Casino Roulette Rules
Roulette was first played in France back in the 17th century. It is now one of the most popular European gambling games and Monte Carlo in Monaco is a well known and famous casino centre for playing roulette.
How To Play Roulette Tutorial. History – How To Play – Rules – Odds – Strategy – Pro’s Perspective. Roulette is one of the most popular table casino games in history and there are entire casinos and gambling venues that are based around it. Roulette is a great game with which you can make a lot of money. It is not a difficult game. All you have to do is read up on the rules. The most important rules are briefly explained here. Read our explanation of roulette and increase your knowledge of this casino classic! Play roulette online at Royal Panda. When playing roulette at your local land-based casino, it’s possible to null and void the result of a roulette spin by diving head first onto the table with a pint of beer in hand. However, you might also scupper your wins or even get thrown out for several other infringements that are specific to the rules of roulette.
The Basics
Players, usually up to eight, play against the House represented by the croupier also called the dealer, who spins the roulette wheel and handles the wagers and payouts. In the European roulette and French roulette version, the wheel has 37 slots representing 36 numbers and one zero. In the USA most roulette wheels have two zeros and therefore 38 slots.
Each player buys-in a different coloured chips so their bets don't get mixed up. At the end of play, if you won, you exchange back the colorued chips with cash chips. These are special chips with the value amount imprinted on them. There are several denominations in various colours. You then take these chips to the cash desk where they will give you actual cash money in exchange.
To play roulette, you place your bet or bets on numbers (any number including the zero) in the table layout or on the outside, and when everybody at the table had a chance to place their bets, the croupier starts the spin and launches the ball. Just a few moments before the ball is about to drop over the slots, the croupier says 'no more bets'. From that moment no one is allowed to place - or change - their bets until the ball drops on a slot. Only after the croupier places the dolly on the winning number on the roulette table and clears all the losing bets you can then start placing your new bets while the croupier pays the winners. The winners are those bets that are on or around the number that comes up. Also the bets on the outside of the layout win if the winning number is represented.
The House advantage
On a single zero roulette table the House advantage is 2.7%. On a double zero roulette table it is 5.26% (7.9% on the five-number bet, 0-00-1-2-3). The House advantage is gained by paying the winners a chip or two (or a proportion of it) less than what it should have been if there was no advantage. (See Roulette Quiz - The Casino Advantage.)
The 'En Prison' rule
A roulette rule applied to even-money bets only, and by some casinos (not all). When the outcome is zero, some casinos will allow the player to either take back half his/her bet or leave the bet (en prison = in prison) for another roulette spin. In the second case, if the following spin the outcome is again zero, then the whole bet is lost.
The 'La Partage' rule
The la partage roulette rule is similar to the en prison rule, only in this case the player loses half the bet and does not have the option of leaving the bet en prison for another spin. This refers to the 'outside' even-money bets Red/Black, High/Low, Odd/Even and applies when the outcome is zero. Both the La Partage and the En Prison roulette rules essentially cut the casino edge on the 'even-money bets' in half. So a bet on Red on a single-zero roulette table with the la partage rule or the en prison rule has a 1.35% House edge and one on a double-zero roulette table has a House edge of 2.63%.
The payouts
A bet on one number only, called a straight-up bet, pays 35 to 1. (You collect 36. With no House advantage you should collect 37 (38 in the USA on double zero roulette wheels).
A two-number bet, called split bet, pays 17 to 1.
A three-number bet, called street bet, pays 11 to 1.
A four-number bet, called corner bet, pays 8 to 1.
A six-number bet, pays 5 to 1.
A bet on the outside dozen or column, pays 2 to 1.
A bet on the outside even money bets, pays 1 to 1.
Casino Roulette Wheel Rules
Object of the game
To win at roulette the player needs to predict where the ball will land after each spin. This is by no means easy. In fact, luck plays an important part in this game. Some players go with the winning numbers calling them 'hot' numbers and therefore likely to come up more times. Others see which numbers did not come up for some time and bet on them believing that their turn is now due. Some players bet on many numbers to increase their chances of winning at every spin, but this way the payout is considerably reduced. Other methodical players use specific roulette systems or methods, money management systems, or both.
French roulette rules
The French roulette rules are very much like the European roulette rules. It has the same 37 numbered wheel with one zero but a different table layout for the outside bets. See Table layout(Link opens new window).
The player odds in French roulette are the same as in European roulette (only one zero) and better than the odds in American roulette (two zeros). The players loose only 50% of their even-money bets when the outcome is zero, known as the 'La Partage' rule.
The object of the game is still the same - to predict which number out of possible 37 the ball will land on. And of course, they speak French. Below are the English and equivalent French terms for the various roulette bets:
Inside bets
- One number Straight up = En plein
- Two numbers Split Bet = Cheval
- Three numbers Street Bet = Transversale
- Four numbers Corner = Carre
- Six numbers Line Bet = Sixainne
Outside bets
- Twelve numbers Column = Colonne
- Twelve numbers Dozen = Douzaine
- Red or Black = Rouge, Noir
- Even or Odd = Pair, Impair
- Low or High numbers = Manque, Passe
Canasta Roulette
In Costa Rica some casino table games have different names, others have different names and different rules. Roulette in Costa Rica casinos is called 'Canasta' and is played with a double-zero layout. However, instead of using a roulette wheel the winning number is selected from a circular wire cage with numbered balls similar to the one used in bingo halls.
California Roulette
The difference between California casinos and Vegas (and other) casinos is the way roulette and craps are played.
In California it is against the rules and regulations to have a roulette wheel that is spun and to have a ball drop decide which number is the winning number on the wheel. It is also against the state rules and regulations to throw dice to decide the outcome of a game.
In 2004, California legalized a form of roulette known as California Roulette. By law, the game must use cards and not slots on the roulette wheel to pick the winning number.
There are at least two variations. In some casinos, the dealer spins a wheel containing 38 cards from 1 to 36, plus 0 and 00, and after betting is closed, stops the wheel; a pointer identifies the winning card, which the dealer removes and shows to the players.
In the Cache Creek casino in northern California, a wheel resembling a traditional roulette wheel is used, but it has only alternating red and black slots with no numbers. As the ball is spinning, the dealer takes cards from a shoe and places two of them face down on the table in red and black rectangles. When the ball lands in a red or black slot, the card in the corresponding rectangle is turned over to reveal the winning number.
(Source: Wikipedia.org)
Did you know?
In every casino it is customary that the croupier starts the first round/spin of the day with the ball lying in the number slot of the date of that day. This obviously excludes the numbers 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 0.
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Roulette is a game that comes in different shapes and sizes. With such a rich history, it’s natural that the game has developed with slightly different rules in several parts of the world. Fortunately for new players hoping to learn how to play roulette, these variations are subtle and don’t cause too much conflict when picking up roulette rules for the first time. For a deep analysis of the rules of roulette, read on – this guide will provide you with all the tools and knowledge you will need to get started on your roulette journey. We’ll cover the different types of roulette games you will come across and explain how to play them. We’re also going to give you the low down on how to avoid standing out like a sore thumb in a traditional, land-based casino. Finally, we’ll show you how to start playing roulette online and begin enjoying one of the most exciting online gambling markets available in the UK today. Let’s start with the basics.
Roulette Rules in a Nutshell
Roulette is a simple game of chance. Players place bets on where they think the ball will land on the roulette wheel, and successful players are paid out accordingly. In a casino, bets are placed using chips – clay or plastic tokens used to represent currency – which can be cashed later for the Queen’s English pounds. Once the croupier begins the process of spinning the wheel and rolling in the ball, betting is suspended until the following spin. Once the ball comes to rest and the winning number is determined, the croupier pays out winnings bets, and rakes in losing chips.
Where the game becomes a little more complicated – and what new players can often find daunting – is the range of betting options available to them. The roulette betting surface can, at first glance, look like a random patchwork of numbers, odds, reds and blacks. However, the layout allows players to place all different kinds of bets quickly and easily. Wagers in this game are split into two categories – inside and outside bets. Inside bets refer to the chips placed on the numbered area in the centre of the betting surface. Outside bets refer to the chips placed in the boxes outside the main, numbered betting area.
The most common inside bets are the straight up and the split bet. A straight up bet is a placed by dropping one or more chips directly on a single number. The payout, should the wheel land on your number, is 35 to 1. A split bet occurs when chips are placed on the line between two numbers.
A win is paid if either number lands at 17 to 1. Outside bets, also known as proposition bets, refer to chips placed outside of the main grid of numbers. The column bet, for example, pays 2 to 1 for any winning numbers in a chosen column. Even money bets such as red or black, odd or even and high or low are also popular types of outside proposition bets in roulette.
Types of Roulette and Rule Variations
French, American and European roulette all feature minor differences that influence the odds of certain bets and the overall house edge of the game. Whilst the advice on how to play roulette in this guide is relevant for all formats of the game, there are tweaks to be made to strategy and more complex betting patterns. For a more detailed overview of the most popular games, head over to our roulette hub.
Roulette Etiquette
When playing roulette at your local land-based casino, it’s possible to null and void the result of a roulette spin by diving head first onto the table with a pint of beer in hand. However, you might also scupper your wins or even get thrown out for several other infringements that are specific to the rules of roulette. Here’s how to behave and comply with the rules to make sure you don’t make a fool of yourself at the roulette table.
How To Play Roulette Rules
- Listen out for “no more bets”
- Be polite to the dealer
- Observe social courtesy and personal space
- Mix your chips with someone else’s
- Touch the chips between the spin and payout time
- Get too drunk
Knowing when to bet – and when not to – is one of the most important things to master when first starting out with roulette. Casinos place restrictions on when players can place chips on the betting surface to prevent bets being placed when the ball is close to landing and the winning number is, theoretically at least, easier to predict.
The Rules of Roulette Online
When playing roulette online, it’s not possible to cause a big stir at the table and etiquette is not so important. In fact, you can play in a pair of slippers with a cup of tea if you like. However, even though a lot of the faux pas that new players make are not possible due the software online roulette runs on, there are still a couple of rules to follow. When playing software-based online roulette, the wheel will only spin when you have finished placing your bets. All of the time pressures are removed, and if you’re still getting your head around placing bets, it’s a good way to familiarise yourself with the board.
The other option you have when playing online roulette is the live dealer experience. The rules of these games are identical to that of land-based versions of the game. The croupier will still impose a time limit of bets and once the physical roulette wheel is in motion and the ball is spinning, betting closes just like it does down your local Grosvenor. However, because you are placing bets with virtual chips, the software will not allow you to place bets during this time, thus removing the risk of placing a void bet or looking like a newbie at the table. If you are a new player and have got your heart set on throwing chips around in a land-based casino like a pro, but don’t know where to start, we recommend starting with software-based roulette before stepping up to live dealer roulette. Once you feel more comfortable, you’ll be ready for the real thing. You can find a selection of the best online casinos in the UK to start your journey in the reviews section of this site.
Advanced Roulette Rules in the UK
It is entirely possible to play and enjoy this game knowing only the basic roulette rules in the UK. However, there are a couple of more advanced tricks that players can use once they start building confidence at the table. Street betting, for example, occurs when placing a betting chip on the vertical line directly to the left of a row of numbers. The bet wins if any of the three numbers in the row land and pays at 11 to 1.
Corner betting, also known as “Carre” in French roulette, is an advanced betting technique triggered by placing a chip that covers the corner of four numbers simultaneously. This type of wager is also known as square betting. The technique gives players four chances to win and pays out at 8 to 1. It’s quite normal to see experienced players placing three of four different square bets in a single round to achieve what the pro’s call ‘good coverage’ of the entire wheel.
Be careful when placing multiple bets, it’s important that you don’t leave yourself in a position where you are guaranteed to lose. For example, placing ten individual bets that pay 8 to 1 with no overlap will result in a net loss regardless of where the ball lands.
More innovative games, such as Mini Roulette and Pinball Roulette, have surfaced recently. These novelty games play around with the roulette format to come up with a new twist on the classic. As a result, these games come with rule changes that have a dramatic effect on the way the game is played, how bets are placed and what odds are paid out.
Conclusion
Even though the game of roulette has been around for centuries, the rules of the game haven’t really changed much. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Mastering these principles now will stand you in good stead going into the future. New technologies have allowed new variants to flourish, but the core games remain the most popular and the most played. Due to the consistent nature of roulette’s gameplay, strategies have had time to be honed. It is possible today to use roulette betting systems to limit losses and play for longer periods of time. Once you get to grips with the basics of the rules, it’s worth looking at popular systems such as Martingale and Paroli to take your roulette game to the next level.