Roulette is one of oldest casino games and its origins could easily be traced to more than a millennium ago when various simplified versions of it existed as a form of entertainment. Today, gamblers have access to dozens of betting systems, strategies, and even cheating devices that promise long-term success to those who dare use them. Still, there are only two simple concepts they need to grasp in order to improve their play and their chances of winning and that is the odds and the casino advantage that is built-in in every roulette game.
The exceptionally high 35:1 payout is the main reason why players want to place an inside bet on the Zero in European Roulette. By contrast, the odds of hitting 0 in roulette are pretty low (2.70%). Yet, those are the highest odds for winning with this type of bet because the American version offers slightly smaller odds (2.60%) due to the. Different types of roulette offer different return to player (RTP) rates. For example, American roulette will reward you with 94.74% RTP. But European roulette has a much more attractive 97.3% RTP. These margins can have a major impact over the long term, so you should consider them every time you head to the casino lobby for online roulette games.
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Knowing the odds is essential in playing roulette or any other game of chance where players’ decisions have no impact on the outcome of the round. Games of skill, in contrast, typically require at least basic knowledge of the rules and give skilled players the opportunity to improve their chances of winning. Unlike classic casino games such as blackjack or poker where individual actions can significantly change the outcome, roulette is a game of pure chance where the outcome is completely random.
Once players recognize this fact, they can truly understand the nature of roulette and learn how to optimize their play to avoid significant losses on the roulette table. Those who want to be successful in the long term need to learn the basic probabilities in this game and determine how likely to win or lose any given bet is. Moreover, all roulette fans should bear in mind that every bet they place is more likely to lose than to win – this is how casinos manage to always make a profit even with the occasional big wins they have to pay out.
So, what is probability and is there a difference between the true odds in roulette and the casino odds offered to players? These are fundamental questions that need to be answered honestly before gamblers sit around the roulette table.
Probability and True Odds
Often, the terms “probability” and “odds” can be confused by even professional casino players. Although they are, indeed, very similar in terms of their usefulness and relevance to evaluating different roulette bets, the two are quite different – at least theoretically.
First of all, players should know that if fair and unbiased, roulette wheels produce random results with every spin. Each of the numbers is equally likely to win or, rather, equally likely to lose. At the same time, for each number from 0 to 36, there are only two possible outcomes – a win or a loss.
Probability
The probability is the likelihood of any given outcome compared to all outcomes that are possible. Expressed as a number, the probability always exists between 0 and 1 – 0 would indicate that something is impossible to occur, while 1 would mean absolute certainty for the outcome. Even chances, for example, would be expressed as a 0.50 probability. In roulette, we have either 37 or 38 numbers in total, so these are all the possible outcomes.
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Let us take the single-zero roulette wheel where for each number, there is only 1 way to win and 36 ways to lose. So what is the probability that the ball will fall on 17 in the next spin, for example? We can calculate it by dividing the number of ways to win by all possible ways – 1/37, which is 0.027. For most people, the probability is easier to understand as a percentage, so we simply multiply the decimal by 100 and we get 2.70%.
True Odds in Roulette
Now that we have established what probability is and how it is determined in roulette, we can compare it to the notion of “odds”. Odds are also used to describe the chance of an event occurring but they compare the number of ways it can occur to the number of ways it cannot occur. The odds of any particular number winning in roulette could be simply displayed as 1:36 or 1/36 where 36 is, once again, the number of ways to lose.
Sometimes, when it comes to expressing the odds of a particular bet in roulette, they would be in reverse, indicating the odds against winning. Using the same example, the odds of the number 17 against winning would be 36:1, or 36 to 1. These are known as “true odds” as compared to what some players refer to as “casino odds”. There is a huge difference between the two terms, but it will be explained in detail in the following section.
To make this even clearer, let us see the odds for probably the most commonly placed bet in roulette – red/black. If we place our chips on red, the probability would be 18 out of 37, while the odds would be 19:18 against us because there would be 19 ways to lose against 18 ways to win. In percentages, the probability would be 18/37 = 0.48648648648, 48.65%.
Casino Odds
When determining whether a roulette bet has good or bad odds, experienced players take into account not only their probability of winning and the true odds but also the potential reward they could bring. Each bet pays out differently, depending on its likelihood of winning – the less likely a given outcome is to occur, the more its potential payout would be. There is a sound logic behind this and in a perfect world where casinos would not have to make a profit, the payout of every bet would be equal to the odds against winning.
Let us take a look at the straight bet in European roulette – the odds against the player here are 36 to 1 (36:1) because as we have already shown above, there are 36 ways for this bet to lose and only 1 way to win. In order to offer a reward that would match the risk, the casino would be expected to pay players 36 to 1. In other words, it would be expected to return the original stake and to pay out winnings that are worth 36 times the amount of the bet.
Casino Odds Additional TipsIn reality, this does not happen, however, and the house gives a slightly lower payout of 35:1 on winning straight-up bets. The idea is that on every winning wager, players pay a small fee to the casino and in this case, it is one unit. The difference does not seem significant but it is how casinos gain their advantage over players – by paying every winner just slightly less than they should have. Over time, this tiny difference makes a large profit for the house and provides a guaranteed income in any possible scenario.
These payouts offered by casinos are sometimes referred to as “casino odds” due to their visible similarity. And while both are expressed as ratios of two numbers, they are never equal – the odds against winning are always slightly higher than the casino odds. The closer the casino odds get to the true odds of any given bet, the lower the advantage of the casino.
Roulette House Edge Explained
Clearly, the payout does not correspond to the true odds of roulette bets. This advantage of the casino over its patrons is called house advantage and can be easily demonstrated with the following example – we bet $1 on the number 17 and win. If given the true odds for this bet (36:1), we would receive our initial $1 stake back plus $36 as a payout. Instead, casinos pay us $35 and the original $1 bet but they keep the $1 difference.
The same concept applies to all bets in the game, which results in an average house edge of 2.70% for single-zero roulette and 5.26% for double-zero roulette. There are several formulas for calculating the house edge but probably the simplest one is the following – we need to subtract the casino odds from the true odds against success and then, to multiply that by the probability of success. So, the formula will look like this:
House Edge = (True Odds – Casino Odds) x Probability
When we substitute with the numbers we have already used for the straight bet, we get – (36/1 – 35/1) x 1/37 = 1×1/37 = 0.02702702702, or 0.027. To express it as a percentage, we multiply by 100 and get 2.70%. Several other formulas exist, but they all eventually come to the same conclusion and percentage for the house edge.
Roulette House Edge Additional TipsWhat this means for the players is that they can expect to lose 2.70% of their wager when playing a single-zero roulette. For every $100 they bet, they would lose on $2.70 on average. Of course, this is a theoretical ratio between the stake and the expected loss but things could be very different in real life. If we place a $100 chip on red, we can either win or lose its entire value. But we cannot win the bet and lose $2.70 at the same time.
So, the house edge can only get closer to reality with hundreds or even hundreds of thousands spins of the roulette wheel. It is a theoretical concept and while this may sound too vague to players, it is a good indicator of how much money they can expect to lose over time. Of course, they might win hundreds of dollars by the end of one gaming session or lose hundreds more in the next one. Still, they are less likely to lose their bankroll if they stick to specific games and bets where the casino has the lowest advantage.
Beating the Odds in Roulette
The idea that by using a complex strategy one could beat the odds in roulette is very popular but equally misleading. There are countless guides, books, and websites dedicated to convincing people that there is a guaranteed method of winning in this game. In fact, various betting systems, often inaccurately called “strategies”, have been developed over the years, as well as ways that would supposedly help players exploit the imperfections of physical roulette wheels and overcome the house edge.
Unfortunately, these methodologies have been repeatedly proven to be inefficient in securing winnings over the long term. Moreover, their short-term usefulness is doubtful and the reason is obvious to most expert-level players – roulette is a game with fixed odds that cannot be changed even with the best strategy. As explained above, the outcome of every spin of the roulette is random and based on probability. The house edge, therefore, also remains the same almost as a proof for the popular saying that the house always wins.
Roulette Strategies
The so-called roulette strategies are, in their essence, betting systems based on a progression where the amount of the stake changes after a certain outcome. Famous methods such as the Martingale or the D’Alembert suggest that you increase your bet after every loss, hoping that, in the end, one winning bet will compensate for all the losses. There are also systems where the bet is decreased, while in others, it remains the same throughout the entire game session. Overall, the idea is to help players minimize their losses or even generate some decent winnings over the long term.
While none of these betting progressions provides a fool-proof way to win, another type of strategies comes with exactly this claim. These strategies are based on the notion that you can increase your chances of winning by covering a large part of the table. Indeed, this sounds logical at first and certain methods even suggest that you should cover much more than 50% of the table. This strategy, however, will be too costly for most players, especially after a few losing spins.
If not used carefully, both betting systems and roulette strategies may “eat up” players’ entire bankroll within a short period of time. Placing neighbor bets or any other type of announced bets could be detrimental to those who are not well prepared to suffer serious losses. In conclusion, even the best methods and combinations of bets cannot aid you in beating the odds and overcoming the built-in casino advantage.
Advantage Play
Some roulette players rely on quite different methods for securing winnings. Known as advantage play methods, these include any strategies that give players either a statistical or a mathematical advantage over the casino. If employed successfully, they can beat the standard roulette odds and even if it is just by a little, it should be enough to provide players with long-term winnings. Unlike the betting strategies and systems described above, advantage play does not revolve around the betting layout but rather, around the wheel.
It can be used in both online and land-based casinos and online, advantage players would try to use special software that records and analyzes the results of hundreds of spins. The aim is to find a pattern in the winning numbers (such as repeating sequences of winning numbers) and then, to use it to make predictions. However, most online casinos nowadays offer roulette games based on RNG (random number generator) so finding patterns would be impossible as the outcome of every spin is random.
When it comes to playing a roulette game with a physical roulette wheel, however, advantage play is much more different. Players who try to use this technique would typically stand by the roulette table for at least 40-50 spins and write down all the winning numbers in the hope that they would be able to spot numbers that come out more frequently than others. In fact, sometimes they observe the wheel for hundreds of spins before they can notice repeating numbers, patterns or some irregularities.
Advantage Play Additional TipsThis method was mostly used in the past when casinos did not have such strict maintenance rules and protocols, while the wheels and other gaming equipment were manufactured in a manner that today would be deemed unacceptable. Players who wish to turn the odds in their favor these days need to be extremely discreet if they plan to observe the wheels before the casino security become aware of them. Exploiting roulette wheels’ bias and imperfections for one’s profit is not usually met with understanding from casinos.
How to Increase Player’s Chances of Winning
There are no reliable ways to actually beat the odds when playing roulette and even if such methods exist, they are neither simple nor acceptable by casino standards. Yet, players can increase their chances of winning by following several basic principles that can be applied to both online and brick-and-mortar casinos.
First of all, choosing a good roulette table is essential and obviously, single-zero roulette games are a much better option than double-zero games, which are mostly offered in casinos across the United States. The house edge in the American-style roulette is twice as high due to the additional sector on the wheel, the green 00. But picking French or European-style roulette variations is just the first step in learning how to maximize players’ expected value.
Second, players should always base their play around wagers with the lowest possible house edge. Of course, the best bets in roulette are the outside bets, which cover large portions of the wheel and require a single chip to be wagered. These include black/red, even/odd, and low/high, where the advantage of the casino is 2.70% while the player’s odds of winning are the highest. It is true that the payouts are not particularly attractive but these bets are less risky options in the game.
When choosing a bet, players need to compare the casino odds to the true odds and find the type of bet where these two as close to each other as possible. Often, the most attractive payouts are offered for bets which the casino pays much less than their actual worth. As a general rule of thumb, players should remember that the less risk they take, the less they can expect to win. All the good payouts, however, come with exceptionally bad odds and require a great tolerance for risk.
Gamblers have enjoyed playing roulette for centuries, with the current form of the game first appearing as far back as the 1700s. Today, it is offered at virtually every casino in the world where table games are available. Roulette is an extremely easy game to learn how to play which is one of the main reasons behind its popularity.
Roulette’s simple rules and straightforward payout structure does come at a cost; the house edge at your average roulette table is higher than almost every other live casino game. The house edge for European Roulette is 2.7% while American Roulette is nearly double that, at 5.26%. It is for this reason that serious gamblers tend to play other table games in lieu of roulette.
Roulette Guide
In the following sections, we’ll be going over everything there is to know about roulette. Read on to learn how to play roulette, odds, payouts and basic strategy.
Roulette Table Setup and Available Bets
One major difference between roulette and every other table game is related to the chips players use to place bets. Unlike popular games such as blackjack, baccarat or craps, roulette chips do not have denominations printed on them. Instead, a roulette table is equipped with anywhere from 6 to 8 different sets which have approximately 300 chips each. When a player arrives at a table and buys in they are given all chips of a certain color. The value of 1 roulette chip is equal to the total amount of the player’s buy-in divided by the number of chips given to them by the dealer.
Roulette is also one of the only table games that uses a wheel, with its closest competitor being the lesser-known Big Six Wheel. A standard roulette wheel is comprised of either 37 (European variations) or 38 (American variations) non-numerically-sequential pockets that are colored black, red or green. The pockets numbered 1-36 alternate between black and red while the 0 and 00 pockets are both green.
Once all bets have been placed down on the table, the game will begin. The dealer will start off by closing all bets and spinning the wheel. Shortly thereafter a small metal ball is spun around the outside of the wheel in the opposite direction. After a few seconds, the ball will fall in a single numbered, colored pocket; this is the winning number/color.
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Roulette Wheel and Betting Options
Adjacent to the numbered wheel, on the table’s felt, there is a somewhat confusing board where all of the available betting combinations are displayed. The board consists of all the numbers that are present on the wheel (either 37 or 38 numbers total) in addition to a few other possible betting options. These other proposition bets include placing a wager on any the following outcomes of a spin:
– The ball landing on a red number
– The ball landing on a black number
– The ball landing on any even number
– The ball landing on any odd number
– The ball landing on “0”
– The ball landing on “00” (American Roulette)
– The ball landing on any number from 1-18
– The ball landing on any number from 19-36
– The ball landing on any number from 1-12
– The ball landing on any number from 13-24
– The ball landing on any number from 25-36
– The ball landing on any number in row 1
– The ball landing on any number in row 2
– The ball landing on any number in row 3
Roulette Odds & Payouts
The payout for winning a wager varies drastically depending on which outcome the player bet on. The highest payout is available when betting on a single number (including “0” and “00”). This pays 35:1 in both American and European variations. The lowest possible payout is 1:1 which is offered for bets placed on odd, even, black or red numbers, as well as any number between 19 to 36 or 1 to 18. A full paytable can be found below:
– “0” (35:1)
– “00” (35:1) *American
– Any single number (35:1)
– Row “0”/”00″ (17:1) *American
– Split ~ any two adjacent numbers (17:1)
– Street ~ any three numbers horizontal (11:1)
– Corner ~ any four adjoining numbers in a block (8:1)
– Top line / Basket (8:1) *European
– Top line / Basket (6:1) *American
– Six line ~ any six numbers from two horizontal rows (5:1)
– Row 1 (2:1)
– Row 2 (2:1)
– Row 3 (2:1)
– 1-12 (2:1)
– 13-24 (2:1)
– 25-36 (2:1)
– Red (1:1)
– Black (1:1)
– Even (1:1)
– Odd (1:1)
– 1-18 (1:1)
– 19-36 (1:1)
American Roulette
As you probably guessed, American Roulette is primarily played in the United States. An American Roulette wheel will have 38 numbered slots which are positioned around the outside of the wheel. It is numbered 1-36 and is joined by a 0 and 00 position. Players are able to bet on the chances that a spin of the roulette wheel will see the ball land on any one of the 38 numbers.
Additionally, players may place “outside” bets where the wager is that the spin of the wheel will see the ball land on any one of a combination of numbers, or the color of the pocket in which the ball rests. For example, placing a wager on “Second 12” means that the bettor is hoping a spin of the wheel will see the ball land on any number between 13 and 24.European Roulette
European Roulette is different than its American counterpart in only a few, subtle ways. For one, the European Roulette wheel only contains a single 0 as opposed to the American variety that has a 0 as well as a 00.
Additionally, European Roulette offers a half-back or “en prison” rule that gives a player wagering a 1:1 bet half of their money back should the ball land on 0. This means that, for example, if a player places a $50 wager on black and the ball settles in the 0 pocket, they will be returned $25. This rule holds true for all 1:1 wagers (red, black, even, odd, 1-18, and 19-36).
Atlantic City rules also give half of a player’s wager back should the ball land in the 0 or 00 pockets. As you can plainly see, Atlantic City Roulette is the perfect mesh of American and European style roulette games.
Electronic and Virtual Roulette
Aside from playing roulette at a live table with a dealer, many land-based casinos now offer electronic roulette terminals. While these tend to be much more popular at casinos that do not have live table games, they are still available at most casinos including many in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
Virtual roulette machines generally offer the same rules and odds as live roulette tables, and some even have a real wheel located in the center of the terminal that is covered by a glass dome. These machines can seat 8 or more players, making it more efficient for casino operators in terms of utilizing space. The most popular electronic roulette machines are made by Novomatic and IGT.
Roulette Basic Strategy
Because the game of roulette is based entirely on chance, there are very few things a player can do to increase their odds of winning a single spin of the wheel. With that being said, however, there are steps a player can take in an attempt to mitigate potential losses.
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Placing Multiple Roulette Bets
A lot of players employ the practice of betting larger amounts on better odds and smaller amounts on wagers where the odds are severely stacked up against you. While this practice gives you no real advantage over the house, it does give you a better opportunity to keep your head above water. For example, a player looking to wager $50 has a much better chance of winning a single bet on black than he or she does placing that same $50 on any single number on the roulette table. Of course, hitting the single number bet is much more profitable than hitting the bet on black, but it is also much less likely to happen.
The only other circumstances in which a player may have an advantage over the house is in the case of a tilted wheel or a predictable dealer. In some instances, a seasoned dealer will roll the ball the exact same way at the exact same time every single spin. If a keen-eyed player is able to notice this, they may have a slightly better chance of winning a given bet than someone who fails to notice a dealer’s consistently repetitive movements. Keep in mind though, this type of scenario rarely happens and is even more rarely caught by the players.Biased Roulette Wheels
Finally, a player may have a greater than normal chance of winning if the roulette wheel is altered, or biased, in some way. Though casinos regularly check their roulette wheels for defects, there have been instances where a player is given a better than normal chance of winning due to something like a worn down wooden track, a tilted wheel, or any other abnormality. Regardless of these possible wheel defects, it can still take thousands and thousands of spins for a player to prove or take advantage of any of them.
Playing Roulette
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Roulette is loved by casino-goers all over the world because of its simplicity. In the same breadth, people tend to avoid roulette tables because it is a game of chance where the player has little to no way of increasing their odds of coming out a winner. The game has a few variations, but they are only slight and just like the game itself, easy to learn. By understanding the rules associated with each roulette variation and knowing the odds of each and every bet, a player can more readily enjoy their time at the wheel.