Roulette Games

Basics of roulette games have not changed in over 200 years. In today’s casinos the basic version is played at a table with a house dealer and a wheel with 38 pockets. 18 red, 18 black and 2 green containing the numbers zero and double zero. A single zero wheel also exists and is popular in European casinos. The table has a felt betting layout with numbers and colors corresponding to the wheel.

Objective of Roulette Games

When playing roulette games players buy in for a desired amount of colored chips. The average player usually buys dollar chips. Table minimums are as low as five dollars. When betting the numbers players have the option of wagering as many chips as they wish on various types of bets as long as they wager the table minimum. The dealer will then spin the wheel and a small ball while players cross their fingers hoping the ball to land on their numbers.

Roulette Wagers Inside

Straight Up Bet – Chip(s) placed on a single number. Example: # 17. A winning payout is 35 to 1.       


Split Bet – a two number bet vertical or horizontal. Example: Chip(s) placed on the line between the 5 & 8. Pays 17 to 1 if either of the two numbers win.

Street Bet – A bet on three consecutive numbers. Example: Chip(s) placed on the line of a bottom row number such as 19, will cover 19 -21. Payout is 11 to 1 for the win.

Corner Bet – A bet on four numbers. Example: Chip(s) placed at the corner intersection of 25, 26, 28 & 29. Winning payout is 8 to 1.

Line Bet – A six consecutive number bet. Example: chip(s) placed on a line between two numbers at the bottom such as 31 & 34 will cover 31 through 36. The payout is 5 to 1 for the win.


Roulette Wagers Outside

For the following outside bets, at least the table minimum must be wagered:

 Column Bet – Betting on twelve numbers in a vertical column such as 1– 34. The winning payout is 2 to 1 for each of the three columns. 


 Dozens Bet – Betting on the first twelve, second twelve or third twelve.      

The winning payout is 2 to 1.

Red or Black – A bet on either color. A winning payout is even money at 1 to 1.

Odd or Even – A win that also pays even money.

1-18 or 19-36 – Pays even money for the win.

 Many casinos in Europe, Asia and some in the United States offer single zero wheels. If you find one and the table minimum is within your budget, play it. The house edge is reduced from 5.26 % for a double zero wheel to 2.6% on a single zero wheel.


Roulette Variants

Two variants to the basic version have been introduced in recent years. They are called River Boat Roulette and Double Ball Roulette.

In 2016 the Venetian hotel and casino on the Vegas strip introduced Triple Zero Roulette! In 2018 the game found its way to the Planet Hollywood and New York New York casinos. This is not good news for roulette players, as the house edge increases from 5.26 up to 7.69%!  

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