Roulette is a casino game that offers glamour, mystery and excitement to players. It is a simple game that relies entirely on chance, and yet it has a depth that can offer serious players the opportunity to gain an edge. The game has been around since the 17th century and is known for its beauty, mystery and a certain amount of luck to those who choose to play it.
Before you start playing, familiarize yourself with the rules of roulette and its different types of bets. Each bet has a specific payout, and the odds of winning or losing vary depending on which type of bet you place. Each table carries a placard that describes the minimum and maximum bets, so you should know what your budget is before you begin playing.
Once all players have placed their chips, the dealer (called a croupier in the game of roulette) will spin the wheel and throw a small ball into one of the pockets that correspond to a number or type of bet. When the ball comes to rest, if you made a bet on that number or type of bet, then you have won.
The Dozens Bet: Also known as a partage in French, this bet places your chip(s) on the outside border of a grouping of numbers. You can bet on the first dozen, the second dozen or the third dozen. If the winning number is in the corresponding dozen, you win. If the number is in a 0 or a 00, you lose. This is an even money bet that pays 1-1.
The Line Bet/Three Number Bet/Six-Line Bet: This is another bet that offers a high payout if you win, but it is more conservative than placing your chips on individual numbers. You place your chips to straddle the line between two rows of three consecutive numbers on the roulette layout. If any of these numbers win, you get a payout of 5-1.
When you’re ready to bet, purchase a colored roulette chip from the dealer. Each player gets a different color, which helps distinguish them at the table and prevent cheating by using the same color for multiple bets or betting on different areas of the wheel.