Roulette is a classic game of pure chance, famous for its spinning wheel and high-stakes excitement. The game’s mechanics are simple: a croupier spins a wheel in one direction and sends a small ball rolling in the opposite direction. Players place bets on where the ball will land before it drops into one of the numbered and colored pockets.
Key Mechanics
Roulette wheels come in two main types, which fundamentally change the odds:
- European Roulette: The wheel has 37 pockets: numbers 1 to 36 (alternating red and black) and a single zero (0) pocket (green).
- American Roulette: This wheel has 38 pockets: numbers 1 to 36, a single zero (0), and a double zero (00) pocket (both green).
The single-zero European wheel is generally preferred by players because it offers better odds.
Betting and Odds
Bets are categorized into two main groups: Inside Bets (placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers) and Outside Bets (placed on larger categories like colours, odd/even, or high/low).
For an Inside Bet like a straight-up bet on a single number, the payout is 35 to 1. On a European wheel, the probability of winning is 1/37, or approximately 2.70%.
For Outside Bets like Red/Black or Odd/Even, the payout is 1 to 1 (even money). On a European wheel, the probability of winning a Red/Black bet is 18/37, or approximately 48.65%.
The House Edge
The most crucial concept in roulette is the House Edge (or house advantage), which is the mathematical guarantee of profit for the casino, learn more from https://au.crazyvegas.com/no-deposit-bonus/ website. This advantage exists because the payouts are set as if there were no zero (or double zero) pockets.
- In European Roulette (37 pockets), the House Edge is fixed at 2.70%. This is calculated as 1/37.
- In American Roulette (38 pockets), the House Edge is significantly higher at 5.26%. This is calculated as 2/38 (since the casino has two zero pockets).
This difference is why savvy players always choose the European (single-zero) wheel when available, as it effectively halves the casino’s long-term advantage. For every $100 wagered, the casino expects to keep $2.70 on the European wheel versus $5.26 on the American wheel. This house edge applies to virtually every bet on the board.
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