Roulette is a classic casino game that offers glamour, mystery and excitement to gamblers the world over. The rules are simple enough for beginners to understand, yet the game offers surprising depth to serious players who have a good understanding of probability. While it is a game that relies heavily on luck, some simple tips and strategies can improve your chances of winning.
Before a spin, bets are placed on the roulette table by laying down chips on a specific location of the betting mat with the precise placement of the chip indicating the bet being made. The bets are then watched as the ball bounces around the wheel until it settles in one of the pockets marked with a specific number. If you correctly guess the number, you win money!
The game was invented in the 17th century. Fanciful stories credit it to 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal, Dominican monks and the Chinese. In any event, it quickly became popular in the casinos and gambling houses of Europe.
A roulette wheel consists of two basic parts: a static bowl and a rotating wheelhead with numbered pockets along its outer edge. The pockets alternate between red and black, and are either odd or even. Depending on where the player bets, the numbers may also be grouped together in various ways. For example, a bet on a column costs more but pays more if the number hits.
Once bets are placed, the croupier will spin the wheel and announce, “No more bets.” Then, players wait as the ball bounces around the wheel and eventually lands in one of the slots that mark a number. If you have a bet on that number, you will win!
The Line Bet/Six Number Bet/Sixain: This bet is made by placing your chips to straddle the line between two rows of three consecutive numbers on the roulette layout. This bet is less risky than the Street Bet, but it has a lower payout of 5-1.
When you place this bet, you are putting your chips on an entire row of 12 numbers. This bet is known as an “Outside Bet” because it covers a wide range of numbers rather than just a single digit. This type of bet is easier for newcomers to learn, but it will not significantly increase your odds of winning. Regardless of your strategy, the most important thing is to have fun and be aware that roulette is a game of chance, not skill. So, play within your bankroll and remember to quit when you are ahead!