How To Play Roulette

The Origin of Roulette

There are a few different early variants of roulette that players believe the modern adaption of roulette started from. Some of these were games from ancient China, Rome, Greece, and France.

However, the most widely accepted origin for the roulette game we love today comes from two french games ‘roly-poly’ and ‘even-odd’.

Before we get into where roulette originated from, it is important that we cover what the aim of the game actually is.

What is the Aim of Roulette

So, what is the aim of playing roulette?

If you have asked the question ‘how do you play roulette’, you will have likely heard already that the game is easy to play and quick to pick up. This is true, but it also doesn’t set out that learning how to play roulette can be tricky too.

It all depends on what type of roulette bets that you are looking to play because some are simple; some are straightforward, while some are smarter options.

We dive into these later in this guide, however, for what we want to cover here, let’s go back a step.

The aim of roulette is to place a single wager or various bets on numbers that are featured on the spinning wheel. With the selected number (or numbers) covering the specific number that wins. The winning number is picked by virtue of a ball spinning around this wheel – when it comes to a stop, the ball will land in a pocket – that numbered pocket is the winning number.

Therefore players want to get lucky and pick the number that hosts the ball at the end of the spin.

Players can pick a random number, or combine a few different bets to cover a greater number of positions on the wheel at a lower payout.

What Does the Roulette Game Look Like

Roulette can be daunting for players at first because the table has a lot going on with the amount of numbers and bet options spread out over the felt. Plus, the wheel and ball are spinning simultaneously to the side.

On top of all this, there are typically quite a few players and spectators situated around the table as roulette is a popular game for players and spectators.

The Roulette Wheel

The wheel will mostly be the same no matter where you play. Consisting of three sections for the ball to progress through as it comes to its landing spot:

The first part of the wheel is called the ball track. This is the larger outer wall of the wheel and is where the ball begins spinning until its speed begins to slow.
The second section of the wheel is called the base track and shows the numbers. This is the middle part of the wheel and is where the ball will continue to spin after leaving the ball track slowly. Towards the bottom of this track, there are pins or bumpers that stop the ball from stopping cleanly in a pocket.
The wheel head is the inner section of the wheel and consists of pockets for the ball to settle into. This is the exciting part of roulette as the ball will bounce in and around the pockets creating plenty of adrenaline.

In terms of the placement of numbers, roulette wheels will differ between the European and American variants. This isn’t just because of the added double-zero in the American game – the numbers are positioned differently, too.

What’s the Roulette Table Look Like

On the felt, you will see a grid with various red and black numbers alternating across three blocks – each with 12 numbers. This is known as the inside bets, and the various words or spots on the outer sections are referred to as the outside bets.

As you will find out later in this guide, the outside bets are considered the simple bets.

Without going into too much detail just yet – the outside bets will cover a range of the inside numbers but offer lower payouts of either even money or 2:1.

When Did Roulette Originate

In the introduction to this chapter, we spoke about how roulette is largely credited to being an adaption from early French games. These two games involved rotating wheels with gamblers placing bets on what the outcome would be.

While roulette can be traced back to variations of spinning wheel games, the modern-day game we love is widely credited to a French mathematician and physicist, Blaise Pascal, during the 17th century.

Pascal is credited with many important contributions throughout his short lifetime (Pascal passed away at the age of 39); however, arguably one of his greatest developments was incidental.

It wasn’t a mathematical theory, experiments with hydraulics, or the early mechanical calculator.

No, it was an accidental creation that would become the roulette wheel. He made this development while trying to create a perpetual motion machine, which is a device that would not stop once it had begun moving, without the need for an energy source.

Blaise Pascal Was Responsible for the Wheel but Not the Gambling

Ok, we have to preface this with the disclaimer that while he created the early adaptation of what would become the first roulette wheel – the gambling aspect came much later.

Blaise Pascal’s perpetual motion wheel was combined with the French gambling game Biribi, thus creating the basis for roulette.

The modernized game we love today, which has been enjoyed since the late 18th century.

Strange Roulette Superstitions with the Devil

Over the years, roulette grew in popularity and came to be known as the devil’s game because players would become addicted to playing. This wasn’t the only reason, though, as keen observers identified that a satanic pattern could be found within the roulette numbers.

This superstitious legend linked roulette with the devil because when you add all of the roulette numbers together, you get 666 – which is known as being associated with the devil or referred to as the ‘number of the beast’.

There you have it! If someone ever calls it the devil’s game around you, you won’t have to play dumb.

European or French Roulette

Initially, gambling was not popular in Europe, but to tell a long story short, roulette began being played in underground gambling houses and exclusively among the nobles. This remained the case for many years until the early 19th century when gambling began to be legalized in Monaco and throughout Europe as a means for generating taxes.

The game featured two pockets for the house number zero and double zero; however, this eventually was changed with the European variant sporting the single green zero pocket. Fast forward to the end of the 19th century, and the game became fashionable throughout Europe as roulette took a position as a big attraction at casinos everywhere.

American Roulette

Now that Roulette had taken over European casinos, the game would eventually find its way over to the United States of America. When the game was brought to the casinos of Las Vegas, it was played using the traditional single zero pocket wheel. However, the casino owners wanted to include the double-zero pocket, which in turn added an increased edge for the house.

This double-zero variant of the game then became known as American roulette (even though it was started in Europe). This change brought no benefits for players, merely increasing the odds against players.

Summarizing What to Remember

European roulette plays with a single zero pocket, whereas the American variant plays with the added double-zero
Early adaptations of the game can be found throughout Ancient China, Rome, Greece, and in France, however, the modern game is typically traced to similar French gambling games
French physicist and mathematician Blaise Pascal invented the early roulette wheel accidentally
Adding all of the roulette numbers together gives you the number ‘666’, which explains the name given by many as ‘the devil’s game’
The aim of roulette is to bet on the number that matches the pocket that the ball lands in after the ball stops spinning around the wheel

Basic Roulette Rules

Learning how to play roulette is quite a simple process, given the easy gameplay. This chapter is an important component in the process of learning to play roulette games, as we cover the basic rules of playing.

You could more or less sum this up to being a selection of best practices and what to avoid, though. We also run you through how the game is played and point out the finer details that you need to remember. Don’t stress too much about it, though, as the whole process is straightforward.

How a Round of Roulette is Played

Here we are learning how to play roulette in the most simple of ways – by kicking this chapter off with a short run-through of how a round is played.

How to Play Online Roulette Games

Follow these steps to play a round of roulette through some of the best online casinos:

Once you’ve looked over the games at some of the top online casinos that we recommend, you will then have to load the game.
Once you are in the game, your first step is to decide how much you would like to bet. This can be done easily by selecting the necessary chip size.
Place your bet by selecting where on the roulette table that you would like to bet whether it is a combination bet, straight up number, or a variety of outside bets.
When you are happy with your bet selection, click the ‘spin’ button to start the spinning of the wheel.
This will take a few seconds for the wheel to come to a halt and the ball to land in a pocket. If you correctly bet on the number that hits, then you are a winner, and the dealer will automatically pay you out!
If you have won, your payout will depend on the bet that you placed.
You can play another round of roulette by simply clicking the bets that you wish to play once more.

How to Play Roulette Games at a Casino

Playing roulette at a brick-and-mortar casino is just like playing online, just follow the below steps:

Ensure that you have your bankroll exchanged for chips. If you haven’t already, head over to the cashier.
Wait for a new round to begin, the dealer will notify players that bets can be placed by removing the puck or object from the table.
Place your chips on the necessary bets and then stand back and watch the wheel spin. The dealer will announce ‘no more bets’.
As the wheel stops, the dealer will declare the winning number and proceed to pay out any winning bets.
Once all chips have been cleared from the table, the dealer will announce betting is ready to commence for the next round.

When to Place Your Bets

This is one of the most difficult aspects of playing roulette casino games, knowing when you are allowed to place your bets. It might sound basic, and while it can be – the process can be made difficult by having to navigate through a crowd of spectators and other players at the table.

So, when are you supposed to place your bets in roulette?

The best way to spot the go-ahead for when to place your bets is by taking a look at the table. What you are looking for is a puck or a small object that will be placed on the betting layout.

This object is placed by the dealer and typically is positioned over the number, which won the previous spin. While this object is on the table, you are not able to place bets.

Once the dealer collects or removes the object from the betting grid, players are then able to commence placing their bets.

Who Places the Roulette Bets: Dealer or Player?

A common confusion among players is who places the bets – the player or the dealer. Typically players will place their own roulette wagers on the grid; however, if you are unable to reach a certain position on the table – the dealer will often provide assistance to you.

How to Make Common Roulette Bets

There are numerous roulette bets that can be placed, and many players like to spruce things up by combining multiple common wagers to increase their odds of hitting a win.

In this section of our how to play guide, we will look at how to make these common bets. However, understand that we won’t go into too much detail just yet about breaking these bets down (we save that for later).

What are the Common Wagers?

There are a few common wagers that players can place when playing; these include:

Straight Up(single number)
Red or Black
Odds or Evens
Columns
Split Bet

How do you Make Bets in Roulette?

Each of these common wagers is made in their own particular way. In a basic sense, players will place bets by stacking the necessary amount of chips onto either the number, the section, or the appropriate point on the table.

Generally, these bets are simple once you understand what they mean; we explain more about setting bets in chapter four of this guide.

When Must Players Stop Placing Bets

As a new round starts, the wheel will begin spinning, and players will be able to place bets. This will continue for a short period of time, and then the dealer will motion their hand over the betting layout and announce to all players ‘no more bets’.

This speaks for itself; from this point onwards, no more bets can be placed during the round, and the wheel will shortly finish spinning.

If you continue to place any bets after this point, the dealer can disqualify those bets from play. Continuing to do this might also result in you being asked to leave the table or casino.

Roulette Etiquette

One of the most important aspects of playing roulette casino games is how you handle yourself with and around other players at the table. While the obvious casino etiquette guidelines apply (just treating others how you want to be treated is a good rule of thumb), there is one particular aspect that can become confrontational in roulette games.

This potential issue arises during the bet placing stage, with so many players placing chips on the table at once it can be common for some players to act like wild animals. What we mean is that sometimes you might run into a player who doesn’t exactly show courtesy to other players when placing their bets.

You might find that said player is careless with other chip stacks. This can be frustrating; however, it is best to approach this type of player with either of these responses:

Ask them kindly to be careful when placing their bets and hope that they aren’t too inconsiderate to accept responsibility for their actions; or
Notify the dealer and ask that they intervene and request the player to show more care towards other players’ chips.

Alternatively, if you prefer to avoid confrontation altogether simply – just move on and play at another table.

How Does the Game End

Roulette is a simple game, and given its reliance on the wheel and ball – knowing when the game is over is easy.

When the wheel has stopped spinning, and the ball is sitting still in a pocket, the game is over, and the dealer can commence paying out any winning bets. The dealer will typically call the winning number out and place a symbol, puck, or small object on the betting layout to pinpoint the winning number.

When to Start Placing Bets in a New Round

We briefly mentioned this earlier in this chapter; however, players can start placing bets for a new round once the dealer has removed the object or symbol from the table’s betting layout. Typically they will also announce to players words to the effect of ‘you may now place your bets’.

Summarizing What to Remember

Common roulette bets include the straight-up bet or single number, red or black, odds or evens, columns, and the split bet
Placing your bets in roulette is easy-to-do, simply decide on the bet or chip you wish to bet and place your chip(s) on the necessary betting location or number
Players are not able to place bets while the puck or object remains on the betting layout. Once this is removed, players can commence betting on a new round
The game comes to an end once the ball stops spinning on the wheel and rests in a numbered pocket. The dealer will then pay out any winning bets
It is important to always follow proper casino player etiquette; however, in games like roulette, you may find players who are inconsiderate towards other player’s bets. Either ask them nicely or request the dealer to intervene. Otherwise, it’s best to just move to another table

Understanding the House Edge in Roulette

While it is great that players have a plethora of betting options available, this does also mean that players will need to understand a number of different house edges. In this chapter, we are going to cover a few of the most critical aspects of understanding the house edge in roulette. This will, therefore, help you to learn how to play roulette casino games.

How to Figure Out the House Edge in Roulette

Working out the house edge is daunting to think about; however, it is quite simple with a game like roulette. We can figure out the house edge in roulette by breaking down the most simple straight-up bet, while considering the payout value and how many options there are above this.

As you will recall, both common variants of roulette have a different amount of numbers. European or French games have 37 numbers, whereas the American variant has 38 numbers – because of the extra double-zero option.

We can figure out the house edge by thinking about the payout for our straight-up bet – which is 35 to 1. So, if the game did not feature an edge, the payout on a winning straight up bet would be 37 to 1 (because there are 37 total numbers).

Meaning you could bet $1 and win $37. In theory, players could lose this bet 37 times, but provided they win just once; then, the game is still fair.

This doesn’t slide well for the casinos, though because after all, they’re a business and want to make a profit – which is where the house edge comes into play. In roulette, casinos offer players a payout of 35 to 1. This means the bet is technically less than it is worth because the casino is keeping two of the numbers for the house edge.

That might sound confusing; however, once we transform this into a percentage, it begins to make more sense. So, how do we do that? It’s simple; in the context for American roulette, we would just divide two (the numbers that the casino is keeping) into 38 (the total amount of numbers) and then multiply by 100 to get the percentage. This means the house edge on in American roulette is 5.26%. There are some bets that fare better or worse than others, and we will explore that separately.

We can use the same math to work out the European roulette house edge, i.e., divide one (only the zero pocket) into 37 (one less number than the other game) and multiply by 100. This gives us the house edge of European roulette as 2.70%.

Making Sense of the Edge

It is all good to know the house edge, but for many players, this percentage doesn’t relate to their gambling sessions. Typically players get into a mindset where they think less of the house edge because it seems like such a small number over a period of time.

The problem is that over a period of time, this does start to add up as considerable losses, though.

Make sense of it this way, if you were playing over a couple of hours and you had placed $1,000 worth of bets on American roulette with a house edge of 5.26%. That equates to $52.60 that players would expect to lose during that time.

You might think that’s not a lot, but just remember it is a baseline. But what is even more important is to compare the edge of various bets. Consider it this way, if you played the exact same, but on a European roulette game, you would save $25.60 as the casino edge of 2.70% would equate to expected losses of $27.

Is It Possible to Reduce the Edge

Like we’ve just pointed out, the edge can be different between game modes but also bets. There are also ways to reduce the edge you face in games simply by choosing to focus on different betting strategies.

These don’t have to be wildly confusing betting strategies either, and it could be as simple as avoiding the wager options that have a higher edge.

A great example of these edge reduction techniques can be found in American roulette variants. If players were looking at making five-number bets, the edge would be as high as 7.89%, whereas, from a general standpoint, the edge is still 5.26%.

It doesn’t have to be this high, though. If you changed to playing even-money bets only, your edge could be as low as 2.63% on games where the casino offers the surrender option (losses return half if the zeros hit).

So, what you need to take away from this chapter is not to just play willy-nilly, play smart, and focus your gameplay on worthwhile bets.

Summarizing What to Remember

The traditional house edge in American roulette is 5.26%, and for European roulette, the edge is 2.70%
House edge could have a big effect when comparing bets and games, a 5.26% edge in American roulette would equate to losses of $52.60 and higher if you wagered $1,000 over a period of a time
Certain bets have a lower house edge, and in American variants, players can enjoy an edge as low as 2.63% on even-money outside bets in certain games
Focus on playing smart and following your gameplan, don’t make silly random bets. The game might be easy to play, but it is also easy to make mistakes

Roulette Bets

In this chapter, we take a brief look at the various bets that players can make. Specifically, we look at the inside and outside bets in roulette; however, don’t stress if you still want more info.

This is a beginner introduction; we cover these in much more detail in our player guide to roulette bets, which you can find here.

What are the Inside Bets in Roulette

Inside bets are best known as the wagers that you can place that are within the grid of numbers.

There are several bets that can be placed on the inside section of the betting layout. Without further delay, here are the inside roulette bets.

Straight Up

An easy bet, just pick a number and cross your fingers. You will need luck on your side to pull this wager off.

Place your chip(s) on the number; if it hits, you’ll be paid out 35 to 1.

Split

A split bet is essentially a bet on two numbers. Pick the two numbers and place your chip(s) on the line that separates between both the numbers.

In this wager, you are playing for a payout of 17 to 1.

These are very common bets that you will see at the roulette table.

Street Bet or Side Bet

This bet is a three number bet, with those numbers being three numbers across. To make the street bet, you place your chip(s) on the outside line where the number borders with the outer bets.

For example, if you were placing a street bet across the numbers 16, 17, and 18, then you would place your chip on the outer line that connects the number 16 and the ‘2nd 12’ bet.

If it hits, you’ll be paid out at 11 to 1.

Four-Number Bet

Often referred to as the corner or square bet because of how the bet looks when placing your chips. This bet is made by placing your chips on the intersecting corner that covers where each of the four numbers meets (hence the ‘corner bet’ name).

An example would be placing your chip at the center of the four numbers for 16, 17, 19, and 20.

If this bet lands, you will be paid out a respectable 8 to 1.

Five Number Bet

A five number bet is also referred to as the monster or the beast bet and is only found in American roulette variants. This is because the bet covers each of the first numbers numerically, i.e., 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3.

To make this monster bet, place your chip(s) on the intersection outside the corner of the zero and the 1.

The odd thing about this bet is that it is never in the players’ favor with it paying 6 to 1. The house edge is 7.89%, which is higher than if you would have just placed five individual bets.

Line Bet

Our last roulette inside bet is the line bet, which is a wager that covers six numbers. Roulette wager is easy to see as it breaks each of the three dozens into sections of six numbers.

Place your line bet by dropping your chip(s) at the outer corner intersection of the numbers on adjacent lines. For example, if you wanted to place a line bet that covered 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, then you would place your chip on the corner of the 16 and 19 towards the outside.

This bet pays off at 5 to 1.

What are the Outside Bets in Roulette

The outside bets are considered the quick and easy roulette bets to make. You will find each of these options situated on the outside section of the betting layout. However, note that the payouts for these are either even money or 2 to 1.

Column

There are three column bets that players can make (first, second, and third), and you will find these at the bottom of each column. This bet covers every number in that column but does not include the zeros.

Hitting on the column bet will award you a payout at 2 to 1.

Dozens

These dozen bets cover each section of 12 numbers, with players able to wager on the first, second, or third dozen. This bet pays 2 to 1.

Odds or Evens

This is the first of the even money bets, with players able to wager on whether the number is a part of the odds or evens. There are 18 of each, with the zeros not counting. Placing your wager is easy as there is a position for even and another for odd.

Red or Black

Just like the previous bet, players can choose to back either red or black, again paying even money. It doesn’t get any simpler than the red or black roulette bet.

High or Low

The high or low bet can be made on a split of the betting layout. The low bet is for numbers 1 – 18, and the high bet is for 19 to 36. These do not include zeros and will pay even money.

Summarizing What to Remember

Inside bets relate to the numbered grid within the betting layout. These include Straight up, split, street, line, four-number, and the five-number bets
Outside bets are found surrounding the numbered grid and include the high or low, red or black, odds or evens, dozens, and column bets

Popular Roulette Strategies

We close out our how to play roulette guide with two of the most popular roulette gambling strategies. Now, here we will touch base on the Martingale and Fibonacci betting strategies; however, in our guide to the best roulette strategy, you will find these plus many more, with more comprehensive detail.

Roulette’s Most Popular Gambling Strategy – Martingale

The Martingale strategy is supremely popular and something that all players feel that they were one of the first to use this idea at some point in their lifetime. This is because the simple premise of the strategy is that if you lose a bet, you double that stake to ensure that you win back your money while making the same bet choice.

This theory allows you to recoup your losses because eventually, you will win; however, the problem is that you can run into some roadblocks along the way to recovering your losses.

The first of these roadblocks is that tables typically feature betting limits, so if you find yourself on the end of a rough patch – then you might cap out on the table limit and won’t be able to increase your bet.

Which ties into our second roadblock. It can cost a lot of bankroll very quickly. Because you need to double your money each loss, bets can add up very quickly.

It also can become boring in a game like roulette because it forces you always to play the same bet.

Check out this great resource to find out more about using the Martingale strategy in roulette.

Roulette Betting Strategy – Fibonacci

The Fibonacci strategy is a betting method based on patterns and similar to Martingale. This strategy involves players using a sequence of numbers to base their betting amounts. It is easy to learn and follow along, but it can become costly if you lose often.

Basically, each number in the sequence is the result of adding the two previous numbers, i.e., $10, $10, $20, $30, $50, $80, $130, and so on.

When you lose your bet, you go one step up in the sequence. So, using the above example, a losing $10 bet would be another $10 bet. If you lose once more, you would then make a $20 bet.

When you win your bet, you go back two steps in the sequence. So, if you won on a $50 bet, then your next bet would be a $20 bet.

This strategy is all about reducing your losses and banking on large winning stretches.

Summarizing What to Remember

Fibonacci strategy is based on using a number sequence to plan your bets. Win a bet and go back two steps in the sequence, lose a bet and increase the stake of your bet to the next number in the sequence
Martingale is a strategy which focus on doubling your stake whenever you lose your bet
Both bets have their pros and cons, however, both can get expensive very quickly

Conclusion

Well, there you have it! You have completed our guide on how to play roulette casino games! Throughout the five chapters in this resource, our experts at CasinoToday hope to have helped teach you how to play roulette and win.

Better yet, learning how to play is more than just getting the chance to win more. Roulette is an exciting game and one that we hope you develop a love for playing.

Looking back at what you have learned in this guide, we’ve shared a journey into the origin of roulette, while also touching on some of the more personal aspects of what makes this spinning wheel beauty tick.

We opened your mind to some of the more basic rules to play and shared a detailed look into how to play roulette by breaking down each round of the game. This should prove vital for you whether you are playing roulette online casino games, or whether you are ducking over to Vegas for the weekend.

An essential component of this roulette guide was investigating the house edge. In particular, we looked into how the edge works in casino games like roulette and what it means for players. Now that you’ve learned how to work the edge out yourself, you should be comfortable to cover each of the different bets on your own!

Speaking of bets, we summarized many of the most popular bets that are made by players. If you are looking for further information on bets and odds, we recommend that you read through our roulette odds guide here.

Finally, we brought it all to a close, by briefly touching on two of the most mainstream betting strategies in roulette – the Martingale and Fibonacci strategies. Having looked at how these works and some of the negative aspects of them, we feel that you have enough information to play your first games of roulette.

If you would like to learn more about playing roulette games and to increase your chances of winning real money, we suggest that you read our roulette tips and tricks. You can also learn more in-depth aspects of the best roulette strategies with our complete strategy guide here.

The Origin of Roulette

What is the Aim of Roulette

What Does the Roulette Game Look Like

The Roulette Wheel

What’s the Roulette Table Look Like

When Did Roulette Originate

Blaise Pascal Was Responsible for the Wheel but Not the Gambling

Strange Roulette Superstitions with the Devil

European or French Roulette

American Roulette

Summarizing What to Remember

Find Your Online Slots Casino

Basic Roulette Rules

How a Round of Roulette is Played

How to Play Online Roulette Games

How to Play Roulette Games at a Casino

When to Place Your Bets

Who Places the Roulette Bets: Dealer or Player?

How to Make Common Roulette Bets

What are the Common Wagers?

How do you Make Bets in Roulette?

When Must Players Stop Placing Bets

Roulette Etiquette

How Does the Game End

When to Start Placing Bets in a New Round

Summarizing What to Remember

Understanding the House Edge in Roulette

How to Figure Out the House Edge in Roulette

Making Sense of the Edge

Is It Possible to Reduce the Edge

Summarizing What to Remember

Roulette Bets

What are the Inside Bets in Roulette

Straight Up

Split

Street Bet or Side Bet

Four-Number Bet

Five Number Bet

Line Bet

What are the Outside Bets in Roulette

Column

Dozens

Odds or Evens

Red or Black

High or Low

Summarizing What to Remember

Popular Roulette Strategies

Roulette’s Most Popular Gambling Strategy – Martingale

Roulette Betting Strategy – Fibonacci

Summarizing What to Remember

Conclusion

About the Author

William Russel

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