Playing Roulette – American and European Roulette
There are two main variations in the game of roulette – American roulette and European roulette. The rules of the game are similar regardless of the variation that you choose to play, however there are a few minor differences that are important for you to be aware of.
The Differences between the American and European Roulette Wheels
The main differences between the American roulette wheel and the European roulette wheel lies in the number of slots that are available. The European roulette wheel features the numbers 1 through 36, plus a single zero slot. On the other hand, the American roulette wheel features the numbers 1 through 36, plus a zero and a double zero. While this seems like a minor difference, it does affect the odds for the player as there are more slots in the American wheel.
European roulette also offers a rule that is not available in American roulette. When playing European roulette, you can make use of the 'en prison' rule, which means that if you bet on an even money bet and the ball lands on the zero, you can hold your bet over to the next spin.
Basic Rules and Aims of Roulette
The aim in the game of roulette is to place a bet on the number that a spinning ball will land on. Up to eight players can play in a game of roulette and all the players play against the house. Before the ball is released in the spinning wheel, these bets are placed. The bets themselves are placed on the roulette table that represents the numbers on the roulette wheel.
Possible Bets in the Game of Roulette
There are two categories of bets that can be placed in a game of roulette – inside bets and outside bets and there are five bets in each category (in European roulette with an extra inside bet in American roulette), making a total of ten (or eleven) bets that can be placed.
Inside bets include:
- Straight bet – This bets on the ball landing on a specific number. Place the bet in the center of a numbered box.
- Split bet – This bets on the ball landing on one of two numbers. Place the bet on the line between two numbers.
- Street bet – This bet can also be called a row bet. It bets on the ball landing on one of three numbers. Place the bet at the end of a row of numbers.
- Corner bet – Place the bet on the intersection of the four numbers that are found in the corner of the roulette table.
- Five-number bet – Place this bet on the line between the zero and 1. It is a bet that includes the 0, 00, 1, 2 or 3 in an American roulette game.
- Line bet – This bet can also be called a double street bet. It bets on the ball landing on one of six numbers and is placed on the line between two rows.
Outside bets include:
- Column bet – This bets on the ball landing on one of twelve numbers. Place the bet at the end of a column of twelve numbers.
- Dozen bet – This bet is placed on a group of a dozen numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36).
- Red or black bet – Place this bet on the ball landing on a red number or a black number.
- Odd or even bet – This bets on the ball landing on an odd number or an even number.
- Low or high bet – Place this bet on either the numbers 1-18 or 19-36.
