How to Play Roulette – Rules and Beginner’s Guide

Roulette is one of the most popular and thrilling casino games worldwide. If you’re new to this game, this beginner’s guide will walk you through the basics of this game of fortune, from understanding the rules to placing your first bet. After learning how to play roulette, you`ll be ready to start playing this exciting game of luck at Mr Bet Casino in New Zealand

What Is Roulette?

It is a classic casino game that dates back to 18th-century France. The game involves a spinning wheel with numbered pockets, a small ball, and a betting table where players place their wagers. The objective of this game is to predict where the ball will land after the wheel stops spinning. The numbers on the wheel range from 0 to 36 in European roulette and from 00 to 36 in American roulette. The pockets alternate between red and black, except for the green zero or double zero.

How Do You Play Roulette?

Playing this game of luck is straightforward, but there’s plenty of room for strategy. The basic steps include:

1. Place your bets: Before the wheel is spun, players place chips on the betting layout of the table.
2. The dealer spins the wheel: The dealer spins the wheel in one direction and rolls a small ball in the opposite direction.
3. The ball lands in a pocket: When the wheel slows down, the ball falls into one of the numbered pockets.
4. The winning number announced: The dealer announces the winning number and color, and winning bets are paid out according to the odds.

This game offers a mix of luck and strategy, making it exciting for players of all experience levels.

The Roulette Table

The roulette table features a betting layout and a roulette wheel. The betting area is where you place your chips and is divided into various sections for inside and outside bets. The wheel itself contains numbered pockets. The table can accommodate several players at once, and each player has their own set of colored chips to avoid confusion.

Placing a Bet

When you play this game of chance, you’ll need to lay money on the numbers, colors, or sections of the wheel you believe the ball will land on. To place a bet, simply put your chips in the corresponding area of the betting layout. The type of wager you make will determine the payout odds.

Common betting options include:

• Straight-up bet: Betting on a single number.
• Split bet: Betting on two adjacent numbers.
• Street bet: Betting on three numbers in a row.

Types of Bet in Roulette

There are two primary types of wagering in this game: inside bets and outside bets. Each type offers different risk levels and payout potential.

Inside Bets

Inside bets are placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers located in the inner section of the betting layout. This type of wagering typically has higher payouts because the odds of winning are lower. Common inside bets include:

• Straight-up bet: Betting on a single number (pays 35:1).
• Split bet: Wagering on two adjacent numbers (pays 17:1).
• Street bet: Betting on three consecutive numbers in a row (pays 11:1).
• Corner bet: Wagering on four numbers that meet at a corner (pays 8:1).
• Six-line bet: Betting on two adjacent rows, covering six numbers (pays 5:1).

Outside Bets

Outside bets cover larger sections of the roulette table and have a higher chance of winning, but the payouts are lower. This type of wagering includes:

• Red or Black: Betting on whether the ball will land on a red or black number (pays 1:1).
• Odd or Even: Betting on whether the ball will land on an odd or even number (pays 1:1).
• High or Low: Betting on whether the number will be between 1-18 or 19-36 (pays 1:1).
• Dozens: Betting on one of three groups of twelve numbers (pays 2:1).
• Columns: Betting on a vertical column of twelve numbers (pays 2:1).

What Are the Odds of Winning at Roulette?

The odds of winning in this game depend on the type of wager you make and the version of the game you’re playing. For example, European roulette has a lower house edge (2.7%) compared to American roulette (5.26%) because of the single zero. Betting on red/black or odd/even gives you close to a 50/50 chance, while betting on a single number is riskier but offers a much higher payout.

What Is the Sucker Bet?

The so-called “sucker bet” in this game of luck is a wager that has a high house edge and low odds of winning. In American roulette, the “sucker bet” is often considered to be the Five-Number Bet (also known as the Top Line Bet), which includes the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. This wager has a house edge of 7.89%, making it one of the worst wagers on the table.

Specific Rules of the European Roulette

There are two rules that differ the American and European roulette: La Partage and En Prison. La Partage is a rule applied in some versions of European roulette, which offers players a safety net on even-money bets (like red/black or odd/even). If the ball lands on zero, players lose only half of their money instead of the entire amount. This rule lowers the house edge on even-money bets, making it more favorable for players.

En Prison is another rule found in European roulette. It applies to even-money bets when the ball lands on zero. Instead of losing the entire amount of cash, this money is “imprisoned” for the next spin. If the next spin wins, the player gets their money back; if not, the wager is lost. This rule also reduces the house edge on even-money bets.

How do you play roulette at the casino?

Playing this game of fortune in a land-based casino follows a simple process:

1. Get roulette chips: Before placing any wagers, you’ll need to exchange your cash for special roulette chips. Unlike regular casino chips, these chips are color-coded for each player to avoid confusion on the betting layout.
2. Place your bets: Once you have your chips, place them on the table according to the type of wagering you want to make. All chips must be placed before the dealer announces “No more bets.”
3. Winning at roulette: After the ball lands and the winning number is determined, the dealer pays out the winning stakes. The payout depends on the type of wager placed. Straight-up bets offer the highest payout, while outside bets provide smaller but more frequent wins.
4. Leaving the roulette table: When you’re ready to leave, bring your roulette chips to the dealer or the cashier to exchange them for regular casino chips or cash. Make sure to do this before leaving the table, as these chips are only valid at that particular table.
5. A note on announced bets: Announced bets, also known as call bets, are common in European roulette. These wagers involve laying money on specific sections of the wheel rather than the numbers on the table layout. For example, wagers like “Voisins du Zero” and “Tiers du Cylindre” are popular in French and European casinos. These wagers are usually placed verbally to the dealer rather than physically on the table.

In the online casino, you`ll definitely skip some of these steps, but the main principle is the same: choose your type of wagering and try your luck. Roulette is a game of chance and excitement, and with a solid understanding of the rules and betting options, you can enjoy the thrill of the wheel while making informed wagers.