How to win at a casino, or what roulette can teach those who don’t like gambling. Rules for playing roulette in accessible language for beginners System of playing roulette "Thomas Donald - Nathanson"


It is one of the most famous games in online casinos, and it is known in three main formats - American, French and European.

The most important principle of this game is that the result is absolutely random - it does not depend on either strategy or system. In order to determine the winning numbers on the field, the ball is thrown into a spinning wheel and wait until it stops. When the wheel stops, the ball remains in one of the boxes behind a certain number. This is how the winner number is determined.

European and American roulette wheel

In European video roulette, the wheel contains numbers from 0 to 36, while the American wheel includes a double zero. Each number is marked in red or black, with the exception of zero and double zero. These numbers are indicated in green and are often called “home” numbers because players bet on them extremely rarely, and therefore when zeros are rolled, only bets placed on these numbers win, and all other bets lose. American roulette includes two house numbers, while European roulette only has one. Thus, if you have a choice, it is worth making it in favor of European roulette, since the house edge in this version of the game is lower.

Bets in classic roulette rules

To play roulette, you must choose your bet according to the rules of the game. There are several common bet types:

  • Even/Odd: You can bet that an even or odd number will be drawn. This bet pays out 1:1.
  • Red and black: This is a bet on color instead of number. It is paid 1:1.
  • First half and second half: It's exactly what it sounds like. This is a bet that a number will be either 1-18 or 19-36 and pays 1:1.
  • Dozens\Columns: You can bet on the first, second or third column, or you can bet on the first, second or third dozen. These roulette bets pay out 2:1.
  • Bet on six numbers: This bet is made by placing a chip on the line between two rows of numbers on the left side of the column. She bets on two rows of numbers and pays out at odds of 5:1.
  • Bet on five numbers: This is an unusual bet, which, according to the rules of the roulette game, can only be made at the American table. This is a bet on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 - it pays out 6:1.
  • Bet on four numbers: There are two types of this bet. In European roulette, this is a bet on 0–3. The second type involves placing a chip on the intersection angle between four numbers. Both types of bets pay out 8:1.
  • Bet on three numbers: This bet is placed on a series of numbers and pays out at 11:1.
  • Bet on two numbers: A two number bet is placed on the line between two numbers and is paid out at odds of 17:1.
  • Room rate: This bet is called “Straight-Up”. You simply place a chip on the number you want, and if you win, the casino pays out 35 to 1.

Traditional roulette

In real casinos, you will play roulette with a group of people. Each person uses chips of an individual color. After everyone has finished placing their bets, the dealer announces that you cannot place any more bets and spins the roulette wheel and ball. The ball gradually loses its speed and stops in one of the cells of the wheel, thus determining the winning number. The dealer removes all the losing chips and pays out the winnings to the winning players according to the roulette rules.

The difference between roulette rules in online casinos

It is important that the rules of roulette themselves do not differ from playing in a real casino. In online casinos for real money, the process is slightly different. For example, spinning takes an incredibly short time, but you are shown spinning, thereby increasing the tension. The casino automatically pays out the winning bet, which may mean you miss it without noticing that you won. To avoid this problem, most online casinos report winnings in a separate area of ​​the screen.

However, live dealer roulette solves most of these problems. Try them and you will feel the same excitement as in a real casino using the classic rules of roulette.

The roulette wheel occupies a central place in any casino and for many symbolizes all types of gambling. Playing roulette is very simple, and you don’t need to know many rules to get started. Once you understand the game, you may want to know more about the special rules and bets. Since the advantage is always on the casino's side when playing roulette, you should practice playing for free as much as possible so that you have a clear understanding of this activity before playing for money.

How to play

The most important thing in roulette is the drum with numbers from 0 to 36 and the steel ball. In a land-based casino, players typically stand around a roulette table and place bets until the dealer slows down the spin of the reel. As soon as the spinning ball stops and lands in a cell with some number, the winner becomes known. In an online casino this happens automatically, but the process and feel of the game is the same. You place a bet, then press a button to stop the wheel and find out whether you have won or not.

Roulette bets

The most difficult bet when playing roulette is the number bet. If this bet wins, you will walk away with the biggest winnings. Betting on a number is tempting, but many people prefer to play less risky by using other bets. Many bets are named after the position they occupy on the roulette table. You can bet on a color (red or black), on 2 numbers, on one or two rows, on four numbers, on collective groups of numbers, on even or odd.


Different types of roulette games

There are two main types of roulette – European and American. The only difference between them is that the American roulette wheel has an additional cell, double zero. This makes American roulette even more difficult to win, and hence most roulette strategies will advise you to choose the European version. You can also encounter French roulette and special progressive versions of the game in online casinos. French roulette is similar to European roulette with a slight difference in the table layout.

Special rules

Roulette rules are usually the same in any casino, but sometimes you can find roulette with special rules that make the game more attractive. The "Surrender" rule allows a player to take back half of their bet if the ball lands on a zero or double zero. This applies to even-money bets. Another important rule is the “En Prison” rule. It is similar to the “Surrender” rule in that it applies when the ball hits a zero. If you get a zero on the roulette wheel, the rule allows you to save your bet to participate in the next drawing. When playing progressive roulette, you need to make sure that you are making the right bets to win.

Basic rules of playing roulette

Purpose of the game

The dealer throws the ball onto the spinning wheel, in the direction opposite to its rotation. The ball, having made several turns in a spiral, falls into a special “pocket” or recess with numbers printed on it.

Players have the opportunity to:

  • Guess which number will come up.
  • Place a bet on several numbers, a combination.
  • Guess the characteristics of the next number (Black/Red, Even/Odd, Big/Small).
The size of the payout depends on how the bets were placed.

Players can make several bets at the same time, combine different types of bets, the only limit is the maximum possible bet on a specific gaming table.

A game

Players play against the casino (gaming house), which is represented by the dealer.
Being at the game wheel, the dealer controls the entire course of the game:

  • Exchanges money for chips (or regular chips for roulette chips).
  • Spins the wheel and throws the ball.
  • Announces winning numbers (number, color, etc.)
  • Collects losing bets and pays out winnings.
In some casinos, depending on the intensity of the game and the number of players, the croupier works in tandem with an assistant who takes on some of the functions.

Rates

After purchasing chips from the dealer or at the casino cash desk, players place bets. If the player cannot reach the desired position on the gaming table, the dealer places the chips for the player.

Bet sizes

And so the Game

The dealer spins the wheel and throws the ball in the opposite direction. Players have the right to place bets until the Croupier announces “No more bets”, “Rien ne va plus”), usually within the last three spins.

As soon as the ball lands on a number, the dealer announces it and places a special marker (“dolly” or “loula”) on the playing field, indicating that number.

After this, the dealer collects the losing bets and pays out the winnings.

Roulette is an extremely simple game. Its rules are remembered the first time. The game consists of a table, a betting field and a spinning wheel. You will also need a ball jumping on the sockets of this wheel. The roulette sectors are numbered not in order, but scattered. Numbering is from one to thirty-six, there is also a “zero” sector. Cells with numbers are colored black and red, and “zero” cells are colored green.

On the playing field, numbers from one to thirty-six are grouped into three columns, each of which consists of a dozen numbers. “Zelo” is located on top of the one, two and three.

A player can place bets in roulette on a specific number, on a color, on even/odd, on a whole column of numbers, etc. The most varied selection of bets at online roulette.

European roulette and its rules

European roulette is considered a classic version of this game. Its rules completely coincide with those described above. There are thirty-seven sectors on the roulette sector - numbers from one to thirty-six and one “zero”. According to the rules of European roulette, a player is allowed to bet not only on specific numbers, but also on even/odd, red/black, over/under. This type of bet in the gambling world is usually called bets on even odds. If you are looking, then look in the RuNet casino.

Features of American Roulette

The American version of the game is slightly different from the classic European version, in particular the presence of a “double zero” sector, which increases the advantage of the gambling establishment over the visitor. The location of the sectors for bets will also be slightly different. Bets on dozens are located near the columns, followed by bets on even chances. The “zero” and “double zero” sectors are located above the columns. Bets on individual numbers are located at the bottom of the field. - it's simple, don't doubt it.

French roulette

French roulette is perhaps the most preferred and profitable version of this game for gamblers. But, unfortunately, not every casino offers it. Why is playing French roulette more profitable than its other varieties? The fact is that if the “zero” sector appears in French roulette, the player does not lose the entire bet (as is customary in European or American roulette), but only fifty percent of it. That is, the player will get half of his bet back.

Types of bets in roulette

After the croupier launches the ball into the roulette wheel, the start of bets is announced. You can do them until the dealer says the phrase “Bets are closed!” (Or something like that). Next, the ball stops in a certain cell of the wheel, the dealer marks it as a winner and makes payments on the client’s bets. The winning bet on the field cannot be touched. The dealer himself will give the winner his chips. Let's see what bets in roulette can be and what they are called, because their variety is quite large.

  1. A bet on one specific number is Strait Up.
  2. Bet on two numbers - Split.
  3. Bets on three numbers and the “zero” sector.
  4. Bet on four numbers - Corner.
  5. A bet on three numbers from a transverse row - Street.
  6. A bet on six numbers from transverse rows - Six Line.
  7. A bet on the first four numbers, including zero - First Four.

The bets listed above in roulette are usually called internal bets. Accordingly, bets on over/under, red/black, dozen, even/odd, column are called external.

Brief summary

If you want to spend your time on some not too complicated but interesting game, feel free to go to the casino and choose roulette there. Of course, it is advisable to find a gambling establishment that offers the French version of roulette, because it is more profitable. However, if you are Fortune’s favorite and today is your day, luck can smile even in American roulette, which is much less favorable to average players.

Roulette consists of a special wheel with holes for each of the 37 numbers and a marked field for players to bet on.

During the game, a ball, usually made of ivory or Teflon, is launched along the inner groove of the roulette wheel. And the roulette wheel is made in such a way as to reduce rotational friction to a minimum and thereby eliminate the possibility of a pattern in the appearance of numbers. Among the ignorant part of the players (and not only the players, but also some casino employees) there is an opinion that an experienced dealer can, at will, launch the ball in such a way that it falls into the desired number or sector of roulette numbers. Professionals understand that this is only possible if the wheel has a physical defect. A well-made roulette is an almost perfect random number generator.

On the roulette wheel, the numbers are not arranged in a mathematical sequence, but in a special unique order: 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26.

Moreover, 18 digits are black: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11,13,15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29,31, 33, 35.

18 red numbers: 1, 3,5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36.

Zero has no color meaning.

In addition to the fact that the numbers are divided into red and black, 18 of them are even, 18 are odd; 18 - small, 18 - large. You can bet on all these differences, which are called

1. Bets “On equal chances” (English: Even chances; French: Chance Simple).

Odds of winning: 18 to 19. Probability: 0.4865. Winnings are paid 1:1. The chip is placed on the playing field with the corresponding bet designation.

Roulette bets are not limited to even odds.

2. Bet “On one number” (English: Straight; French: En Plein)

Odds of winning: 1 to 36. Probability: 0.0270. In case of winning, the bank pays the bet 35:1. The chip is placed on the field indicating the selected number. In particular, it is possible to bet on zero.

3. Bet “On two numbers” (English: Split; French: A Cheval)

The odds of winning are 2 versus 35. Probability: 0.054. The bank pays if you win 17:1. The chip is placed on the line separating the two numbers. It is also possible to bet on a combination of zero with any of the numbers in the first row: 0-1, 0-2 or 0-3.

4. Bet “On four numbers” (English: Corner; French: En Carre)

The odds of winning are 4 vs. 33. Probability: 0.108. The bank pays if you win 8:1. The chip is placed on the corner between the four numbers.

5. Bet “On the transverse row” (English: Street; French: Transversale plein)

There are three numbers in the transverse row. The odds of winning are 3 to 34. Probability: 0.081. The bank pays if you win 11:1. The chip is placed on a vertical line that limits the row to the right or left.

6. Bet “On a transverse row plus zero” (English: First Four; French: Transversale a 4 numeros)

Cross row plus zero – four numbers. The odds of winning are 4 vs. 33. Probability: 0.108. The bank pays if you win 8:1. The chip is placed on the angle between the first transverse row and zero.

7. Bet “On three numbers including zero”

You can bet on a combination of zero and two numbers in the first row (0-1-2 or 0-2-3). The odds of winning are 3 to 34. Probability: 0.081. The bank pays if you win 11:1. The chip is placed on the angle between two numbers and zero.

8. Bet “On two transverse rows” (English: Six-Line; French: Transversale Simple)

There are six numbers in two adjacent transverse rows. The odds of winning are 6 vs. 31. Probability: 0.162. The bank pays if you win 5:1. The chip is placed on the corner between the rows.

9. Bet “On a dozen” (English: Dozen: French: Douzaines)

You can bet on any of the three dozens: the first (numbers 1–12), the second (numbers 13–24) and the third (numbers 25–36). The odds of winning are 12 versus 25. Probability: 0.324. The bank pays if you win 2:1. The chip is placed on the field indicating the selected dozen.

10. Bet “On a column” (English: Column; French: Colonnes.)

Each of the three columns has 12 numbers. The odds of winning are 12 versus 25. Probability: 0.324. The bank pays if you win 2:1. The chip is placed on the field under the selected column.

Amount of bets

Each roulette table has a sign indicating the minimum and maximum bets allowed on that table for each type of bet. The range of possible bets varies from table to table and from casino to casino. The lowest bet per number is usually between $1 and $5. Bets on two, three, four or six numbers are approximately the same. However, bets on even odds, a dozen or a column are usually higher: at least $25. The largest bets are accepted in VIP rooms: for example, in the VIP room of the Moscow casino “Cosmos” the maximum bet on one number is $300, on a dozen or a column – $3000, on equal chances – $6000.

Verbal bets

Many casinos allow you to make verbal bets: you tell the dealer what specific bet you want to make, give him the necessary chips, and he places them on the playing field. Of course, you save your time, but oral bets are not at all arbitrary. On the contrary, they are not at all similar to those that have already been considered. They can only be done on individual numbers, and these numbers must be located “neighborhood” on the roulette wheel.

The roulette wheel diagram is shown in the following figure.

The wheel is divided into three sectors: voisant de zero (or simply voisant), orphelin (this sector consists of two areas) and tier. In addition, the zero-spire area is highlighted on the wheel, which is included in the voisin sector.

Bet on a number and two neighbors

This is actually a bet on five neighboring numbers: the number you choose is added to the two neighbors on the left and two neighbors on the right. For example, a bet “on 16 and two neighbors” is a bet on the numbers 5, 24, 16, 33, 1. Typically, such a bet costs at least $50 - $10 for each of the five numbers.

Bet on a number and four neighbors

The number you choose is added to four neighbors on the left and four on the right. For example, a bet on “36 and four neighbors” is a bet on nine numbers 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23. The usual value of such a bet is $90.

Bet on voisant

This is a bet on the numbers included in the voisin. Its value is usually $90. Of these, $20 will be placed by the dealer on 0-2-3 (a bet on three numbers, including zero), $10 each on 4-7, 12-15, 18-21, 19-22, 32-35 (five bets on two numbers), as well as on numbers 25, 29 (two bets on one number).

Bet on orphelen

Bet on numbers in the Orphelen sector. Its usual value is $50. This amount is divided equally into five bets: 6-9, 14-17, 17-20, 31-34 (four bets on two numbers), 1 (one bet on one number).

Tier bet

Bet on numbers in the tier sector. Typically $60. The dealer will distribute this amount between six bets on two numbers: 5-8, 10-11, 13-16, 23-24, 27-30, 33-36.

Zero pin bet

A bet on numbers included in the zero pin. Usually $40. This amount is divided into four bets: 0-3, 12-15, 32-35 (three bets on two numbers), 26 (one bet on one number).

In the same game you can make a wide variety of bets and combine them in any order. For example, if you wish, you can bet on black, on a dozen, on two transverse rows and on some individual numbers. Payments at various rates reflect a simple but strictly verified system.

Let's say you always play for red with a bet of 100 rubles. Numbers from 1 to 36 (among them 18 red and 18 black) and zero (zero), which has no “color”, take part in the drawing. Therefore, you should expect that 18 times out of 37 you will win, and 19 times you will lose. Since winnings are paid out in a 1:1 ratio, the expected loss after 37 spins of roulette is 100 rubles.

The situation is exactly the same with all other types of bets. Let’s take, for example, the bet “On a cross row”. In 3 cases out of 37 you will win 11 times the bet, in 34 cases the bet will be lost. The same expected losses after 37 launches – 100 rubles. In other words, each time you spin roulette, the average loss is 1/37 of your bet.

The reason for everything, of course, is zero - the 37th number on the roulette wheel. Zero does not refer to red or black, even or odd. And although you can bet on zero and even win, this does not change the overall picture. 1/37th of the bet (approximately 2.7%) is nothing more than the “yield” or “commission” retained by the casino for participating in the game. Payouts for bets on roulette are balanced so that for any type of bet this indicator remains the same.

To play roulette, both price tokens, which are used at all casino gaming tables, and special color roulette chips are used. Game colored chips are marked on a special tree (marker tree) and have value only at a specific gaming table. Each player can only play with one color so that the dealer can control the game and know who owns the winnings.

First, the croupier invites players to place bets, after which he spins the roulette wheel and launches the ball from the last winning number in the direction opposite to the movement of the wheel. While the ball is spinning, players place bets. Approximately three circles before the ball falls, bets stop being accepted. None of the bets can be placed, changed or withdrawn. After the ball falls, the croupier announces the winning number and marks it on the roulette field with a special marker - dolly. He clears the field of losing bets, after which he pays all winning bets. After this, the game cycle repeats.

2. American roulette

Roulette consists of a special wheel with holes for each of the 38 numbers, where 18 numbers are red, 18 are black, as well as zero and double zero, which have no color meaning. The numbers on the roulette wheel are arranged in a special order: 0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27 , 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2. Bets similar to those discussed above are made on a specially marked roulette field. All bets can be made in any size and quantity, but not less than the minimum and not more than the maximum on a specific gaming table. If a zero or double zero is rolled, all bets on dozens, columns and even odds are lost.

The house edge when playing American Roulette is 5.26%.