The Basics of Roulette

Roulette is a game that has offered glamour, mystery, and excitement to casino-goers around the world since the 17th century. Although its rules are relatively simple, players can still gain a surprising depth of knowledge about this thrilling game if they pay attention to the details.

The Wheel

Roulette wheels are a bit different from other casino games in that they are made of solid wood and have metal partitions called canoes that separate the compartments or pockets where the ball will land. The wheel is slightly convex in shape and contains 36 numbered compartments that are painted alternately red and black. In European-style wheels, the 37th compartment, a green one, contains the sign 0.

Inside Bets

Players can place bets on certain numbers on the layout and a range of groupings of pockets based on their positions. The payout odds for these bets vary depending on their probability, but are generally based on how likely it is that the winning number will appear.

The Street Bet/Three Number Bet/Side Bet/The Trio:

This bet is also known as the cheval in French and involves placing your chip(s) on a row of three numbers on the table map. The payout is 17-1 if any of the numbers in the row wins.

The Split Bet:

This bet involves placing your chip(s) on the outside border of a line between two numbers on the layout. The payout is 17-1 if either number in the line wins.

The Line Bet/Six Number Bet/Sixline Bet:

This is another type of bet that involves placing your chip(s) on straddling a line between two rows of numbers. The payout is 5-1 if any of the numbers in the line win.

The Odd or Even Bet:

This bet, also known as the impair et pair in French, is the most interesting because it involves wagering on the winning number being one of the 18 odd numbers or 18 even numbers. Neither the 0 nor the 00 count for this bet, and the house gets its edge by having those numbers on the wheel.