ROULETTE
The game of Roulette as we know it today was played in Paris as far back 1796 and is believed to derive from a fusion of the English wheel games ‘Roly-Poly’, ‘Ace of Hearts’, ‘E.O.’ and a French board game already known as ‘Roulette’. Named after the French word for “small wheel”, Roulette is often known as the ‘King of Games’, associated as it is with the glamour of the Casino.
It is easy to play and we think offers enough betting options to suit the tastes of both the serious player and those just looking for the thrill of a quick lucky bet.
This item explains the bets available on Roulette, and looks at some of the betting systems which exist around one of the most popular of all online Casino games.
European Roulette plays on a standard European Roulette wheel and one which is found in casinos all over the world. The numbers are ordered clockwise round the wheel as follows:
0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26
This will be the wheel most instantly recognisable to most players outside of North America. This wheel has 36 numbers and a single zero.
The American Roulette wheel uses 36 numbers, the same as its European cousin, but adds an extra option with a ‘double zero’. The clockwise sequence of numbers changes to:
0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-33-16-4-23-35-14-2
The extra ‘double zero’ option and the different sequence of numbers open up whole new bets for the player to make.
Roulette Pro or French Roulette has a wheel layout identical to the European one; the only difference is that a selection of convenient ‘French bets’ become available to you. These special bets are highlighted for you in the diagram (left) and are very popular with many players who like to play sections of the European wheel.
Voisins du Zero: This bet, meaning ‘neighbours of zero’, covers a total of 17 numbers with nine units of currency. Players placing this bet are hoping that the ball lands in the section of the wheel surrounding the zero. Any winning bet will see a return of at least twice the original stake.
Tier: Also known as ‘Tiers du Cylindre’, this bet covers the third of the wheel roughly opposite the zero. 12 numbers are covered, with just six unit stakes. Any winning bet will pay the player three times their initial stake.
Orphelins: The ‘Orphans’ bet covers the two sections of the wheel not included in either the ‘Voisins du Zero’ or ‘Tier’ bets, and consists of eight numbers played with five unit stakes. Any win on ‘Orphelins’ is guaranteed to pay out at least double the original wager.
Selecting numbers and Roulette Betting systems
If you’re new to the game then it’s best to keep your betting simple. There are many straightforward bets available that allow you to enjoy the Roulette experience while you become more confident in your play. Try sticking to straight up numbers or placing even money bets such as red/black and odd/even…….
Favourite Numbers
Over time, players often develop their own system of betting based on a strategic plan. However, each new spin of the wheel produces a random result, and no system is absolutely guaranteed to make a profit over a period of time. Using favourite/significant numbers is as good a strategy as any other if you want to enjoy playing Roulette.
Betting Systems
Many players like to employ betting patterns that steadily increase the size of their bets until a winning spin comes along. The most well-known example is the ‘Martingale System’, in which you double your bet every time you don’t win. Many players believe this to be a sure-fire winning system, but the risk of the Martingale System is that a player invariably starts to bet ever increasing amounts of money to do little more than break even. Even when starting with a stake of one unit of currency, a losing run of seven straight spins using the Martingale System will mean that the eighth bet needs to be 128 units to return a profit of just one unit.
To discourage this betting pattern many casinos set table limits. Long sequences of numbers and colours can and do occur at the Roulette wheel, and it is not extraordinary to see a sequence of, for example, many reds. You should enjoy sustained winning streaks when they happen, but be wary of wagering ever greater numbers of chips when the spins are going against you!