Roulette, whether land-based or online, is a very simple game to learn and understand. These days, many people are opting to go the online route when playing this incredibly popular, with live roulette becoming a favourite for those looking for as realistic an experience as possible without having to set foot in a bricks-and-mortar casino. The basic rules of the game are simple – predict and make a bet on the pocket you think the ball will land and if you are correct, you will win. The roulette wheel is probably one of the most recognisable symbols in the gambling industry, and contains 36 pockets numbered 1 – 36 plus an additional pocket numbered zero, and in some variations, a double zero pocket as well. Players must make your bet by placing chips on the table until the dealer announces ‘no more bets’ for the betting phase to end. The winning bets is determined based on what pocket the ball lands on once the wheel stops spinning. The dealer then marks the number on the table and the winner is paid. Live online roulette plays out almost exactly the same way as online roulette, with the most noticeable difference being the live dealers, live players and real-time action.
Types of Roulette Bets
As any roulette player knows, there are two main bets that can be placed, namely inside and outside bets. Inside Bets are bets made by placing a bet within the 1 – 36 grid. Outside bets, on the other hand, are bets placed on the option outside the standard 1 – 36 grid. There are numerous types of bets within inside and outside bets including:
Inside Bets
- Straight bets –Betting on one specific number on the wheel
- Split bets – Placing a bet that one of two adjacent numbers on the wheel
- Corner bets – Betting that one of a group of four numbers will appear in the next spin
Outside Bets
- Column bet – Betting that a number in a specific column will be spun
- Dozen bet – Here the bet divides the table into three sections and is made by betting on one of the three boxes labelled ‘1st 12’, ‘2nd 12’, or ‘3rd 12’
- Even/Odd bet – Betting that the next number will be an even/odd number
Types of Live Roulette
Depending on where you play, many online casinos feature a wide range of roulette games of different variations. Three of the most popular versions include American Roulette, European Roulette and French Roulette.
American Roulette
American roulette is often described as more difficult than its European counterpart. This is because it features that extra pocket featuring double zero as well as a single zero. While this difference may see minor, it is actually a crucial factor when considering the house edge or the house advantage. The additional zero gives the house a slightly higher edge. In American Roulette, payouts often remain the same while the odds of winning are increased as there are 38 possible outcomes compared to the standard 37.
European Roulette
Unlike American Roulette, European Roulette features only a single zero. The payouts are the same between the two versions, although the odds of winning in European Roulette are better as there are less possible outcomes than with American Roulette.
French Roulette
Despite a slight difference in appearance, French Roulette is the same as European Roulette in that it features a single zero, an identical roulette wheel and the same bets and payouts. Noticeable differences are that everything is labelled in French as well the addition of the La Partage rule. This rule lets players lose only half your bet should you make a wager on and outside bet and the ball lands on zero.