What Is Roulette?
Roulette is a popular casino game you will find in brick-and-mortar casinos worldwide. You can also play roulette online or with a live croupier. Even though there are dozens of roulette games, the fundamentals remain remarkably similar. To help you get up to speed with roulette betting, we have created a guide explaining how to play roulette at our online casino Ireland.
Every round of roulette starts with players making bets. As the players place their chips, the croupier will throw the roulette ball around the wheel. As the ball loses momentum, the croupier will signal the end of the betting window. From here on out, no player can add chips to the table. After the ball has stopped on one number, the croupier will pay any winners and the next round begins.
These aspects never change no matter what casino roulette game you play. Learning the fundamentals is the best way to learn how to play roulette. However, there are differences between certain games, such as the number of segments on a wheel, the size of the maximum prize, or the number of balls used per spin. Once you have read our guide, you will understand how to play roulette no matter what version of the famous casino game you try.
Types of Roulette Bets
Wherever you decide to play roulette, two aspects remain the same. There is a numbered wheel that spins and a betting area. You can place chips on the betting table to mark where you predict the ball will land. The betting table has all the numbers of the roulette wheel plus other betting options. Although you can place several possible wagers on each spin, each bet falls into two categories. You can either place inside or outside bets.
Understanding these two types of wagers will allow you to learn how to play roulette quickly and successfully. Inside bets require players to place their chips in the section with individual numbers. Outside bets contain much larger arrays, such as red or black and odd or even. This might sound intimidating to new players, but the more numbers included in your bet, the smaller the payout.
Inside Bets
The reason inside bets get their name is from the location of these sections on the betting table. They are technically on the inside as the outside bets surround them. To help you understand how to play roulette, we have listed each type of wager below. Plus, we have included diagrams showing how you can place each type of bet.
Straight Up
The most straightforward wager on the roulette wheel is when you bet on one individual number. This bet has odds of 35 to 1, resulting in a huge win if you get it right. The house edge for this wager is 2.7% for European Roulette and 5.26% for American Roulette.
Split
A split bet is when you divide your wager equally across two adjacent numbers on the betting table. If either number is a winner, you get 17/1 odds. Examples of split bets could be one and two, or 16 and 19.
Street
you can make a street bet on three numbers in one round. This is where you place a chip on the outside border of a row of three numbers. For example, 13, 14, and 15. A winning street wager pays at 11/1.
Corner
Going up incrementally, a corner bet allows you to wager on four numbers on the betting table. These numbers must be adjacent, as you place your bet on the intersection of all four numbers. Getting this wager correct gives you a return of 8/1.
Basket
Usually, American Roulette tables have a special type of wager. The basket is a five-number bet which includes 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. The house edge for this wager goes up to 7.89%. This is why you rarely see players make this bet at the casino.
Line
The last type of inside bet is the line. Also called the double street, a line allows you to bet on six numbers in total. These numbers also must be adjacent to the betting table. A line bet could include 13, 14, 15 and 16, 17, 18.
Outside Bets
The fundamental difference between inside and outside bets is the odds of you winning a round are significantly higher. However, this is reflected in the payout, as outside bets have lower returns than inside wagers.
Column
A column bet is on the far right side of the roulette betting table. Here, you will find three boxes typically called 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. These boxes represent the column of numbers until the zero and double zero. For this bet to win, they must select one of the 12 numbers in your column. The payout is worth 2/1.
Dozens
Another roulette bet that divides almost all the numbers on the roulette wheel into 12 is the dozens wager. You can spot this wager by looking for boxes that say 1st 12, 2nd 12, and 3rd 12. You are trying to predict whether the next number selected will be in the first, second, or third dozen. They do not include zero and double zero in this bet.
Odd or Even
Next up is the odd or even bet, a fan favourite amongst beginners. You need to guess whether the next number is odd or even. There are 18 odd and 18 even numbers on the wheel. For this type of bet, you have less than a 50% chance of getting it right thanks to the zero and double zero. However, the return from a successful bet is 1/1, rewarding you with as much profit as your stake.
High or Low
Another way to divide the roulette wheel in two is to look at the high or low betting options. Aptly called 1-18 and 19-36, these sections represent the high and low numbers on the wheel. They do not include the zeros in either bet and the payout is 1/1.
Red or Black
The most famous wager in roulette is red or black. This is where you must choose the colour of the next selected number. The payout is also one-to-one, but at least you can easily tell they do not include zero as it’s typically green.
Roulette Rules
The roulette rules are simple, and most also apply to online players. If you memorise the rules of casino roulette and the wagers you can make, you will know how to play roulette in no time! Remember, if you are playing at a casino, you can ask the croupier about the rules of the table.
#1 Get Your Chips
If you rock up at a roulette table in the heart of a casino, you need to exchange your cash for chips. Not just any chips will do, as multiple players can bet simultaneously during each round. Most casinos will divide the chips into colours to help keep each player’s wagers separate.
To receive your chips, you need to give the croupier some money. After this, they will count your cash and ask what values you would like to bet with. Some casinos offer chips as low as ten cents and as high as €100. If you are new to roulette, we recommend sticking low and choosing the €1 or less option.
#2 When Can You Bet?
The betting round begins when the croupier has finished collecting everyone’s wagers and paid the winners. To place your bets, choose the amount you want to stake and put it in the designated areas. The croupiers are here to help you, so if there is an area you can’t reach, they will happily place the bet for you. Do not hand your chips to any other player for obvious reasons.
After the croupier adds the ball to the wheel, they will signal the betting window is over. They will wait for the ball to rest, and complete the round before taking any new wagers. The winners get their cash, and we get to repeat the process.
#3 Winner or Loser?
The croupier will place a little mascot on the winning chips to mark the winning number. They will sweep the losing chips away and assign each player’s winnings. Once that is done, the croupier will remove the puck and let every player know they can place bets again. If you won the previous round, consider setting a budget to avoid walking away with nothing. You don’t need to spend every euro in your pocket to have a good time!
What is the Roulette House Edge?
In any casino table game, there is a house edge. This number usually refers to the advantage the casino has over the player. For European Roulette, it works out at 2.7% and American Roulette is higher at 5.26%. These percentages come from the casino’s profit, but the calculation is complex. All you need to know is that the house has more of an edge in American Roulette. That is because of the 0 and 00. It means you have less chance of getting your prediction right each round.
Roulette Odds
The odds of you getting a successful prediction when making straight-up roulette bets are 37 to one. That is because there are 37 numbers on the European Roulette wheel, including zero. However, if you bet on one number and it comes up, you only win 35/1. This contributes towards the house edge, but don’t let this put you off. Getting 35 times your stake for a correct prediction is a big win, especially compared to sports betting.
Online Roulette Betting Tips
Betting on roulette is fun once you know what you’re doing. That does not mean there is a guaranteed strategy to winning, it just helps to enjoy the experience if you understand what is going on. To help new players get up to speed, we have created some online roulette betting tips to help you not just learn how to play roulette but to aid you in making winning bets. These tips apply whether you play online, live, or in person.
- Set a Budget: If you play enough casino games, you will know some days are bad and some are fantastic. However, knowing when to walk away is the hardest part of a bad day. Setting a budget gives you a hard number to cut your losses and should stop you from chasing the win. It may sound simple, but if you decide to play with €50, you can’t lose over 50 euros.
- Inside Bets: New players gravitate towards outside bets as there is a higher chance of getting a prediction right. However, the amount you win from a red or black wager is only as much as your stake. If you win one and then lose two in a row, you are worse off than when you started. If you land a straight bet, you could make 35 more predictions before being back at square one.
- Play Until You Lose: If you have ever watched a movie about casino games, the characters always say never leave the table on a hot streak. While we agree with the sentiment, hot streaks rarely last that long. If you win five rounds in a row, it could be a good idea to keep playing until you lose a round. When you next lose, you can walk away and secure some profit.
- Take A Break: If you visit somewhere as glamorous as Las Vegas, the temptation is to hit the tables immediately. If you start with a couple of losses, there is no harm in just walking away. Every online casino has dozens of tables, so don’t feel locked in. It pays to walk away and come back with a clear head. This also applies to playing online or live roulette.
- Risk Versus Reward: Roulette betting is a fantastic example of risk and reward. Betting straight up is risky, but it’s worth it if you land a wager. However, splitting your bets using corner or street wagers can be more profitable if you intend to play for several rounds. Yes, you get smaller returns, but you are more likely to find a winner!
Best Roulette Games to Play
Now that we have explained how to play roulette, including the odds, bets, and tips, you are ready to hit the tables. But what online roulette games should you play? Below are a couple of our favourite games here at our online casino Ireland.
- European Roulette: A casino game classic, European Roulette has less of a house edge compared to its American counterpart. That means you have more chance of winning each round as there is only one zero. At our online casino, we have over a dozen different European Roulette games. You can play online or visit our live casino and play with other players in real time.
- XXXTreme Lightning Roulette: The best live roulette in the world right now is XXXTreme Lightning Roulette. Based on the traditional casino game, this live game gives players the chance to win up 2,000x your stake on each spin. If you are a fan of this game, our online casino also offers a First-Person mode to play online at your own pace.
- 100 To 1 Roulette: If you like playing roulette without multipliers, but want bigger prizes, check out 100/1 roulette. This online-only game features over 100 segments on a gigantic wheel with a maximum prize of 100 times your stake. The odds might not be in your favour, but a correct prediction pays more than a traditional roulette table.
What is Surrender in Roulette?
Roulette is a casino game with a rich history. That means there are many unique terms and phrases. Surrender is a unique type of rule that usually applies to American Roulette. They enforce the Surrender rule when the roulette ball lands on zero or double zero. Any player with a wager on an even money bet gets half their stake returned. This only applies to bets with odds of 1/1, so the red or black, odd or even, and high or low wagers.
Roulette En Prison
For those of you who don’t know, roulette has French origins. As such, some aspects of the original game still apply to European Roulette. Once again, this rule only affects players with an outside bet on the 1/1 markets. They imprison your bet when the roulette ball lands on a single zero. To get your bet out from behind bars, you need the next spin to be a winner.
For example, if you bet on red and zero hits, they put your bet in prison, and you can’t withdraw it. If the next spin lands on red, you get your money back. In the situations where zero lands again, your wager stays in prison, and if the next spin is black, then you lose your bet.
What Other Casino Games Should I Try?
If you are a roulette fan, there are plenty of other casino games to try. If you want to experience some card games, blackjack is the best starting point for beginners. Once you have sampled winning blackjack hands, the next step is poker. If you want to play roulette or any online game at Novibet, sign up now and claim your welcome bonus.
