Basics of Internet Roulette in Casinos
The Roulette Wheel
The wheel contains numbered pockets from 1 to 36, alternating between red and black, and a single green zero. The numbers on the wheel are not numbered consecutively but in an array designed to produce an even mix of red and black, odd and even, high and low numbers. Today, most gamblers experience the rush virtually through many roulette apps, which replicate the original wheel's look and design on mobile devices.
Table Layout
The table layout is where one puts their bets, against the corresponding numbers on the wheel. It contains two primary sections:
- Inside bets are bets laid down directly on individual numbers or small sets of numbers.
- Outside bets are bet on larger categories like red/black or odd/even.
How to Play Roulette
Placing Bets
Upon reaching the roulette table, buy chips from the dealer (also called the croupier). Roulette uses specially colored chips which will be possessed by each player to avoid confusing the chips. Such chips are only accepted on the table they were purchased at and not any other table.
You will be issued chips in a color that is designated just for you so that other players, the dealer, and even you can identify your bets. The maximum and minimum betting limits are posted at the tables.
When placing inside bets, make sure your chips land right on top of the chips of the other players and not to the side. This is to ensure that all bets are properly placed.
If you need help placing your bet, you can ask the dealer to do so for you—preferably before the release of the ball. The dealer can also assist you in shifting to other areas of the table if necessary.
The croupier will drop the ball and announce "No more bets" to signal the end of the betting period. Once this has been executed, players should not handle the area of bets or shift their bets at all.
Spin and Outcome
The ball is made to spin by the croupier in a direction contrary to the spinning wheel. As it slows down, it comes to rest in one of the pockets lined with a number. The winning number is marked with a distinctive marker known as the dolly. Losing chips are taken off the table prior to the croupier paying out the winning bets.
Cashing Out
Once you've finished playing, as you exit the table, have the dealer color up your chips—exchange your colored chips for plain casino chips. These may be played at different tables or redeemed at the cashier.
Types of Roulette Bets
Roulette offers many options for betting, all with their odds and payouts. Here's the lowdown on the most common types:
Inside Bets
- Straight Up: Bet on a single number. Pays 35:1.
- Split: Bet on two side-by-side numbers. Pays 17:1.
- Street: Bet on three side-by-side numbers. Pays 11:1.
- Corner (Square): Bet on four adjacent numbers that make a square. Pays 8:1.
- Six-Line: Bet on two adjacent rows of three numbers. Pays 5:1.
Outside Bets
- Red or Black: Bet on all red or all black. Pays 1:1.
- Even or Odd: A bet on all even or all odd numbers. Pays 1:1.
- High or Low: A bet on numbers 1–18 (low) or 19–36 (high). Pays 1:1.
- Dozens or Columns: A bet on 12 consecutive numbers or one of three vertical columns. Pays 2:1. These bets lose if the ball lands in zero.
Even-Money Bets
Even money roulette wagers even/odd, red/black, or 1–18 / 19–36 have a 1:1 return. If you make any of these wagers and the ball stops on zero, half of your wager is returned to you.
Track Betting
Roulette track bets are specialized bets on specific sections of the wheel, rather than on the common table layout. They are typically on a racetrack-shaped region of the table or orally called out by the dealer. They are:
- Tiers du Cylindre: bets on one-third of the wheel, 12 numbers opposite the zero.
- Orphelins: Smaller group of 8 numbers which do not fall into the major wheel sections. (Manchester only.)
- Voisins du Zero: Includes 17 numbers near the zero on the wheel. (Manchester only.)
- Neighbours: Encompasses one number and the two to either side on the wheel (a total of 5 numbers).
Roulette Etiquette
Placing Bets
The players will begin by placing their bets on the table layout, without overcrowding, having chips in the correct position. Inside bets involve chips being placed atop other chips, not side by side, so as to avoid an incorrect placement of the bet.
Dealer Instructions
Once the bets are placed, the dealer will announce and declare betting time as follows: "No more bets." The players should comply with the directions of the dealer throughout the game and not place chips after this announcement.
Courtesy and Awareness
Players should be observant and respectful during the game. If in need of assistance, wait for the appropriate moment to approach the dealer or staff to minimize disturbance. If there is a problem regarding chip deposit or payment, politely indicate it to the dealer—they will sort out the issue immediately and fairly.