Do you love the thrill of gambling, or are you looking to expand your knowledge of roulette?

This article will teach you everything you need to know about roulette, from table layouts and wheel variations to betting options and how the game works. So, whether you’re planning on playing at a casino, or online free roulette, read on for all the info you need!

Overview: What is roulette

Roulette is a casino game that has been around for centuries, and it’s one of the most popular games in both online and brick-and-mortar casinos.

Put simply, the object of roulette is to correctly guess which number or group of numbers the ball will land on when the roulette wheel is spun.

Players can make bets on individual numbers, groups of numbers, red or black, odd or even, or high or low bets.

Roulette Wheels

There are two main types of roulette wheels: the European wheel and the American wheel. Let’s explore both in more detail:

American roulette

American roulette is the more commonly played version of roulette, online and offline. The wheel has 38 slots or pockets with two green slots – 0 and 00, placed on opposite wheel ends. As the name suggests, the game is played with a roulette wheel that was first developed in America.

European roulette

The European roulette wheel has 37 slots or pockets, with one green slot – 0. This version of roulette originated in France and is now the more popular type of roulette to play online. The inclusion of the single zero gives players a better chance of winning than American roulette (more on this later).

Roulette Wheels: American vs. European

As we mentioned earlier, there are two main types of roulette wheels – American and European. The main difference between the two is that the American wheel has an extra slot for 00, while the European wheel only has 0.

The inclusion of 00 on the American wheel increases the house edge, making it a much less favorable option for roulette players. If you’re playing roulette online, always make sure you’re using a European wheel if possible.

Table Layouts: Roulette Table Basics

The roulette table typically consists of the betting area, the racetrack, and the payout area. Let’s take a closer look at each:

Betting Area

This is where players place their bets before each roulette wheel spin. Players can bet on individual numbers, groups of numbers, red or black, odd or even, and high or low bets.

You can place bets on as many or as few numbers as you like, but remember that the more numbers you bet on, the lower your chances of winning.

Racetrack

The racetrack is a betting area designed to make special types of bets known as “call bets” and “neighbor bets”. We’ll explore these in more detail later on.

Payout Area

This area is where players collect their winnings after each spin. It’s also worth noting that roulette chips are different from chips used in other casino games – they’re specifically designed for roulette and can only be used at the roulette table. A virtual betting table usually replaces this area in online roulette.

Advanced Roulette Bets: The Racetrack and Neighbor Bets

As we mentioned earlier, the racetrack is a betting area designed specifically for making special types of bets known as “call bets” and “neighbor bets”.

Call Bets

Call bets are bets that can’t be made by placing chips directly on the roulette table. Instead, players must place their chips on the racetrack and tell the dealer what type of bet they want to make. The most common call bets are:

• Voisins du Zero: a bet on numbers close to 0 on the roulette wheel (0, 12, 35, 17, 34, 15)

• Tiers du Cylindre: a bet on numbers opposite 0 on the roulette wheel (27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 08)

• Orphelins: a bet on numbers that are not included in either Voisins or Tiers (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06)

Neighbor Bets

Neighbor bets are similar to call bets but can be made by placing chips directly on the roulette table. Neighbor bets allow players to bet on a number and then place bets on all of the numbers around it. For example:

• Place a chip on number 27 and then make neighbor bets on numbers 25, 26, 28, 29

• Place a chip on number 13 and then make neighbor bets on numbers 12, 14, 15, 16

As you can see, there’s a lot of flexibility with roulette betting – which is one of the reasons why it’s such a popular game. With a little bit of practice and some basic roulette strategy, you can soon be making some expert roulette bets of your own!

How Roulette Works: Basic Rules and Strategy

Now that we’ve covered the basics of roulette tables and wheels, let’s look at how the game is played.

The roulette wheel is spun, and the ball is dropped into it, eventually resting in one of the 38 (in American roulette) or 37 (in European roulette) pockets.

If your bet includes the number that the ball lands on, you’ll be a winner! If not, don’t worry – there are plenty of other bets to choose from.

Roulette is a game of chance, so there’s no surefire way to win every time. However, using some basic roulette strategies can improve your chances of winning.

Common Roulette Myths and Misconceptions

Before we finish up, let’s quickly address some of the most common myths and misconceptions about roulette:

• The house edge is fixed: This isn’t true – the house edge varies depending on which type of roulette wheel you’re playing on (American or European). The American wheel has a larger house edge than the European. 

• You can beat roulette with maths: Again, this isn’t true – roulette is a game of chance, and no amount of maths can help you win every time.

• You can’t double up on roulette: This isn’t true either – in fact, doubling up (or splitting) your bet is one of the most straightforward roulette strategies you can use.

• You can’t beat roulette: This isn’t true either – while roulette is a game of chance, there are specific strategies that you can use to improve your odds of winning.

• Roulette is rigged: This one definitely isn’t true – roulette is an entirely fair game, and the odds are always the same for everyone.

Common questions about roulette wheels and tables

Before we end this article, we’ll answer a few of the most common questions about roulette wheels and tables:

1. Why are there so many different betting options?

Roulette offers a wide variety of betting options because it’s such a simple game to play. This makes it attractive to both beginners and experienced players alike.

2. What is the house edge?

The house edge is the percentage of each bet that the casino takes as profit. For example, on a standard American roulette wheel, the house edge is around 5.26%, whereas, on a European wheel, the house edge is at around 2.7%

3. Do I have to place my chips on the table?

No – you can also place your bets by calling out the amount you want to wager and having the dealer put your chips directly on the betting area called out. You can also do this when making neighbor bets.

Final Thoughts

We hope this article has given you a comprehensive understanding of roulette wheels, roulette tables, and how the game is played. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be making expert roulette bets in no time. Good luck!