The word “roulette” is a French word meaning “little wheel,” but some people believe roulette originated way back when mythical gods ruled the world and would spin the wheel to decide the fate of humans on Earth.
While that’s very likely not true at all, what is true is that it’s one of the most popular games in casinos all over Australia and the rest of the world.
What tends to make the game so popular is the fact that, unlike other casino games, it doesn’t really require a lot of skill to get started.
You will, however, need to ensure you know the rules and that you arm yourself with lots of winning strategies.
Here’s everything you need to know, from roulette rules and how to place your bets to some of the most interesting roulette facts that Australia’s ever seen.
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The Structure of the Roulette Game
Before learning how to play roulette, you’ll need to understand the structure of the game and its various components.
The two main components of a roulette game are the roulette wheel and the best that people place.
Roulette Wheel and Roulette Table
Roulette wheels vary depending on the region you’re in. There are two types:
- French Roulette Wheel
- American Roulette Wheel
While you might find some American roulette wheels in Australia, most casinos tend to play with the European version. The only difference between the two is that a European roulette wheel has 37 pockets.
This is because European roulette wheels only have one zero whereas American versions have a second “double zero.”
The numbers are still the same, however, and you’ll find 18 red numbers and 18 black numbers along with one green pocket for the zero.
The rules of the game are also the same regardless of where you’re playing roulette or what kind of wheel it is.
This means that if you head over to Las Vegas to play roulette, you’ll have to play with the same rules as you do in Australia!
However, American casinos tend to reserve the European wheels for high-paying players as the odds aren’t as much in the house’s favor. So, it’ll be harder to find a European wheel if you’re in North or South America.
Regarding the roulette table, well, it’s the table where you place your bets! You’ll have chips that you can place on numbers.
This is to ensure that the dealer can see everybody’s bets before the game begins.
The roulette table corresponds to the type of wheel as it includes the same numbers that are on the wheel (American vs. European).
Understanding Basic Roulette Bets
Before the casino spins the wheel, you’ll place a bet on where you think the ball is going to land.
Like pretty much every other casino game, you’ll need to place your bet within a certain time limit before the game begins.
Generally, when placing a single bet in roulette, your chances of winning on a European table are 37:1 because there are a total of 37 numbers. The payout for this kind of bet, however, is 35:1.
This means that if you put $1 on a number and it lands on that number, the house will pay you $35 on top of giving you your $1 bet back. You walk away with $36.
This is probably the most common kind of bet, and you’ll hear people in casinos referring to it as a straight-up bet.
You can also place a bet on a colour, which would be either red or black. The chances of winning with this kind of bet are obviously higher, which makes the payout less at 1:1.
If you place $1 on a red number and you win, then you’ll get $1 plus your $1 bet back.
A bet on a colour is an outside bet, which means you have a better chance of winning but a lower payout.
An inside bet is a bet on a number or another variation of numbers. When it comes to roulette payouts, these bets have the highest ones.
More About Outside Bets
Aside from betting on a colour or just one number, you can get pretty creative with your roulette bets.
An odd-even bet means you’re betting that either an odd or even number will come up. This is an outside bet in that they payout is pretty low if you win.
A similar outside bet is to bet on whether or not the ball is going to stop on the first, second, or third set of 12 numbers. If you bet on the first set of 12 numbers and it stops on 7, for example, you win with a payout of 2:1.
Similarly, you can bet on that it will land on number 1-18 or 19-26. You can clearly see these bets on the roulette table to make it easier.
The last main outside bet you can make in a game of roulette is to bet on columns.
On the table, you’ll see three columns beginning with 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Like betting on sets of 12, this also pays out 2:1.
More About Inside Bets
If you’re new to roulette, it’s best to stick with outside bets until you get the hang of things. Inside bets are more costly even though they come with a higher payout.
Roulette odds aren’t in your favour as much with inside bets. If you’re feeling lucky, however, then give it a go!
You can place one of the most common bets, which is a split bet. A split bet pays out 17:1 and you’ll need to place the marker on the line that straddles between the two numbers.
This means that you can’t place a bet on 13 and 18, for example, because they don’t touch each other on the roulette table.
A street bet is when you place a chip on a line of three straight numbers. This bet pays out 11:1.
If you want to up the ante, then place a four-way bet, which pays out 8:1. This consists of placing your chip on the line where four numbers connect. If it lands on one of the four numbers, you win.
It’s worth mentioning that there is the potential of placing a six-way bet. It’s got the worst odds, but the payout is 5:1.
Tips for Winning at Roulette
There’s not too much to learn about how to play roulette. If you understand how the roulette table works and what kinds of bets you can place, then you’re ready to start playing.
However, you’ll want to know a few things. The most important thing to do is to watch your winnings and keep and eye on the dealer.
In most casinos, if you win an inside bet, the dealer will push the winnings over to you but leave your initial bet on the table.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of winning and forget to move your bet. If you don’t, it’s going to stay there and the next round will begin and you’ll have to play again with the same bet.
Some dealers might even leave all of your winnings on the table which means that you’re going to end up wagering your entire lot on the next spin!
Just be mindful of where your winnings and bets are on the table and you’ll be fine. Know that the dealer isn’t going to move your chips for you in most cases.
Another good rule of thumb is to begin by sticking to the table minimums. For outside bets, bet on each red or black for each spin. This is a safe bet and will help you get into your groove.
Or, you can place two bets of equal amounts on two outside bets.
For example, bet on an even-money play and then place an equal bet on a column.
Spreading your bets out like this will ensure that you cover all of your bases and have higher chances of winning without the extremely high chances of losing that inside bets come with.
More Than Just Roulette Rules
You’ll need to understand more than just roulette rules in order to win big with this casino game.
Overall, it’s just as much of a game of chance as bingo or a similar game, which means you’ll need to have a lot of patience if you’re looking to win a lot of money.
Sometimes, you might catch a tired dealer spinning the wheel at just the right angle to ensure that the ball lands on a specific number each time.
More often than not, however, you just need to learn how to place your bets wisely without losing too much money.
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