Online Roulette Games

Roulette- Place your bets!
The genuine appeal of the Roulette wheel is its attraction to both amateur and professional player alike. Once hooked, you'll never tire of watching that spinning ball run round the wheel.

History
As with many of the classic casino games, Roulette originated in France in the 18th century. The name of the game actually comes from the French for little wheel.

Early versions of the game that developed in the United States show a wheel with numbers ranging from 1 to 28, plus a single 0, double 0, and an American eagle. The idea of the zero, double zero and American eagle was for the house to clear the winnings off the table declaring everyone a loser (except the bank...).

In the 19th century, the game gained popularity throughout Europe, where it became one of the most popular of all casino games. Toward the end of the 19th century, the main center of European Roulette grew up around the French Riviera town of Monte Carlo. This gambling Mecca became the gambling destination for coronets and kings the world over. Europe discarded the double zero, which set the global standard everywhere except the United States, where the double zero persisted. However, the American style table which added a simplified betting layout using either the single or double zero wheel, now appears in most casinos around the world.

Objective
Simply put, the objective of Roulette is to predict into which slot of the Roulette wheel the ball will land at the end of each spin. Players place their bets against the house, which is normally represented by a dealer, or croupier who spins the wheel and handles the chip placement and payouts. The European game contains 37 slots - one for each number from 1 to 36, and a slot for zero. The American game contains and extra slot for the double-zero slot.

Betting
Before each spin of the wheel, players place their bets on the various betting options on the Roulette board. These include (for the European board). Number: Bet on one of the 37 numbers. Payout is 35:1.
Color: Bet on red or black number. Payout is 1:1.
First 12/Second12/Third 12: Bet on first, second or third dozen. Payout is 2:1.
First, second, or third column. Payout is 2:1.
Odd/Even: Odd or even number. Payout is 1:1.
1st 18/2nd 18: Bet on numbers 1 to 18, or 19 to 36. Payout is 1:1.

Number splits enable the player to gamble on groups of numbers. These include:
Split (two numbers): One chip covers two adjoining numbers. Payout is 17:1.
Trio/Street (three numbers): One chip covers three horizontal numbers. Payout is 11:1.
Corner: One chip covers four adjoining numbers. Payout is 8:1.
Five Number Bet: Payout is 6:1.
Six Line: Payout is 5:1.

Figure 1: European Roulette Table

Tips and Tricks
If you are going to use a system, make sure it is a free one. Never pay for someone else's system.
Reserve your initial stake. If you start playing with $25, and you make some winning bets, put your initial stake in your pocket.
Where possible, play the European Roulette board. The difference to the US board is only small, but why give the casino even more of an edge?
A busy table is a slow table. Look to play on a table with only 3-4 players.

Roulette Terms and Definitions