One of the easiest games to play and to understand in any casino is roulette. The wheel used to play roulette contains either 37 05 38 numbered slots. It includes the numbers of 1 through 36, as well as zero. Most coins in the United States add a double zero. In addition to each number, the layout of the betting table also contains a number of what are called ‘outside’ combination bets. First players make their bets and than the dealer spins the wheel and introduces a small ball which eventually rests in one of the numbered slots.

       A difference that exists between gambling at the roulette table and other casino games is that the chips that are used have no denomination value printed on them. These are actually what are defined as chips. One that indicates its value is technically referred to as a check. There are six to eight sets of definite colored chips on a roulette table. Each set contains 300 chips. When a player buys in they receive their own color of chips. The value of the chips is the buy-in divided by the number of chips received. The dealer places a taken on the top of the dealer’s stack of chips of that clear indicating the value.

• By United States rules a bet on red pays 1 to 1 with a probability of 47.37%.
• A bet on black pays 1 to 1 with a 47.3% probability.
• A bet on an odd number coming up pays 1 to 1 with a 47.3% probability.
• A bet on an even number coming up pays 1 to 1 with a 47.3% probability.
• A bet on the numbers 1 through 18 coming up pays 1 to 1 with a 47.3% probability.
• A bet on the numbers 19 through 36 coming up pays 1 to 1 with a 47.3% probability.
• A bet on the numbers 1 through 12 coming up pays 2 to 1 with a 31.58% probability.
• A bet on the numbers 13 through 24 coming up pays 2 to 1 with a 31.58% probability.
• A bet on the numbers 25 through 36 coming up pays 2 to 1 with a 31.58% probability.
• A bet placed on any column coming up pays 2 to 1 with a 31.58% probability.
• A bet on any one number coming up pays 35 to 1 with a 2.63% probability.
• A bet on a two number combination coming up pays 17 to 1 with a 5.26% probability.
• A bet on a three number combination coming up pays 11 to 1 with a 7.89% probability.
• A bet on a four number combination coming up pays 8 to 1 with a 10.53% probability.
• A bet on a six number combination coming up pays 5 to 1 with a 15.79% probability.
• A bet on a 0, 00, 1,2,3 coming up pays 6 to 1 with a 13.16% probability.

United States Roulette Rules, except Atlantic City

     In most casinos in the United States the roulette wheels have both 0 and 00. The house edge for a double zero relate game on each bet is 1/19, or 5.26%. The exception is the 0-00-1-2-3 combination bet which allows the house a 7.89% advantage.

    There are a few places that offer the single zero table where the house edge is 1/37, or 2.70%. Listed below are some of these casinos that offer relate tables with single 0 wheels. To play at such tables usually requires a substantial minimum bet. 

• The Tropicana in Las Vegas
• The Monte Carlo in Las Vegas
• The Stratosphere in Las Vegas
• Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas
• Grand Casino in Tunica

Atlantic City Roulette Rules

     The casinos in Atlantic City use a double zero wheel but also allow the European imprisonment rule for even money bets. Thus the house edge on even bets such as the red, black, odd, even, 1 to 18, and 19 to 36 bets is lowered to 1/38, or 2.63%. If you are playing at the Claridge for example, and make an even money bet, if zero or double zero comes up, you will only lose half of your bet.

European Rules

       The two differences between United States rules and European rules are that in Europe only one zero is used, and they offer the imprisonment rule which means that if the ball were to land on zero, all even money bets are imprisoned. If than on the following bet the bet wins the wager is returned. If it comes up another zero, then half of the bet is returned. If the bet loses the house collects the full amount. This gives the house an edge of 1/74, or 1.35%, on the even money bets and 1/37, or 2.70%, on all others.

 The numbers on the roulette wheel

     Unless one were to actually make a study of it, the numbers on the roulette wheel appear to be placed there at random. The only apparent pattern is that red and black numbers seem to alternate and odd numbers appear to alternate with even. In fact the numbers have been carefully arranged so that the sum of numbers from any given section of the wheel are roughly equal to any other sections of equal size. Numbers are usually set in pairs with a number in between with a sum of either 37 or 39. this may be soon with all of the following pairs: (10,29), (25,12), (29,8), (12,19), (8,31), (19,18), (31,6), (18,21), (6,33), (21,16), (33,4), (16,23), (4,35), (23,14), (35,2), (9,30), (26,11), (30,7), (7,32), (20,17), (32,5), (17,22), (5,34), (22,15), (34,3), (15,24), (3,36), (24,13), (36,1). The numbers that do not fall into this pattern are 27,14, 2, 28,11,13, and 1.

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