Roulette is a numbers game. There are three colours thrown in for good measure – the green zero, red and black numbers. Occasionally, you'll see blue substituted for green. It's possible to bet on a single number or up to 37 numbers in European Roulette. In American Roulette, there are 38 numbers, including 0 and 00. Other betting options include even and odds, high and low numbers, and red or black
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The European game of roulette is often called a single zero game. Unlike American Roulette, there is a single 0 in the game, including numbers 1 through 36. The 0 is either green or blue, and numbers 1 through 36 alternate between red and black. American Roulette is the world's most popular roulette variant with numbers 1 through 36 alternating in red or black with 0 and 00 in green or blue.
Note: Despite its popularity, American Roulette has a surprisingly high house edge – almost double that of European Roulette! Thanks to its 0 and 00, it has 38 numbers with a house edge of 5.26%. European Roulette, by contrast, has a single 0 and a house edge of 2.70%.
The game of roulette presents as a leisurely attraction at the casino. Players tend to place a limited number of bets per hour, but the house edge is a little tough to contend with. This is especially true of American Roulette (as listed above).
Let's consider what this means in Canadian dollars (CAD). We can safely assume that the game costs players an average of C$5.26 per every C$100 wagered (long-term). Therefore, European Roulette is preferable at C$2.70 for every C$100 wagered. You should pick European Roulette as your game of choice.
A distinction between the long-term theoretical RTP (Return to Player) and the short-term results has to be made. Just because European Roulette has a house edge of 2.70% and American Roulette has a house edge of 5.26% doesn't mean that's what you can expect during your session of play. Anything goes with Roulette – you can break even, win, or lose.
Note: Back in 1958, the Jones Boys scooped up $32,000 playing Roulette in Las Vegas. Of course, many players have won substantially more than that because big wins are typically associated with larger betting amounts.
Allow me to present you with details of determining the house edge in Roulette. We'll talk about how the house edge is calculated. I will discuss most of the bets, and we will determine the overall house advantage.
It's fascinating, really; there is one option in Roulette that affords players half the house edge at certain casinos with specific bets. I'll get to all of this later on in this guide.
HOW IS THE HOUSE EDGE DETERMINED?
In American Roulette, there are pockets for 0 and 00. Plus, there are also numbers 1 through 36. That's a total of 38 numbers on the wheel. Over the long term, each of these numbers should appear once every 38 spins. The odds of that happening are 1/38, or 2.63%. So if Roulette was fair to players, your payout should be C$37 for every C$1 wagered. But the player also loses C$37 over the long term, which is a break-even contest.
If the long-term edge is zero, the casino will not stay in business. So, it changes the odds to favour the house. With American Roulette, the house edge is 5.26%. That means you'll lose at least 5.26% over the long term, on average. This payback is determined uniquely. The casino only awards players 35:1 on numbers that come up in American Roulette. That means you get C$35 for every C$1 you bet. But, you should get C$37. It's that C$2 differential that makes a world of difference to the casino. If you divide 2 into 38 numbers, the result is 5.26%!
Note: The Pierre Basieux Team managed to win $153,000 in 1981 at Bad Wiessee, Germany.
Certain casino players contend that the 5.26% house edge is the tax levied by the casino on players to enjoy the game. If you want to call it a tax, that's okay with me. Whatever you call it, it's the casino taking money from your payout so that you can play the game. The casino uses that money to pay bills and make a profit. Yes, casinos have bills to pay too!
Now let's switch our attention over to the European Roulette wheel. It operates in much the same way, with a striking difference. In European Roulette, there are only 37 numbers on the wheel. So now, the casino doesn't pay you C$36 for every C$1 that you bet; they pay you C$35. You're only worse off by C$1. That's the money the casino uses to generate profit. This single zero roulette game has a house edge of 2.70%. Divide 1 by 37, and you get 2.70% – the house edge.
You can expect average losses of C$2.70 for every C$100 bet in the long term. Taxes, go figure!
When you place a bet on an individual number in roulette, or if you place bets on multiple numbers, these bets are called inside bets. They are also known as straight bets or straight-up bets. All bets placed in this way are subject to the casino's house edge. It doesn't matter how much money you were betting – whether it's C$100 on one number or C$100 on multiple numbers on the board. The house edge does not change irrespective of the amount of money you are betting.
Note: In 1873, Joseph Jaggers won an incredible $325,000 playing Roulette in the casino in Monte Carlo. Can you imagine what the purchasing power of that money would be today?
It's possible to bet inside by placing a chip on a line that covers two or more numbers. In this fashion, it's not necessary to bet additional money to cover more numbers. The house edge does not change for these types of bets. Below is a combination of inside bets:
* Split bets – Place your chip on the line dividing those numbers for bets on two numbers. Split bets pay 17:1.
* Street bets are also known as side bets, trio, or even 3-number bets. There are many names for this specific bet, but they all refer to the same thing. Players are essentially betting on three numbers. Place the bet on the outside line containing those three numbers. Wins pay 11:1.
*Corner bets – a.k.a., 4 number bets or square bets. This bet is placed where four numbers intersect. Wins pay 8:1.
*Beast bets also go by every other foul name in the book! These bets are placed on the first five numbers hitting. Believe it or not, there is a 7.89% house edge on these bets, and it's only available in American Roulette. Wins pay 6:1, indicating that this is the wrong bet to place. This monster is best avoided!
* The line bet - this bet is also known as the 6-number bet or the six-line bet. It's not called the half-dozen bet, but the roulette payout is 5:1.
Note: back in 1951, a team of players led by Helmut Berlin scooped up $420,000 at Mar del Plato in Argentina.
OUTSIDE PROPOSITION BETS EXPLAINED
If you look around the outside of the roulette betting area, you will see all of these bets. These proposition bets contain many numbers that you can bet on. Regardless, in American Roulette, the house edge is 5.26%, and in European Roulette, the house edge is 2.70%. There is, of course, an exception which I will be discussing later on in this guide. It's worth waiting for, so keep reading!
COLUMN BETS
You are betting that one of the columns will feature the winning number. You place your bet at the bottom of the respective roulette column that contains your chosen numbers. All winning bets pay 2:1. There are three roulette columns. Each column features 12 numbers. Note that 0 and 00 do not feature in the columns – if either of those numbers come up, column bets lose.
DOZENS BETS
This roulette bet is placed on a roulette dozen numbers on the felt. Note that they aren't consecutive numbers on the roulette wheel – they are layout numbers only. Players can place a dozen bets on the First 12, Second 12, or Third 12. Players can bet two of the dozens, not three. Dozen bet payouts are 2:1. Once again, 0 and 00 do not feature in dozen bets, and if they come up, you will lose.
Note: A distinction needs to be drawn between the roulette wheel and the roulette layout. They are not the same thing. The numbers on the roulette wheel do not feature a consecutive order. The majority of numbers are located directly across from one another.
Look at the American Roulette Wheel, European Roulette Wheel, or French Roulette Wheel – you'll see the seemingly random layout of numbers. But the actual layout on the table is presented numerically. Bizarre as that is, many roulette players are unaware that numbers are laid out differently
ODDS & EVENS BETS
As the name suggests, odd and even bets refer to these respective numbers. The roulette wheel features 18 even numbers and 18 odd numbers. But, two other numbers are neither odd nor even – 0 and 00. If you bet on odds & evens and the zeros come up, you lose. All winning bets pay even money: 1:1. The house edge stays the same because 0 and 00 work against you.
RED OR BLACK BET
Red or Black bets are even-money bets that pay 1:1. Players select a number – red or black – that will hit. The roulette wheel features 18 red numbers and 18 black numbers. How does the casino retain a house edge? There are 0 and 00 to contend with – these are neither red nor black. In fact, the zeros are usually green or blue.
HIGH OR LOW BET
Players can bet on low numbers – 1-18, or on high numbers – 19-36. These even money bets automatically lose if any of the zeros come up.
There are 18 ways to win and 20 ways to lose in American Roulette on all even money bets, high or low bets included. The 20 losing ways are the opposite bets + the zeros. In European Roulette and French Roulette, there are 18 ways to win and 19 ways to lose. That's because there is just a single zero.
Note: Richard Jarecki won $1,280,000 in Monte Carlo and San Remo in 1971.
TWO NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS
Remember the beast? This bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 has an insane house edge of 7.89%. That means you can expect to lose C$7.89 for every C$100 that you bet. Besides that bet, the house edge on all American and European Roulette games doesn't change. However, certain casinos offer players a better advantage with even-money bets. The benefit can be so good that you can slash the house edge in half!
THE SURRENDER OPTION
Certain casinos offering American Roulette may only take 50% of your losing even-money bets if the 0 or 00 lands. If you place a C$100 bet, you will only lose C$50 on even money selections if 0 or 00 lands.
It sure is a good thing! This reduces the house edge on American Roulette from 5.26% down to 2.63%.
Often the surrender option is not advertised at the casino, but you should always ask the dealer for it.
It's always good when you're playing roulette on the even money bets with the surrender option.
EN PRISON RULE
French Roulette is a single-zero game which features a unique rule known as En Prison. This can dramatically reduce the house edge – by as much as 50%. If the single green or blue zero lands, all even money bets lose, BUT this rule will keep player bets in prison until the next spin. This bonus bet reduces the house edge to just 1.35%. With En Prison, the single-zero roulette game features the best roulette bets at the casino – hands down.
Like the American Roulette surrender option, it's silly not to place bets on even-money selections with the single-zero roulette game. But, of course, you should always ask the casino ahead of time if they allow this type of bonus.
Note: As high rollers, the casino may even allow you to place even money bets with En Prison or Surrender in effect. Certain casinos offer cashback to high-rollers!
SUMMARY OF ROULETTE BETS & NUMBERS
We have said it before, and we will repeat it – Roulette is a numbers game. The numbers include the size of your bankroll and your bets. It would help if you always stay abreast of the action – your wins and losses – and never get in over your head. When you become over enthusiastic, you might start betting recklessly.
Note: Between 1986 – 1989, Billy Walters Team won a staggering sum of money – $4,810,000 in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
I wish you good fortune in and out of the casinos, wherever you play!
