American Roulette

Overview

The origins of the game of roulette are unclear, but it is believed to have come from England in the late 1700s. The name roulette is French for “small wheel.” The Blanc brothers designed the first roulette table layout in Monte Carlo casinos and this deign has remained relatively unchanged since then.

The game of American roulette involves a roulette wheel with 38 numbers – the numbers 1 through 36, plus a 0 and a 00. It is similar to the European roulette wheels, except for the addition of the 00. Also, the numbers are sequenced differently on an American roulette wheel compared to a European wheel. There is also a table with the corresponding numbers on which players place their bets. Up to eight players stand around the roulette table. Players play against the house, not each other.

A ball is spun in the roulette wheel and the aim of the game of roulette is to predict what number the ball will land on when the wheel stops spinning. Past spins of the wheel have no bearing on future spins and as such, roulette is a game of chance. In fact, Albert Einstein is said to have remarked that “the only way to beat roulette is to steal the money when the dealer is not looking.”

Rules

The key to learning how to play the game of roulette is learning the different bets that exist and how to place them. To begin the game of roulette, each player must place a bet on the roulette table which represents the roulette wheel. The roulette ball is released into the wheel and just before it is about to drop into the slots, the croupier calls out “no more bets,” from which time players cannot touch their chips until the bets are paid out.

Bets

There are many different bets that can be placed in a game of American roulette and these are broken up into categories. In total, there are two categories of bets – inside bets and outside bets, with six inside bets and five outside bets in American roulette.

Inside bets include:
• Straight bet – This bets on an individual number. The bet is placed in the center of the numbered box you are betting on.

• Split bet – This bets on one of two connecting numbers. The bet is placed on the line that connects the two numbers.

• Street bet – Also referred to as a row bet, this is a bet on the ball landing on one of three numbers in a row. The bet is placed at the end of one row of numbers.

• Corner bet – This is a bet on the ball landing on one of four numbers. This bet is placed on the intersection of the four numbers that are found in the corner of the roulette table.

• Five-number bet – This bet can only be placed in American roulette games. It is placed on the line connecting the zero and 1 and includes the 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3.

• Line bet – Also referred to as a double street bet, it bets on the ball landing on one of six numbers. The bet is placed on the line connecting two adjoining rows.

Outside bets include:
• Column bet – This is a bet on one of twelve numbers. The bet is placed at the end of a column.

• Dozen bet – This is a bet on one group of a dozen numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36).

• Red or black bet – This is a bet on the ball landing on a red number or a black number.

• Odd or even bet – This is a bet on the ball landing on an odd number or an even number.

• Low or high bet – This is a bet on one of two groups of numbers - 1-18 or 19-36.
Some American roulette games offer the surrender rule which means that outside bets will not be lost on a zero and double zero, but rather you only lose half of your bet.

Tips

Roulette is a game of chance so you cannot really use roulette strategies to increase your chances, although there are players who swear by them. What you can do, is use your knowledge of the game to increase your chances and thereby decrease the casino’s house advantage.

It is recommended for players to bet on low odds and even money bets during a game of American roulette as the house has the lowest advantage in these scenarios.

If you are playing American roulette, you should look for a game that offers the surrender rule.

Avoid placing bets on the five spot or top line – the 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 as the house advantage is much higher for this bet.

It is advisable to play at a busy table. Playing at a busy table will mean that your competition time is increased as you will see approximately 30 spins per hour. This will also reduce the amount of time that your money is exposed to the house edge.

It can be possible to find a biased roulette wheel at a land-based casino. This may occur when the wheel is worn down slightly from use or is off balance. At online casinos, you may find poorly programmed roulette software. Look out for big roulette wins and try playing at those casinos.

Of course, as with every casino game, in American roulette you must make sure to stick to your bankroll. Once your money runs out, leave – do not play with money that is set aside for other purposes.

And finally, aim to play roulette for fun and you will have a far more enjoyable experience.

House Odds

The overall house odds if you play American roulette are 5.26%. This increases to 7.89% if you place a five-numbered bet on the 0-00-1-2-3. If you bet on a particular number in American roulette, you will have a 1 in 38 chance of that number being spun.

The casino, however, will only pay out at 35 to 1.

Straight bet – Pays out at 35 to 1.

Split bet – Pays out at 17 to 1.

Street bet – Pays outs at 11 to 1.

Corner bet – Pays out at 8 to 1.

Line bet – Pays out at 5 to 1.

Column bet – Pays out at 2 to 1.

Dozen bet – Pays out at 2 to 1.

Red or black bet – Pays out at 1 to 1.

Odd or even bet – Pays out at 1 to 1.

Low or high bet – Pays out at 1 to 1.