An Introduction To Roulette

Roulette is one of the most popular casino gambling games of all time.

In the game, a wheel is spun in one direction and a ball in the opposite direction.

The wheel is made up of segments that are numbered and coloured. A player makes bets on where they hope the ball will land when it has stopped spinning.

For example, a player may bet on a single number like 19, a colour red or black, whether the number is even or odd, or if the numbers are high (19–36) or low (1–18).

In European roulette there are 37 segments on the wheel (0-36) and in American roulette there are 38 (an additional segment of double zero 00).

Winning players are those that placed a successful bet (the ball stopped on a segment where they had placed a bet).

If the ball stops on a segment where you have not bet then your bet has lost and you lose that bet amount.

The word roulette originates from the French language and means “small wheel”.

What Are The Roulette Wheel Numbers?

The segments of the roulette wheel are numbered from 0 to 36 in European roulette. In American roulette there is an extra segment for double zero 00.

Odd numbers are red and even numbers are black in number ranges from 1 to 10 and 19 to 28.

Odd numbers are black and even are red in the number ranges from 11 to 18 and 29 to 36.

What Are The Types Of Roulette Bet?

There are many ways to bet on the game of roulette.

It can be easiest to think of roulette bet types as either “inside bets” (on the numbers) or “outside bets” (on sections of the wheel, groups of numbers or a category).

Here are the types of bets that can be played on roulette:

Inside Bets

• On One Number (a “straight”)
• Across Two Numbers (a “split”)
• Across Three Numbers (a “street”)
• Across Four Numbers (a “corner”)
• Across Six Numbers (a “six line”)

Outside Bets

• One of the three columns of twelve numbers which is labelled 2:1 (a “column”)
• Red Numbers (Red/Black)
• Black Numbers (Red/Black)
• First Twelve Numbers (1-12)
• Second Twelve (13-24)
• Third Twelve (25-36)
• 1-18
• 19-36
• Odd Numbers
• Even Numbers

Players that become more familiar with the roulette wheel and its layout may choose to bet on more complex combinations of numbers.

These are referred to as Call Bets or French Bets.

They are a series of different number bets that cover a section of the wheel and have special names.

Each is based on the way certain numbers are positioned next to each other on the roulette wheel.

In online roulette these bets are placed by opening up the racetrack and placing chips directly on the roulette racetrack.

Call or French Bets

• Neighbours – a bet on your chosen number and numbers that appear on either side of that number on the wheel.
• Jeu Zero – a bet on seven numbers that are closest to zero.
• Tiers – a bet on twelve numbers that are on the opposite side of the wheel to zero.
• Voisins – a series of seventeen numbers.
• Orphelins – a bet on two series of eight numbers, they are the two areas of the wheel outside the tiers and voisins.

What Are The Odds When Betting On Roulette?

The following table lists the available bets and what each bet pays out.

What Is The House Edge In Online Roulette?

The house edge on European roulette online is 2.7%.

To check the house edge on the online roulette game you are playing check the Help File or Paytable.

For a more detailed guide on how to understand and calculate the house edge of casino games see our article: What is a House Edge? 

Roulette Betting Strategies And Systems

A betting strategy, tactic or system is a method for playing your bets in a pattern based on past results.

These systems can be successful for winning over short periods of play, however, the player must keep in mind that over long-term gameplay the casino games house-edge means that no pattern of betting can guarantee you will win.

Betting systems for roulette and other casino games are most commonly used where even-money bets are being placed i.e. the odds of winning each bet are close to 50-50.

Betting patterns follow either a positive or negative progression. This means that after your previous bet the pattern (or strategy) tells you whether you should either increase or decrease your next bet.

A negative progression is to increase your bet size after you lose a bet.

A positive progression is to increase your bet size after you win a bet.

The Martingale

Double your bet after every loss.

Your first win will recover all previous losses and give you a profit equal to your first bet.

The risk when playing this strategy is that when doubling your bets you either run out of money or reach the Roulette table limit (the maximum allowed bet).

The Reverse Martingale

Doubles the bet after every win.

Players that enjoy a ‘hot-streak’ where they are winning often may enjoy using this betting strategy.

After a bet loses the player should return to their first bet amount.

Oscars Grind

This strategy is similar to the Reverse Martingale.

1. Make your first bet at an amount of one unit e.g. £5.
2. If you lose, bet with the same size of one unit again (in this example, £5) on your next bet.
3. Repeat this process every time you lose.
4. After a winning bet your next bet should be increased by one unit e.g. to £10.
5. Repeat the process of increasing the bet amount by one unit after each consecutive win e.g. £10, then bet £15, then £20 etc.
6. If you lose, bet with the same size again e.g. £20.
7. The process ends when you are in profit of one unit e.g. £5 profit.

You then start the process again from the beginning.

D’Alembert

Increase your bet amount by one unit after each loss and decrease it by one unit after each win.

For example:

1. Bet one unit of £5 and win.
2. Increase by one unit on your next bet. Your next bet amount is £10.
3. If it wins, increase your next bet to £15. If it loses, decrease it to £5.

Paroli Positive Progression

Double your bet amount after each win until you have three wins in a row.

After three wins in a row go back to the original bet amount.

If a bet loses when you are attempting to get three wins in a row, go back to betting the original amount.

More information on betting patterns and systems can be found here: Blackjack Betting Systems.

Roulette In Films

There are many movies that show the excitement, tension, big win potential and pain of losing at roulette.

The Casino Sites Online team have put together our list of the best gambling movies and roulette features heavily! Check it out here: Best Gambling Movies

Where To Play Roulette Online

Almost all UK licensed online casinos will have at least one version of roulette games.

Here is a list of our favourite places to play roulette: