| The game of Roulette is easily spotted in the
modern casino, because it is the only active table game which uses
a mechanical element as a key ingredient. Roulette is also the only
casino game, apart from Reel Slot Machines, where players are mere
spectators and can make no decisions to affect the outcome of the
game.
Roulette provides the House with a steady 5.3% edge over the player.
This House Edge is derived from the use of the 0 and the 00 House
Numbers. Since there are 38 total numbers which can become the winning
number, but any such single straight up win, will only pay off 35
to 1, it is pretty clear how this comes about. In European Roulette
there is only one 0 House Number which gives the House Edge of only
2.7% overall.
The layout is rectangular in shape. In the center is a red and
black grid bearing the numbers 1 through 36, which correspond to
the numbers on the Roulette wheel and appear on the layout in 12
rows of three, numbered sequentially. The left side of the layout
also displays the two House Numbers and 00, in green. This makes
a total of 38 available numbers any of which can be bet on, either
singly or in groups. Additionally, the layout displays areas along
one side marked 1 through 18, and 19 through 36, which refer to
those groups of numbers; first 12, second 12 and third 12, (i.e.,
1 through 12, 13 through 24, and 25 through 36, known as Squares);
odd and even, which refer to all odd or all even numbers on the
wheel; and black and red, which refer to all numbers bearing that
color. The final area available for bets are the first row or 12,
second row of 12, and the third row of 12, known as Columns, which
unlike the Squares, are non sequential.
Roulette is an extremely simple game. The Croupier places a small
white ball into a groove around the rim of the dish and spins it
in the opposite direction to the spin of the wheel, Winning and
losing depend on where the ball lands and which bets players have
made prior to the spin. Each spin of the wheel is a new game.
Roulette gaming chips show no denomination value. The value of
each chip is determined either by the value you specify each chip
to, or automatically by the value to that table's minimum betting
requirement. If the table minimum is .50 chips, you may specify
the value of your chips to be .50, $1 up to $5 each. If you specify
$5 value chips, then you will get the red chips with $5 value printed
on them. All other chips don't have their value printed on them,
the dealer tells them apart by colors. You can receive your chips
in, say blue, the second player in yellow, the third in brown, and
the fourth player in green. That tells you apart. The colors themselves
do not matter.
How to Play Roulette.
The simplest inside bet you can make is a bet on a single number.
This is known as a Straight Up bet. If you bet on one number from
among the 38 numbers available, (1 through 36, plus the 0 and the
00); if it hits, you are paid 35 to 1. All Roulette tables have
a small sign that outlines the betting minimum and maximum for Inside
and Outside bets. Some tables will have a sign that also stated
the minimum Spread required for Inside bets. Although the table
minimum for Inside bets may be listed as $1, when you are at a table
that requires a minimum Spread, you must bet a certain amount in
total on the Inside, usually $5. That is, five $1 chips spread over
the Inside grid, or stacked over any single bet option. You are
free to make as many Straight Up bets as you wish, however, only
one number could win. If you bet all 38 numbers you'd be an automatic
loser, because the most you can win is 35 to 1 on any one such bet.
You can also bet on a combination of any two numbers next to each
other on the table layout. This known as a Split, or Group-2 bet.
By increasing you odds of hitting a winner, you directly reduce
the payoff on your win.
Source: Casino Gold Book
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