|
  HISTORY
Roulette,
translated as "small wheel" is the most popular game of chance
in Europe. A very primitive version of roulette was introduced
in the 17th century by the French scientist, Blaise Pascal.
It is said that this was a by-product of his perpetual motion devices.
Frenchmen Francois and Louis Blanc invented the single "0" roulette
game in 1842. Because gambling was illegal in France during this
time, the game was introduced in Hamburg, Germany where it became
very popular and replaced an earlier version that featured higher
odds. At a later date, Francois and his son Camille were responsible
for bringing the game of roulette back to southern France for the
Prince of Monaco, Charles III. As a result, the lavish, world-famous
resort of Monte Carlo was developed. When roulette came to the
U.S. in the early 1800s, the improvements were deleted, and a double "00" returned.
The game became popular in the old west of America during the California
Gold Rush.
AMERICAN
ROULETTE
In American Roulette, the perfectly balanced roulette wheel consists
of 38 identical slots, individually numbered from 0, 00, 1 through
36. In total, 38 numbers are represented on the betting layout.
On the standard roulette wheel the numbers are not arranged consecutively.
By design, they alternate between red and black and exactly opposite
each other number is the corresponding higher and lower number.
Look straight across one side of the wheel to the other and you
will see that the O is opposite the 00, 1 is opposite the 2, and
so on up to the 35 being directly opposite the 36. All red numbers
are opposite the black numbers.
The
roulette wheel is kept spinning all the time and sped up
once a game is about to begin. The croupier rolls
a little ivory ball along the inner edge of the wheel in
the opposite direction of its spin. As the wheel turns, the
ball loses momentum and it bounces among the slots and finally
falls into one of the numbered slots. Bettors can place their
bets right up until the time the wheel slows down and the
ball drops into place. The number that the ball rests on
is the declared as the winning number for that game.
One
to six players can be seated at the roulette table. Roulette
is the only game in the casino where players purchase special
non-value roulette chips, each player with their own color
so that the dealer can tell the bets apart. These chips must
be cashed in at the roulette table before leaving. The chips
have a set value depending on the minimum bet set at the
table, but a player may request whatever value he wishes
for his chips. The dealer will then specify the worth of
that particular colored chip by mating a sample chip which
is placed upon the rim of the wheel. Players may also bet
larger amounts by using $1, $5 and $25 regular casino chips.
If you are unsure of the procedures and the minimum bets
at any table, the dealer, should be glad to explain the casino's
policy for roulette wagers.
TYPES
OF BETS
There are a total of nine types of roulette bets that can be made,
six of them being inside bets and three of them
being outside. The house sets the minimum and maximum
betting limits separately for inside and outside bets.
The
following are inside bets:
| • |
The
Straight-Up Bet: The player is betting that one number
will come up. Any number can be bet, including 0 and 00.
The payoff is 35:1. |
| • |
The
Split Bet: Players are betting that one of two numbers
come up. Bets are placed to overlap the two numbers. Payoff
is 17:1. The 0 and 00 bet can be made to overlap the two
numbers or placed on the line separating the second and
third dozen. It is the only bet that can be made at two
places on the layout. |
| • |
The
Street Bet: Players are wagering that one of three
numbers will come up. Bets can be made at several different
places: at the end of the line and three bets involving
0 and 00. A winning bet pays 11:1. |
| • |
The
Corner Bet: Players are betting that one of four numbers
will come up. Bets are placed at the intersection of the
four numbers. The payoff is 8:1. |
| • |
The
Five-Number Bet: There is only one five-number bet
on the layout: 0, 00, 1 2, and 3. The payoff is 6:1. It
is the worst bet on the table, with a house edge 50 percent
higher than any other bet. This bet does not exist on the
European game since there is no "00." |
| • |
The
Line Bet: The player is betting that one of six numbers
will come up. Bets are placed on the intersection of the
two lines of three numbers. The payoff is 5:1. The three
outside bets are outside of the 00,0 and 1-36 playing area. |
| • |
Even
money: there are three types of even-money bets and
they pay 1:1. You can place a bet on high (19-36)or low(1-18)
numbers, bet on red or black, or bet on odd or even. |
| • |
Column: a
column bet is wagered on 12 numbers contained in any one
of the three long columns of numbers, with a payoff of 2:1 |
| • |
Dozen
bets: Like the column bet, the roulette table is divided
into three sets of 12, the first(1-12), the second(13-24),
and third(25-36). These bets also pay at a ratio of 2:1. |
Bets
are paid from the outside in. The dealer will pay the bets
furthest away from him and work in, until he gets to the
inside bets which are paid last. Some casinos use the en
prison rule when a zero or double zero occurs. With
this rule all even-money bets are either held or one-half
is taken, depending upon the outcome of the next spin The
house edge is set at 5.26%, resulting from the player receiving
odds of 35 to 1 rather than the true odds of 1 in 36 or 37
to 1.
EUROPEAN ROULETTE
The European roulette wheel with its single 0 has a house edge
of only 2.70%. The player has a 1 in 37 chance of winning and still
gets paid 35 to 1.
The
procedures at the European table are slightly different than
the American game. While American dealers sweep the layout
with their hands and arms, European croupiers use a long
stick known as the rake to sweep in all bets.
In Europe, roulette games do not use the non-value chips.
All players use the standard casino chips, which can cause
great confusion when there are a multitude of bets on the
layout. If you're playing in Europe, you have to be wary
of exactly what you have bet.
Play Roulette now.
Something you don't understand? Search through our glossary of gambling terms.
|
