Roulette

Virtually all American casinos use a double-zero roulette wheel which has pockets numbered from 1 to 36, plus 0 and 00 for a total of 38 pockets. This is in contrast to Europe where a single-zero wheel is used and the game has always been the most popular in the casino.

There are usually six seats at the roulette table, and each betting player is usually assigned a different color chip. Depending on the amount of money you are playing with, you will have different values of chips: $1, $2, $50, etc.

When you opt to play roulette from the virtual lobby of the casino, you will be given various options for tables or minimum bets. There are tables where the minimum bet is $1, usually up to $5. Besides the minimum chip value, there is also a minimum amount that must be bet on each spin of the wheel. Once again, the minimums are probably posted on a sign at the table. If it says $2 minimum inside and $5 minimum outside, this means that if you are betting on any of the 38 numbers that pay 35-to-1, the total of all your bets must be $2. You could make two different $1 bets or one $2 bet—it doesn't matter as long as the total of all your bets on the numbers is at least $2. The $5 minimum outside means that any of the outside bets that pay 2-to-1 or even money require you to bet $5 each time. On outside bets, you can't make a $3 bet and a $2 bet to meet the minimum—you have to bet at least $5 every time. After you've exchanged your cash for colored chips, you're ready to place your first bet. So, let's see what your options are:

You can make a straight bet where you only bet on one number, and if it comes in, you'll be paid 35-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is 5.26%, and by the time you're done with this roulette section, I'm sure you'll be very familiar with that number. Another choice is to do a split. This is where you put a chip on the line that separates two numbers. If either number comes up, you'll be paid 17-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is 5.26%.

If you put a chip in an area that splits four numbers, this is called a corner bet, and if any one of those four numbers comes in, you will be paid 8-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is 5.26%.

If you put a chip at the beginning of a row of three numbers, this is called a street bet, and if any one of those three numbers shows up, you will be paid 11-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is 5.26%.

You can also put a chip on the line between two streets so that you have a double street covered, and if any one of those six numbers comes in, you'll be paid 5-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is... you guessed it... 5.26%.

The only other bet you can make on the inside numbers is the five-number bet, where you place one chip in the upper left corner of the number 1 box. If any one of those five numbers comes in, you'll be paid 6-to-1. What do you think the casino advantage is on this bet? Nope, I got you—it's 7.89%. Actually, this is the worst possible bet on the roulette table and the only bet you'll come across that doesn't have a 5.26% house edge on the double-zero roulette wheel. You should never make this bet.

One quick word here about "to" and "for" when discussing odds. Whenever the odds are stated as "to," this means that in addition to the stated payoff, you also receive your original bet back. In other words, if you win your single number bet in roulette, you would receive 35-to-1, which is a 35-chip payoff plus you'd still keep your original one-chip bet, so you end up with 36 chips. Now, if the odds are stated as "for," that means you do not receive back your original bet. If the odds on your single number bet were 35-for-1, you would receive a 35-chip payoff, but the casino would keep your original one-chip bet, so you would only end up with 35 chips. The only place in a casino where the odds are always stated as "for" is in video poker. You might also come across it on a couple of craps bets where the odds are stated as "for-one" rather than "to-one" in order to give the casino a slightly better edge.

Now, getting back to our roulette examples, let's look at all of the outside bets that you can make. Keep in mind that the house edge on all of these outside bets is... do you remember the number?... that's right... 5.26%.

There are three bets you can make that will pay even money, or 1-to-1, which means that if you win, you will get back one dollar for every dollar you bet:

Red or black—If you put a chip on red, then a red number must come up for you to win. If the ball lands on a black number, 0, or 00, you lose. The same goes for black—you lose if it comes in red, 0, or 00, and you win if the ball lands on a black number.

Odd or even—If you put a chip on odd, then the ball must land on an odd number to win. If it lands on 0, 00, or an even number, you lose. If you bet on even, you win if an even number shows up and lose if the ball lands on 0, 00, or an odd number.

1 through 18 and 19 through 36—If you bet on 1 through 18, you win if a number from 1 through 18 comes in and lose if the ball lands on 0, 00, or a number higher than 18. Similarly, if you bet on 19 through 36, you win if one of those numbers comes in and lose on 0, 00, or any number lower than 19.

The only other bets left are the dozens and columns bets. If you look at the roulette betting layout, you can see three areas that each correspond to 12-number sections on the table. The one marked 1st 12 covers numbers 1 to 12, 2nd 12 covers 13 to 24, and 3rd 12 covers 25 to 36. If you bet on the 1st 12, you win if a number from 1 to 12 comes in and lose if anything else does, including 0 or 00. The same principle holds for each of the other dozen bets, paying 2-to-1.

The last bet is the column bet, which also pays 2-to-1. There are three possible column bets, each corresponding to the numbers in the column directly above it. If you put a chip under the first column, you win if any number in that column comes in and lose if any other number, including 0 or 00, shows up. The same rule applies to the other columns.

Roulette Tricks

Trick number 1:

With this trick you never lose, and it's very simple!!!

Bet on Black or Red, Even and Odd, 1 to 18 and 19 to 36. The method to win is very simple: If you lose, then double the bet. This is the classic Martingale gambling system.

Example: Bet $1 on Red. Result: Black (loss $1). Then bet $2 on Red. Result: 00 (loss $3 total). Then bet $4 on Red. Result: Black (loss $7 total). Then bet $8 on Red (continue until win). Result: Red (win $8). Net profit $1.

Trick number 2:

There is a problem with trick number 1—some casinos won't let you play like that. Then use this combination method.

Remember the last four numbers and wait for three repetitions.

Example 1: Last four numbers: 30, 8, 14, 1. Three repetitions of "1 to 18", so bet on "19 to 36" using method number 1.

Example 2: Last four: 30, 8, 14, 36. Four repetitions of "even", so bet on "odd" using method number 1.

When you win 2 or 3 times, stop and go to another table to avoid detection.

Trick number 3:

This is a statistical method:

Number #01's positive group numbers are: 02, 03, 04, 05, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 25, 27, 36, 00.

Trick number 4:

This is also a statistical method:

Positive number #01 is mostly followed by: 12, 03, 17, 18, 21, 36, and 00.

Trick number 5:

Another statistical method:

Wait & hunt: 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 27, 36.

Choose 1 to 4 numbers from the group. Bet the same amount until hit, maximum 8 spins. After 8 spins or dealer shift change, end the cycle.

Trick number 6:

Yet another statistical method:

Positive number 01 usually associates with Red color, 3rd column, and 1st column.

Note: Many so-called roulette tricks rely on myths or short-term luck. The house edge remains. For more, read Myths and Realities about Online Roulette.