The inspiration for the table layout used in Roulette was a lottery-type game called biribi. It was popular in Genoa, Italy during the 18th century. French entrepreneurs borrowed its game board, which displayed 36 numbers, and merged it with the new Black and Red wheel game that was gaining an enthusiastic following— “roelete.”

Today, all Roulette layouts still display 36 numbers. They appear in order, divided into three columns and 12 rows. On the “outside” of this matrix are betting areas for wagering on the columns, sequential dozens, red, black, low (1~18), high (19~36), odd and even. On the “inside,” individual numbers may be bet straight up or in groups of 2, 3, 4, or 6.

Place Your Bets

Inside bets are placed directly on the table layout. When making a bet straight-up on a single number, the wagered chip is positioned on the number desired, not touching any of the surrounding lines. When betting more than one chip, they are simply stacked atop one another. If other players chips already occupy the space, chips can be stacked on top of their, too. Chip colors are used to identify who made what bet, and a straight-up win will pay 35-to-1.

In order to make a “split” bet on a pair of adjacent numbers, the chip must straddle the line between the two. A win of either of them will pay 17-to-1. Similarly, a “corner” or “block” bet can be made on four neighboring numbers by placing a chip on the intersection where the four numbers meet. A win on any of the four will pay 8-to-1.

Betting on a “street” or “row” of three numbers requires a chip on the line at the very end of the sequence. A win here will pay 11-to-1. Wagering on a “six-line” or two adjacent rows of three is possible by putting a chip on the T-intersection at the end of the double row. Such a win will pay 5-to-1.

The outside bets are made in much the same way, by placing chips in table’s the designated areas. Any win on red or black, even or odd, and high or low will pay “even money” or 1-to-1. Winning bets placed on any of the three dozens or the three columns will pay 2-to-1.

Studying the Tables

European and American roulette table layouts are almost identical. The only major difference is the addition of the double zero to the right of the single zero at the top of the columns in the American version. French tables have no red and black markings. They tend to be somewhat wider to accommodate larger betting areas for wagers outside the main field. They also feature special positions for dozens betting, on either side of the layout or else at the foot of the columns. In Monte Carlo, roulette tables have a single wheel flanked by two identical Roulette table layouts, which provides room for more players per wheel.

A close inspection of the number pattern will reveal some slight anomalies. One of the most prominent is how the colors are distributed unevenly. The three dozens, the first column, the high/low and the odd/even all contain just as many red numbers as black ones. However, the other two columns do not. The second column has an advantage for black by a factor of 8:4, and the third column favors red 8:4.

These differences can create some interesting betting opportunities. For example, a wager of two units on black and one unit on the corner of 0-1-2-3 on the European table will yield a winning probability of 21:37 or 56.8%—better than half. This bet will win one unit on 17 black numbers. A hit on either of the two red numbers or zero will pay six units, and the black two is worth ten units.