Roulette Rules and Systems

Roulette is the game that is most associated with the glamour and elegance of the casino. First originating within the higher classes of 18th Century France, it is now a popular gambling pastime worldwide, and has been one of the biggest draws for casinos online.

How it Works

Roulette follows a very simple format: a player places bets on numbers, running from 1 to 36, which alternate between red and black. Each number is assigned a pocket on the outer edge of a spinning wheel. The same numbers are laid out in a grid on a table, with chips placed over each number when bets are called. The croupier spins a ball around a tilted track that runs above the wheel. When the ball eventually drops, it lands on one of the winning numbers.

How to Play Roulette

Learning to play is easy; learning to bet, however, can take some time. Before you go in head first, it will be important to understand the different variations of the game. "French Roulette", which also operates the same as "European Roulette", has one '0' pocket on the wheel, while "American Roulette", the most popular version in the US, uses a '0' and '00'pocket.

This addition of the '00' creates a substantial house advantage when compared to just the single '0'– an increase of over 3%. And when it comes to placing bets, in French Roulette, players can make use of the 'Surrender' or 'La Partage' rule, which means that only 50% of bets are lost when the ball lands on '0'. Naturally, it is best for newcomers to start with the French or European version, as the odds are far more favourable to the player.

Placing Bets

The process of placing bets is similar for both games. "Inside bets" offer the player higher odds with a greater payout and come in a variety of forms:

• Straight Up – a basic single-number bet
• Street – a bet on three horizontal numbers
• Split – a bet on two adjoining numbers on the table
• Corner – where athe player can to place his chips over four numbers in a square
• Six Line - Where the player can place their chips on two adjoining "streets" or line of numbers

"Outside Bets" offer safer wagers, but with smaller odds. Some typical Outside Bets include "Red or Black", "Even or Odd", or "Dozen Bets", where a player can place their chips on a row of 12 consecutive numbers; e.g. 1-12 or 13-24. It is also possible to bet on one half of the board, either the first low 18 or last high 18.

Announced Bets

Of course, the odds for betting on one half of the table are going to be quite small, but players can also place their chips on a series of numbers or on a certain section of the table. These types of wagers are called "Announced Bets" (not to be confused with "Call Bets" – technically wagers that are called without any chips being put down on the table, which is illegal in most countries).

There are four different sections of the traditional Roulette wheel:

• Voisins du Zero (neighbours of zero) - a line of 17 numbers from either side of '0'
• Jeu Zero (zero game) – containing the seven numbers closest to '0'
• The Tier (the third) - includes the numbers on the opposite side of the Voisins du Zero
• Orphelins (orphans) – the numbers outside the Tier and Voisins.

There is also the option to play a number and its neighbours – a central number with two either side – while "Final Bets" involve calling a bet on places ending in a certain number. For example, "Final 4's" on 4, 14, 24 and 34 and "Final 7's" on 7, 17 and 27.

Roulette Strategies and Systems

With so many betting variables in Roulette, there have numerous strategies and systems developed over the years. However, one important aspect of playing Roulette is that there is no foolproof way of beating the casino; on average, no matter what system is employed, the player will eventually lose.

One of the most well-known Roulette playing strategies is the "Martingale" system, where the player doubles their bet after each loss, thus cancelling the loss in the previous wager. This is one of the most basics of strategies and does not follow any mathematical formula. It can also result in the player making considerable losses before a win.

A slight variation on the Martingale system is the "Labouchère" system, which operates on the same principle, but the player doesn't go as far as doubling the wager. Instead, this strategy uses a series of numbers to determine the size of the bet. The Numbers are added at the start and end of a line, which will vary in length, depending on wins and losses. The sum of two or more of these numbers will provide the figure for the following bet . Mathematically, this system has a far greater success rate than the Martingale, but again, will eventually end up with the player losing money.

Another safer, but still negative, strategy is the D'Alembert System, based on the principles of the mathematical equilibrium. After a player loses a bet, one unit is added to the value of the following wager. The process is reversed after a winning bet.

Since Roulette started in online casinos, there have been a whole host of new systems and strategies developed, but most are just slight variations of the ones listed above. Many "sellers" of these systems can be found on the internet, falsely claiming that they are able to beat the house advantage. Playing Roulette, whether online or in a land-based casino, is a matter of luck and the odds will always go against the player.

The best approach for newcomers to is to find a reputable casino, get used to their platform using play money and choose either French or European tables instead of the American versions. Different Roulette systems may help you initially, or even send you on an early winning streak, but the best strategy is to not get too carried away.