One reason Roulette is so popular is because it is a simple game, easy to learn and play. The only equipment required is a Roulette wheel, a Roulette ball, a Roulette table with a patterned layout for wagering, and casino chips for placing bets. A marker for indicating the winning number is customarily used, too.

Some casinos permit players to use pads of paper and red/blue colored pencils to keep a record of the numbers that come up. Others feature an electronic display to show the results of the most recent spins.

The Basics of Roulette

Roulette can be enjoyed by one person alone or at a table crowded with players. Different colored chips are issued to each player so that it is easy to see who bet what. Bets are positioned directly on a field of numbers, 37 of them in the European version of the game and 38 in the American one. Also included in the layout are areas for “group” wagers, such as even or odd, low (1~18) or high (19~36), and red or black, all of which pay even money.

To manage the game, one or more croupiers or dealers are employed. One of them will spin the ball in the direction opposite to the rotating wheel, which contains 37 or 38 numbered slots corresponding to the table layout. The croupier is responsible for calling out “No more bets,” so that wagering ends before the ball drops down onto the surface of the wheel. Attempted late bets must be taken back.

Once the ball stops, a marker is placed on top of the winning number within the field. All losing wagers are collected immediately, and then the winning wagers are paid off. The winning players may pick up their chips and begin betting again as soon as the marker is removed.

A Fast and Busy Game

At the roulette tables of most casinos, the ball drops approximately once every two minutes or so. Within that short time period, the croupier must identify what number has just won, clear away all of the losing bets, determine the amount to be paid for each winning bet, issue payouts, remove the winning marker, and call for new bets. Other duties include assisting players in positioning their chips, spinning the ball again, and announcing “No more bets,” as well as welcoming new players, answering questions, handling cash and exchanging it for chips, and also cashing out any players who wish to leave the table.

With so much action going on, players must be careful to follow the rules for positioning their chips on the table. Straight-up bets must be placed squarely within the numbered area, stacked and not side by side. If a chip touches a line inside the field, it will be treated as a wager on two or more numbers. Also, the chips of other players should not be touched or otherwise disturbed when placing a bet. If other chips seem to be blocking the area one wishes to bet on, the croupier can assist in arranging the chips on the table.

Players are also responsible for knowing what the table’s betting limits are. The value of each colored chip is usually the same as the lowest wager allowed, a unit that can be any amount from a penny to hundreds of dollars. However, a table minimum is usually in effect, which may require the player to bet at least five units on even money areas of the table (outside) or else a combination of bets totaling five units or more within the field of numbers (inside).

Tables also have a maximum limit on how much can be wagered on each spin of the wheel. This amount is usually several hundred times the minimum, but it is typically low enough to inhibit players using open-ended doubling systems, such as Martingale, in attempts to “break the bank.”

For the protection of players and the casino, certain House rules may be enforced, too. Many of these are simply a matter of Roulette etiquette, such as never touching the wheel, ball, or marker and removing winnings from the field only after all bets have been settled. It is useful to watch several spins before joining the table, just to become familiar with the procedures that are in place.