Roulette has offered glamour, mystery, and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. Its rules are simple enough for novices to grasp, but it has a depth of strategy that can reap high rewards for serious players.
The game consists of a wheel with pockets that are red or black and either odd or even. A spinning ball is sent into these pockets by a croupier, or dealer. A player makes a bet by placing chips on the table, and the croupier spins the wheel. When the ball stops in a pocket, the winner is announced and losing bets are cleared off of the table. Then the process is repeated.
Each roulette table carries a placard that describes the minimum and maximum bets for that table. Choose a table within your budget and place your bets as instructed by the dealer (also known as a croupier).
Before each spin, you give the croupier your money by placing it on the table and asking for “colour.” The dealer will give you colored roulette chips that represent the denomination you have given them. You do not play with normal casino chips, as the coloured ones help you distinguish your bets from those of other players.
You can make several types of bets in a single roulette game, including a straight-up bet on one number. This bet pays 1-to-1. You can also bet on a grouping of numbers, such as the first or last 12 or an odd or even number. Each of these wagers has its own payout, which is determined by the odds of hitting that bet.
Another popular type of bet is an outside bet, which covers a larger area on the betting grid. The most common outside bet is the Dozens bet, or douzaine in French. This bet is placed by placing your chip(s) on the line separating the first, second, or third dozen on the layout. This bet has a payoff of 2-1.
Other outside bets include the Six-Line Bet, or chevauche in French. This bet is made by placing a chip at the end of any “street” of three numbers on the table map. If you win this bet, the payout is 11-1. Finally, you can also make a Corner Bet, which is placed by placing your chip(s) in the center of any of the four corners of the square. If you win this bet, the payoff is 8-to-1.