How to Play Roulette

The popular casino game known as roulette takes its name from the French word meaning “small wheel.” Therefore, it’s only appropriate that roulette features a wheel with 37 colored and numbered pockets (in the European version). The American version of the game has 38 such pockets.

Each of these pockets is numbered from 1 to 36, and they alternate between red and black. A green zero pocket is also included in both American and European versions. In the American version, a second green pocket is included and labeled double-zero.

A roulette player can place bets on a single number, a range of numbers, odd or even numbers, or even on whether the winning pocket will be red or black. A casino employee known as the croupier spins the roulette wheel in one direction. A small white ball is then introduced into play and spun in the opposite direction.

How To Play Roulette Players can continue to place wagers until the dealer announces, “No more bets.” As the wheel begins to slow down, the ball will eventually lose its momentum and fall down into one of the numbered and colored pockets. Payouts are based on where the ball comes to rest.

Betting on Roulette

Since the roulette player doesn’t actually spin the wheel or handle the ball, all they need to concern themselves with is learning the various types of bets they can place. It should be noted that each wager has a different payout.

The most common types of bets are known as “inside” or “outside” bets. Inside bets include a range of pockets based on their position or the exact number of the pocket that the ball will fall into. Outside bets, meanwhile, include odd or even numbers, pocket colors or positional grouping of the pockets.

Another type of roulette wager is the called bet. Based on the way that certain numbers lie next to each other on the roulette table, called bets are not available at all casinos. Be sure and check the rules before you begin play.

Once the winning number and color has been determined by the ball, the dealer will place a marker on the roulette table layout. As long as this marker is in place, players are prevented from placing bets or removing any wagers from the table. Losing bets are swept off the table, and payouts are then made to any winning players. The marker is then removed, and players are able to once again make new wagers.

Types of Inside Bets

Types of inside bets include the following:

Street - Betting on three numbers in a single horizontal line of the roulette table layout. Pays 11 to 1.
Straight Up - Betting on a single number. Pays 35 to 1.
Corner - Also known as a square, this wager requires betting on four numbers which form a square on the roulette table layout. Pays 8 to 1.
Split - A wager placed on two adjoining numbers. The numbers may lie vertically or horizontally next to one another. Pays 17 to 1.
Six Line - A wager placed on two adjoining streets. Pays 5 to 1.
Trio - A wager placed on the intersecting point between 0, 1 and 2, or 00, 2 and 3. Pays 11 to 1.

Types of Outside Bets

While outside bets traditionally have smaller payouts, they also give the player better odds of winning. The following types of outside bets are available in roulette:

1 to 18 - Betting that a number from 1 to 18 will be the winner. Pays 1 to 1.
19 to 36 - Betting that a number in the 19 to 36 range will come up. Pays 1 to 1.
Red or Black - This wager involves picking the color of the winning pocket. Pays 1 to 1.
Even or Odd - Betting on whether the winning number will be even or odd. Pays 1 to 1.
Column Bets - Wagering on all 12 numbers of a specific column on the roulette layout. Pays 2 to 1.
Dozen Bets - Betting on either 1 to 12, 13 to 24 or 25 to 36. Pays 2 to 1.

Types of Called Bets

The following types of called bets are available in roulette:

Neighbors of Zero (aka Voisins du zero) - This bet includes the numbers which lie between 22 and 25 on the roulette wheel. The series includes 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25.
Tiers (aka The Third) - This bet includes the numbers which lie between 27 and 33 on the roulette wheel. This includes 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16 and 33.
Orphans (aka Orphelins) - These numbers lie outside of the Neighbors of Zero and Tiers. There are a total of eight numbers including 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31 and 9.
XX and the Neighbors - In this called bet, any number may be selected (which stands for the XX), as well as the two numbers on either side of it.

Elsewhere on the web:

People who play roulette aren't necessarily the same people who play poker, but sometimes they are. Here are a couple of resources for people interested in poker players:

If you can think of a good site about roulette players, I'd be happy to provide a shout out to it also.

Online Roulette Daddy Home

How To Play Roulette

How To Bet On Roulette

How To Win At Roulette

How To Calculate Roulette Betting Odds

Roulette Table Layout

Single Zero Roulette Tables