One of the most popular casino games of all time, roulette is a game of chance that doesn’t require particular skills to be played. The roulette wheel has been popular since its invention in the late XVIII century. Kings, rulers, and other members of the elite have enjoyed roulette for centuries, and bit by bit, it made its way to the common folk.
Roulette’s popularity is undying. There’s a certain thrill of spinning the casino wheel which other games can’t replicate. No matter if you’re playing in Vegas or online, every roulette game offers unbridled fun. It’s quite simple to play as well. Newbies can enjoy a few low-limit rounds and win their money back with a profit, while high rollers can up the stakes and win amazing sums of money.
The first form of roulette originated in XVIII century France, probably modeled after the XV century Italian game of Biribi. It was probably discovered by accident while Blaise Pascal researched perpetual motion machines. As soon as it was introduced to the public, the roulette wheel took the world by storm. The wheel featured two house pockets (zero and double zero) which were painted red and black. To avoid confusion, the pockets were colored green at the beginning of the 1800s and it stayed like that to this day.
Even if you have never played a game in a casino, you probably know what the roulette wheel looks like. There are 37 pockets with numbers from 1 to 36 plus the zero pockets. Two types of roulette wheels are available in casinos – the first one is single-zero roulette (European) while the other is double-zero roulette (American). The European version is the preferred one since the house edge is lower. Apart from the wheel, there’s a table with additional side bets which you can also wager on.
Playing the game is easy. Everything is handled by the croupier – you just have to decide on your bet and wager on it. The dealer will then throw the ball and you can only wait and see which pocket it lands in. The adrenaline rush of waiting to see if you’ve picked the right number is incomparable to anything else. This is the biggest reason why roulette has stayed popular for centuries.
Types of Bets
In the beginning, roulette only offered betting on the number of the pocket you think the ball will land in. These bets are known as inside bets as they lie on the inside of the table. You can bet on a single straight number, a group of numbers, consecutive numbers or four numbers in a corner. Inside bets are easiest to wager on since the layout of the table makes it logical on what you bet on.
On the table layout, you’ll also find outside bets. These lie outside the numbers field and allow you to place a bet on red/black, odd or even numbers, dozens, columns or 1-18 and 19-36. Finally, you have the so-called announced bets which are a special betting combination for the French version of roulette. The Voisins du Zero bet covers the zero and its 7 neighbors on the wheel. Tiers Du Cylindre covers the numbers opposite to Voisins Du Zero on the wheel. Orphelins is another popular Announced roulette bet which covers the two previous Announced bet combined.
Other bets such as Jeu Zero and Finales are also available.
Which Bet Should I Choose?
This is a decision you have to make yourself. It depends on which type of player you are. New players would find it more profitable to bet on outside bets. High rollers will almost always target a single bet since it offers the best possible odds.
The good thing about online variants of roulette is that they come with low and high limits. If you’re a casual player you’ll need to find a low-stakes game, while high rollers will want a version with higher limits.
High rollers will also benefit from playing Live Roulette, the latest and greatest development in the history of roulette.
Live Roulette
Regular roulette games don’t stretch the fabric of imagination beyond American and European versions. That’s where Live Roulette comes in. Since first appearing on the market from the brilliant minds of Evolution Gaming, roulette has taken bold new directions, each one unique in its own way.
Regardless of the variant you’re playing, the rules of roulette stay the same. The gameplay, though, is live roulette’s ace in the sleeve. What makes this version so exciting is the fact that you can see the ball roll from different angles and cameras. It adds an ultra-realistic layer to the game in HD quality and slo-mo. Evolution Gaming has made roulette even more interesting thanks to Speed, Immersive, and Lightning Roulette.
Speed Roulette, just like the name suggests, offers a speedier roulette version. On the other hand, Immersive roulette captures the action in 200 frames per second, allowing you slo-mo close-ups of the ball like you’ve never seen before.
Lightning Roulette, however, remains the studio’s crowning roulette achievement. A new take on the popular game with the same rules, it blends world-class live roulette with RNG gameplay elements. This revolutionized version of roulette will light up your world and is proof enough that casino games are always evolving.
Lightning Roulette screenshot
Live Roulette FAQ
How Does Live Roulette Work?
Live roulette is streamed via a high-quality video link from a land-based studio or casino. You can talk to the live dealer and place bets via the virtual interface on the screen.
Can the Dealer See Me?
No, they can’t. You can see the dealer and interact with him, but he just sees information on the player that joined the game.
Can I Play Live Roulette for Free?
No, you can’t. You can’t play any live dealer game for free, but you can “ghost” other players on the table and familiarize yourself with the wheel, layout, and bets.
What’s the House Edge on Roulette?
The house edge on roulette varies from type to type. For European roulette, it’s 2.70%. For American double-zero roulette, it stands at 5.26%. For triple-zero variants, the house edge is highest at 7.69%.
How Can I Win at Live Roulette?
This is not a simple question to answer. High rollers will tell you that the only way to win is to go big. Others rely on roulette strategies such as the Martingale system or something else. If you ask us, being sensible with your bets and not sticking to strategies is the only way to profit off roulette.
