With so many variations of roulette to enjoy, we decided that a comprehensive guide to American roulette, its history and its evolution to today would benefit our customers.
Roulette has always been synonymous with glitz and glamour; several blockbuster movies (007 comes to mind) have centred around casino life—the crowded roulette table filled with excited players waiting for the metal ball to land on their number.
You can play online roulette in two versions, virtual roulette and live dealer roulette. Both use the same payout, rules and methods used in a brick-and-mortar venue, but the mechanisms used to get a result as online virtual roulette pokies have no ball or physical wheel. Instead, each game’s action is displayed with graphics that simulate the feel and look of a roulette table.
Live online roulette is streamed from a physical studio where games take place in real-time. Live games are hosted by a human croupier who uses a ball and roulette wheel.
A Brief History of American Roulette
As one of the most popular betting games, roulette is prominently featured in every casino offline and in physical venues. In the 19th century, European settlers introduced roulette to America, although the game did not take the US by storm as it did in Europe. Casino proprietors did not like the 5.26% house edge, deciding to increase it. This decision resulted in players losing interest in the game.
In time, the double zero games (00) became the norm as the gambling community rejected the single zero version, and the American form of roulette was born.
American Roulette Explained
Throughout the United States, Asia and the United Kingdom, American roulette is among the most popular casino games online and off, where European and French roulette is more commonly played in Europe.
The American Roulette Wheel
The American roulette wheel consists of 38 pockets ranging from 1 to 36, a single 0, and a double zero (00). The numbers (1 to 36) are coloured red and black (alternating). The single 0 and the double zero (0) are coloured green. All 38 numbers are arranged identically, meaning the ball has an equal probability of falling into any of the pockets.
The American Roulette Table
There is very little difference between the European and American roulette tables. The American table has a double zero (00), whereas the European table has a single zero (0). Some additional types of bets are allowed on the American table, which is the only other significant difference between the two tables.
Roulette tables are manufactured to carry the weight of roulette wheels, which weigh approximately 80kg. The table and the casino floor need to be able to take the wheel’s weight; otherwise, the angle at which the roulette wheel sets is varied. If the roulette wheel sets are mixed, the roulette ball will fall off the track at specific points more often than others.
Most casinos try hard to level their wheels as tilted wheels are easier to beat by professional roulette players.
The Objective of American Roulette
The main objective of American roulette is to predict which numbered pocket (or pockets) the little metal ball will settle in once the wheel has slowed and stopped. Different coloured chips are bought for money; different colours avoid confusion when it is time to make payouts.
All players around the roulette table will make bets based on strategies. Once all bets have been placed on the roulette table, the croupier will spin the wheel in one direction and spins the roulette ball in the opposite direction. Once the wheel slows and stops, the roulette ball will fall into a pocket. Each player who has made a bet on a winning colour will get paid.
All players can place bets, change and remove after the wheel is spun, but not after the croupier stops all betting by calling out “no more bets”. After the croupier has called, no one is allowed to alter their bet.
Types of American Roulette Bets
The table layout has two sections, individual numbers and group bets. Inside bets are made on a single number, small groups of numbers or adjacent numbers. The outside bets are made up of larger groups of numbers.
Inside Bets
- A Straight-Up Bet is placed on any single number (including the single zero (0) and double zero (00). Its payout is 35 to 1.
- A Split Bet is placed on the line of two adjacent numbers (can include the single zero (0) and double zero (00). Its payout is 17 to 1.
- A Street Bet is placed on all three numbers in a row. The bet is placed on the line at the end of the row. Its payout is 11 to 1. Other placement options for the Street Bet can include 0, 1, 2,0, 00, 2, 00, 2, 3.
- A Corner Bet is a group of four numbers placed at the corner where the four numbers touch. Its payout is 8 to 1
- A Five Bet (known as the Sucker Bet) pays out six to1 and features 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. It is placed at the corner by the single zero (0) and 1.
- A Line Bet consists of either six numbers or two rows of three. It is placed at the end of two rows (on the border between the two rows). Its payout is 5 to 1.
Outside Bets
- A Colum Bet is an entire column of numbers placed on the “2-1” box found at the end of a column. Its payout is 2 to 1.
- A Dozen Bet consists of a group of 12 numbers. It is placed on the “1st 12” box (1 through 12), the “2nd 12” box (13 through 24) or the “3rd 12” box (25 through 36). Its payout is 2 to 1.
- You can also bet on a colour featuring all red or black numbers. Its payout is 1 to 1
- Bet on Odd or Even featuring all even or all odd numbers on the layout. Its payout is also 1 to 1.
- The Low or High Bet features all low numbers or all high numbers (either 1 to 18 or 19 to 36). Its payout is 1 to 1.
If the winning number is a single zero (0) or a double zero (00), all of the above outside bets are halved and returned to whoever placed the bets.
In Summary
Roulette remains as popular as ever. A game named after the French word meaning “little wheel”, the game is enjoyed both online and off. It has a fascinating history which goes back centuries, and once you know the different types of bets, you can try out some strategies to see if they work. Alternatively, you could pick an anniversary or a favourite holiday date, as roulette is primarily an exciting game of chance.
