Ah, the game of Roulette. The classic Vegas game. Roulette encompasses all that makes gambling great: the skill, the luck, the energy, and of course, the winnings. It’s an easy enough game to learn, and some are of the opinion that it’s one of the better games to win at. You can play conservatively, sticking to outside bets, or lay it all on the line in the classic Vegas gamble- choose one number, say a prayer, and hope for the best. The energies at the table are near none to compare and Roulette tends to embody the one reason many people gamble at all: FUN.

As the name implies, Roulette is French in origin, having come about to existence in the seventeenth century. It’s not only popular in the United States, but also enjoys great esteem in Europe. The original Monte Carlo casino in Monaco credits much of its success to the game of Roulette. Roulette, similarly to Craps, is played on a specially built table. Typically, a standard table can have as many as eight people playing simultaneously. All players are betting against the house, or against the hosting casino. The dealer for this game is called a “croupier;” he manages the bets, the wheel and the ball. Though the European versions of Roulette have a total of 37 slots on the wheel- one for each of numbers 0-36; the American version, however, has a total of 38 slots; it includes a 00 option as well.

Roulette is one of few games that require all gamblers to have differently colored chips, since they are playing on the same table, and may bet on the same numbers if they so choose. The croupier designated colored chips appropriately.

The game itself is simple to understand. The wheel is spun by the croupier in one direction, as the ball is rolled on the outskirts of said wheel in the opposite direction. Friction eventually causes the ball to slow down, as does the wheel, and the ball will drop into one of the 38 (American version) slots, choosing at random the winning number for the round. Rounds are played back to back, with bets being paid out and placed in between. Wagers can be placed while the ball/wheel are spinning, up until the croupier calls “No more bets!” and waves his hand over the table as a physical indicator. When the winning number is chosen, the croupier will place the dolly- a clear plastic marker resembling a large chess piece- on said winning number on the table layout. He will then proceed to collect lost bets and payout winnings appropriately, as players add wagers, or take back their prizes.

Payouts:
• Single number win: 35 to 1
• Two-number/Split bet win: 17 to 1
• Three number bet/ Row bet: 11 to 1
• Corner bet/ 4 numbers: 8 to 1
• Five number bet: 6 to 1
• 2 Row bet: 5 to 1
• Column bet: 2 to 1
• Dozen bet (series 1-12, 13-24, 25-36): 2 to 1
• Even/Odd bet: 1 to 1
• Red/ Black bet: 1 to 1
• 1-18/ 19-36: 1 to 1

Simple enough, isn’t it? In any case it’s fun, but those gamblers who are looking to put their skills to the test, or go head to head with a competitor in a battle of wits might want to look elsewhere for entertainment. Because when it comes down to it, playing Roulette is mostly about luck. There are hot tables and cold tables, just as in craps, but there is no way to predict where the ball will land as long as the materials haven’t been tampered with. Some players will keep to hot tables simply because of the wins, superstitiously hoping luck is contagious. Others prefer to play numbers that haven’t had been won yet, because they think the number is “due.” Still others will play as many as half the numbers on the table, increasing the odds of winnings, but reducing drastically the payout received. No matter the so-called strategies of playing the game, it’s sure to be interesting. Whether you win or lose.
 

Below you will find a glossary of terms for the game of Roulette: Remember, do your research!
 

• A Bet on the Layout- A bet placed on the numbers portion of the table; relates to single, multiples of numbers being wagered on.
• American Wheel- A roulette wheel with 38 slots total, numbers included range from 1 to 36, with the addition of numbers 0 and 00.
• Column bet- To bet on the top or bottom of a column of numbers; the wager applies to all 12 numbers in the column. Payout is 2 to 1.
• Corner bet/ square bet- a wager dividing itself among four number, placed on the cross that separates them.
• Dozen bet- An outside bet that applies to one of three sets of dozen numbers: 1-12, 13-24, 25-36. Payoff is 2 to 1.
• European Wheel- a wheel with a total of 37 slots, numbered 1-36 and an additional slot for the number 0.
• Five number bet- a bet available with an American Roulette Wheel- a wager on numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, 3. Payoff is 6 to 1.
• High or Low bet- an outside money bet that applies to one half of  the available numbers- the high, or the low. High bets apply to 19-36, and low bets refer to 1-18. The words high and low, refer to the placement of the numbers on the table. Payoff is even money, or one to one.
• Inside bet- a bet on the layout of numbers, on the number grid itself. Minimum table bets must be followed.
• Outside bet- A bet on even money wagers, one to one payoffs such as high/low bets or red/black bets, and on two to one wagers, such as dozen or column bets.
• Payout- winnings paid by the casino to the player.      
• Classic bet- also known as a straight, or straight up bet. The wager is placed on a single number only and the payoff is substantial: 35 to 1.
• Split bet- also known as a two-number, a split number bet has its chip(s) placed on the line separating two numbers and applies split between the two if one were to win. Payoff is 17 to 1.