Mastering Roulette: From Basics to Advanced Bets

Roulette is an iconic casino game, instantly recognizable by its spinning wheel and the small white ball that determines players' fortunes. As a game of pure probability, casino roulette is easy to learn and offers a unique kind of excitement.

How the Game Works

At its heart is a large wheel sectioned into pockets, each with a unique number. There are two main variations of the wheel:

• Single-Zero Roulette: The European version contains 37 pockets in total, with one of them being a green 0. This is the preferred version for players as its house edge is lower.


• American Roulette: This wheel has 38 pockets, including the numbers 1-36, a single "0", and casino an additional "00" pocket, also green. This additional slot nearly doubles the house advantage to 5.26%.

The aim of the game is simply to bet on the winning number.

Understanding the Betting Options

All roulette wagers fall into one of two main classifications.

Inside Bets

These are bets placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers on the inside of the betting layout. They have higher payouts but lower odds of winning.

• Straight Up: Betting on one specific number. The highest payout in the game.


• Split: A bet on two adjacent numbers. Payout is 17 to 1.


• Street: Betting on a three-number row.


• Corner: A bet on a group of four numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.

Outside Bets

These are wagers on general outcomes and have better odds with lower payouts.

• Red/Black: A simple color bet that pays even money.


• Odd/Even: A bet on whether the number will be odd or even. Payout is 1 to 1.


• High/Low: Betting on the number falling in the 1-18 or casino 19-36 group.


• Dozens/Columns: These bets cover a third of the numbers (excluding 0) and pay 2:1.

Roulette Systems

As a game of independent random events, no betting system can alter the mathematical house advantage. Systems like the Martingale (doubling your bet after a loss) are extremely risky and can lead to catastrophic losses very quickly. The best "strategy" is to manage your bankroll, play for entertainment, and if possible, always choose European roulette over American roulette.