained

Roulette is a popular game you’ll find at an online casino and its popularity stems from the fact that it is a simple game. Being an easy game to play with no real strategy to speak of, online roulette is for everyone.  Since it is a game of chance, all you need is a good knowledge of the roulette rules when playing the different types of roulette games to make a suitable bet.

The game begins after the croupier or dealer has paid off winners and cleared the losing bets from the preceding spin. Players may lay bets by placing their chips on the roulette layout. When the croupier spins the wheel, the players are allowed to bet until such time as he calls “No more bets”. As the ball settles on the slot, the croupier marks the corresponding number on the layout with a marker. Payouts are made and the layout is cleared to begin another spin.

Roulette Betting

Players place their wagers with the help of colored chips obtained from the croupier. No denomination is printed on the chips but the value will be the amount of buy-in divide by the quantity of colored chips received. The croupier exchanges the winning chips for valued ones which the casino will then exchange for cash.

European Roulette Rules

The European Roulette wheel has 0-36 numbered slots while the American Roulette wheel has an extra ’00′ slot making a total of 38 slots instead of 37 as in European Roulette. As a result, the house edge in American Roulette at 5.26% is higher compared to European Roulette which is 2.7%.

Outside Bets

There are different minimum and maximum limits for bets at various tables. The player makes the bet by placing his chips on a suitable numeral on the layout. Bets can be placed on just a single number, a group of numbers or on the distinct features of the numbers like they being odd, or even or black or red. In roulette, you can make two kinds of bets – inside bets and outside bets.

Red or Black, Odd or Even

There are 18 odd and 18 even numbers on the roulette wheel. Similarly, there are 18 black and18 red numbers. You bet to place your wager on odd numbers, even numbers or red or black number. For instance, if you have bet on an odd digit and the ball settles on any one of the odd numbers like 1, 3 or 5, you win. This is even money bet that will pay out in the ratio 1:1.

You can also make even money bets on whether the ball may settle on the initial 18 numbers or the final 18 numbers.

Dozens and Columns

A stake on a group of the first twelve (1-12), the middle twelve (13-24) and the last twelve (25-36) numbers pays 2:1. Similarly, a bet on any one of the three columns with 12 numbers each of the roulette grid also pays 2:1.

Inside Bets

Single Number Bet: Betting on a single digit pays out 35:1.

Split Bet: This is a wager on two numbers wherein the chip is placed on a line separating two numbers. This bet pays17:1.

Street Bet: This is a stake placed on three numbers in a horizontal line and it pays out at the rate of 17:1.

Corner Bet: This is a bet on four numbers denoted by a chip placed on the junction of a row and a column. This bet pays out 8:1.

Double Street Bet: Any bet placed on 6 numbers in two adjoining rows is a double street bet and it pays 5:1.

Five Number Bet: There’s only one five-number bet that can be placed on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 and it pays out 6:1.  In roulette, it is possibly the worst kind of roulette bet you can place since the house edge on this one is a whopping 7%. Additionally this bet can be placed only in American roulette due to the presence of the double zero slot.

The 0 slot on the Roulette wheel is the crucial factor that decides the player’s fate and the house edge. 0 is neither odd, or even, nor red, nor black nor is it high or low. If the ball throws up on 0 or 00, all the outside bets lose.

Online Casino Roulette Rules

Some online casinos, particularly those offering European roulette follow the La Partage and the En Prison Rules for even money outside bets. If the ball lands on a zero, the la Partage rule, if applicable allows you to take back one half your even money bet.

The En Prison Rule on the other hand is a little different – in this case, if the ball falls on 0, your even money bet stays put till the subsequent spin. In other words, your bet is “imprisoned”. If you win on the next spin, you take back your bet with no winnings, but if you lose, you lose the bet. If 0 comes up again, your bet is imprisoned again. Both these rules, if applicable will reduce the house edge to exactly 1.35%, giving the player more chance of winning.