Roulette is a classic casino game that offers action, excitement, luck, and a competitive house edge. But it can also be a bit confusing to new players. Luckily, this article will break down the basics of this popular game and provide you with the knowledge you need to make the best bets.
The history of roulette dates back more than 300 years, with 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal being credited with its invention. It’s believed that Pascal originally created the game as part of his attempts to create a perpetual motion machine. Roulette quickly became a popular gambling game in France and around the world.
A roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk that’s slightly convex in shape. Around the rim are metal partitions called frets or separators, which are painted alternately red and black. Thirty-six of these compartments, known as pockets by croupiers, are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. On European-style wheels, a 37th compartment, painted green, carries the number zero; and on American wheels, there are two green zero compartments on opposite sides of the wheel.
There are several different types of bets that can be made in roulette, and each one has its own unique house edge. Outside bets, for example, pay 2-1 odds to win. These include bets on individual numbers, a row or column of numbers, or a square grouping of numbers such as 12, 13, and 14. Outside bets are the most common in casinos, but they don’t offer the best odds of winning.
Inside bets, on the other hand, have a much lower house edge but higher payouts. For example, a straight bet on number 7 costs 40 chips to place, and pays out 392 chips if it wins. The only downside of this type of bet is that it is a long-shot, and you may lose your entire stake.
The house edge of a roulette game depends on the type of wheel and betting table used, as well as the specific rules and bet types in place. While some casinos do not post the house edge of each roulette game, it’s important to understand the house edge before deciding how to bet.
The best way to minimize the house edge is by choosing bets that have a high probability of winning. However, this is not always possible, so it’s important to know what your odds of winning are before laying your chips down. This will help you make the most of your bankroll and avoid costly mistakes. Lastly, always keep your money in check by only placing bets that you can afford to lose. You should also be aware of how the La Partage rule can affect your chances of winning, as it can drastically decrease the house edge.