A beginner’s guide to roulette

29th January 2024

Stepping into the world of casino games can be both thrilling and a little overwhelming. As a beginner, you’ve got a range of choices available, but roulette stands out as a classic game that’s easy to get involved with. With this guide, we’ll explore the basics of roulette so you can get playing and hopefully winning!

Understanding the basics

Fundamentally, roulette is a game of chance played with a ball and a spinning wheel. The wheel contains numbered pockets typically ranging from 0 to 36 (or 00 in the American version). Players place bets on where they believe the ball will land after the wheel has been spun and the ball comes to a stop.

The roulette wheel

You’ll usually find two main types of roulette wheels, American and European, depending on where you’re playing. The American wheel has 38 pockets, including 0 and 00, while the European wheel has 37 pockets with a single 0. Each pocket is coloured red or black, except for the 0 and 00 which are usually green.

The betting table

Players place their bets on the betting table next to the wheel or the online equivalent. This area is divided into various sections representing different types of bets. You can go for specific numbers, sets of numbers or colours (red or black), or whether the number will be odd or even.

Inside and outside bets

The concept of inside and outside bets is important to understand in a game like online roulette. Inside bets involve placing chips (your bet) on specific numbers or combinations of numbers. You’re more unlikely to win because there are a greater number of possible outcomes, but you’ll receive a higher payout if you do – potentially making it worth the risk.

In contrast, outside bets are placed on the edge of the betting table and involve broader predictions such as red or black, odd or even and entire columns or dozens. You’ve got a greater chance of winning with these bets, but the payouts are lower in return.

The spin and payouts

Once all bets are placed, the wheel is spun in one direction and the ball in the opposite direction. As the wheel loses momentum, the ball eventually lands in one of the numbered pockets. Winning bets are then paid out according to the type of bet and the corresponding odds.