Roulette is one of the most classic casino games. It’s simple enough for beginners to learn and has a surprising depth of strategy for advanced players. However, before you start betting your money on red, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the rules and payouts.
The Wheel
A roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with metal compartments called frets around the perimeter. Thirty-six of these compartments are painted alternately black and red, while a second set carries the numbers 1 through 36. A green compartment carries the zero on European wheels, while on American wheels there are two green zero pockets.
The Dealer and the Table
Once you’ve chosen a table, purchase chips from the dealer (or “croupier”) in your preferred denomination. These are colored to distinguish bettors and help the dealer keep track of individual players’ bets. The croupier will then place your chips on the table according to your preference. You’ll also be asked if you want to bet on the inside or outside.
Inside bets are placed on specific numbers or groupings of numbers, and pay out more money if you win. On the other hand, outside bets cover a broad range of numbers and pay out less money. To make an outside bet, you simply place your chip(s) on the outside of the layout.
There are many different types of outside bets, but they all work the same way: The Dozens Bet: You place your bet on whether the winning number will be in the first, second or third dozen on the table. This bet pays 2-1. The Columns Bet: You place your bet on any of the three columns of the table, and it pays 2-1. The Corners Bet: You place your bet on four adjacent numbers, and it pays 3-2.
Once your bets are in place, the croupier will spin the wheel in one direction while he/she rolls a small ball in the opposite direction around the rim of the wheel. When the ball lands in a pocket, the dealer will place a marker on the winning number. Any losing bets will be cleared from the table, and winners will be paid. The whole process repeats. If you’re lucky enough to hit a winning bet, cash out your chips as quickly as possible. Then, you’re ready to play again!