Matthew French

Roulette - a complete beginners guide

Roulette is one of the oldest and most popular casino games around. Many people state the game began in France in the 17th century, and the word roulette actually derives from the French word for "small wheel". Today roulette is one of the main attractions at casinos and is a haven for gamblers wanting to try their luck and strike it rich.

Variations of Roulette

To my knowledge there are only two types of roulette. The first is known as European and the second is known as American. Both are played with slightly different wheels.

European Roulette – the European version of the wheel contains 37 numbers: 0, and 1 to 36. With only one zero (0), the house edge is 2.70%. This suggests that every time £100 is bet, the house will gain approximately £2.70.

American Roulette – the American version of the wheel contains 38 numbers: 0, 00 and 1 to 36. With the additional zero (00) this means the house advantage is increased by roughly 2.56% from the European version, resulting in a house edge of 5.26%. In real terms this suggests that every time £100 is bet, the house will gain £5.26.

The main difference between the two games is obviously the additional zero present on the American wheel, but there are other differences when playing the game at a casino. Traditionally American roulette uses different colour chips so players can distinguish which bet is which. The European game however uses only one colour for all players and relies on the memory of the player to know which chips on the table belong to them. In addition, croupiers in European roulette use a long stick, called the Rake, to sweep the chips off the table. In the American version of the game however, the dealers use their hands and arms when sweeping in all the chips.

Roulette the game basics

When playing Roulette you play against the house rather than other players. The house is represented by the croupier. It is usual for the game to be played by up to eight people. The game is played by spinning a roulette wheel which either has 37 or 38 slots depending on the version of the game you are playing. The croupier sets a white ball spinning in the opposite direction of the wheel and when the momentum of the ball slows down it will drop into a slot that denotes a certain number. Before the croupier spins the wheel players are asked to place their bets, this is achieved with the use of coloured chips and by placing them on the table layout. Players put down their chips on the outcome/s they think will come true such as particular numbers. Once betting is over the wheel will be spun, the winners are determined by which slot the ball lands. So if you bet 32 in the table layout and the ball lands on the number 32 slot of the roulette wheel, you win.

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