Roulette is a casino game involving a wheel with 38 numbered pockets (37 pockets in European roulette).  The wheel with numbers spins in one direction.  The rim of the wheel has a groove in
which the dealer spins a little ball which, after many spins around the numbers, falls down in one of the 37 or 38 numbers.  People place wagers whose success is based on which pocket the ball happens to land.

    The use of a pocketed wheel and a ball for the purposes of gambling dates back to the early 1700s with a game called "hoca" It was popular in all of the gambling houses in Europe while a similar game called "E.O" was played in England.  The game, however, did not include a wheel with numbered pockets. instead, the pockets had either an "E" (for even) or "O" (for odd) lettered on them.  People then placed bets accordingly.

    Another game, called "boule," which is most similar to modern roulette, appeared in Europe during the early 1800s.  Boule consisted of a wheel with 18 numbered pockets and a ball.  The pockets were numbered 1 to 9 twice.  The object of the game was to predict which pocket the ball would land in.  The number 5 was always a loser and the payout for guessing the correct number was seven dollars for every dollar wagered.  The bank, in this game, has an 11 -percent advantage over the players while its advantage in modem roulette is around five percent.
 

AMERICAN ROULETTE AND EUROPEAN ROULETTE

    These are often called "double zero" (American) or "single zero" (European) since this is the primary difference in the roulette wheel.  Most casinos in North America offer both types.  The "single zero" is often included in the area for premium players, often called the "baccarat room."

    While the American and European roulette games are almost identical, there are a few notable differences.  The obvious difference lies in the wheels.  In the American roulette wheel, there are 38 numbered pockets.  They are numbered 1 through 36 and are alternately red or black.  There are also the numbers 0 and 00 which are green.  In American roulette the casino's theoretical advantage is 5.26 percent.  Theoretically this means that for every 100 dollars wagered, the casino keeps five dollars and 26 cents.

    In some casinos a bet called "surrender" is offered, which means that if a 0 or 00 appears, only half of your bet is lost.  This reduces the theoretical casino advantage from 5.26 percent to 2.63 percent.

    In American roulette, there are usually one or two dealers or "croupiers" working the table.  Wagers are placed either with cash or color-coded chips.  Each player is designated a color and is given non-denominational ships in that color The dealer will identify the value of each color chip by marking them. (This procedure was established to end confusion and squabbles between players as to who owned which chips.)

    The European roulette wheel is similar to the American except that it does not have "OO." The numbers 1 through 36 are either red and black and a single 0 which is green.  In European roulette, the casino's theoretical advantage is 2.70 percent.  A bet similar to "surrender" is also offered.  It is called "en prison" (in prison) and if a 0 appears, only half of your bet is lost.  This reduces the player's disadvantage from 2.70 percent to 1.35 percent.

    In European casinos you will see three to four croupiers (dealers) spinning the wheel, placing bets and collecting money These dealers use wooden rakes to collect lost bets and generally speak in French regardless of the country where you are playing.  These dealers also speak French while giving instructions.  For example, while a dealer in Canada will say "no more bets" when the wheel has been spun, a dealer or croupier in Europe will say "rien ne va plus."
 
 

RULES OF PLAY

    Roulette is a very simple game and therefore is quite easy to learn.  To begin with, the dealer gives players color-coded chips in exchange for their money.  The croupier then spins the wheel in one direction and the ball is released rotating in the opposite direction.
Now you have many options at hand.  You could wager on:

- a single number, which is called a straight-up (called "en plein" in 
  Europe) from 1 to 36, and the payoff is 35 dollars for every dollar bet

- bet on two adjoining numbers, which is called a split ("a cheval') and the
  payoff is 17 dollars for every dollar wagered

- three adjoining numbers, which is called a trio or street ("transversale 
  pleine") and the payoff is 11 dollars for every dollar wagered

- red or black numbers ("rouge or noire") and the payoff is 1 to 1

- four numbers, which is called a square or corner ('en carre'), and the 
  payoff is eight dollars for every dollar wagered

- six numbers, which is called a line or alley ("sixaine") and the payoff is
  five dollars for every dollar wagered

-12 numbers, which is called a dozen ("douzaine") and the payoff is 2 to 1

- adjacent dozens ("douzaine a cheval") and the payoff is I to 2

- a column of 12 numbers ("colonne") and the payoff is at 2 to I

- adjacent columns  ("colonne i cheval') and the payoff is 1 to 2

- even or odd numbers ("pair or impair") and the payoff is also 1 to 1

- low numbers (1-18) or high numbers (19-36) ("manque or passe") and
  the payoff is also at one dollar for every dollar wagered

- basket when the ball lands on 0, 00, or 2

    Two not-so-common bets in roulette include final (pronounced fee-nahl, as in French) and neighbors

- Final is a wager placed on the last digits of a series of numbers.  For example, final 5 would include all numbers whose last digit is a five (5, 15, 25, 35).  To make a "final" bet, hand the croupier one chip for every number and then tell her what final bet you would like.  For instance, hand the dealer four chips for a final 5 bet.  The dealer will place one chip in the 5, 15, 25 and 35 boxes.  Each chip is treated like a single wager.  If the ball stops at say 15, the dealer will pay you 35 chips for your wager on number 15 and will remove all other bets.  You also have the option of betting a final 0, which includes the numbers 0, 00, 10, 20 and 30, but this will cost you five chips.

- Neighbors is another uncommon wager placed on several numbers that lie next to each other on the wheel.  The idea behind this bet is that if the ball lands in a specific portion of the wheel, several neighboring pockets will produce winners.  If you want to bet on number 29 and four numbers surrounding it on the wheel, hand the croupier five chips and say "29 and neighbors." The croupier will then place your five chips on the numbers 29,. 25, 10, 12 and 8. Each chip is treated like a single wager, so the payoff odds are also 35 to 1. Because this type of bet is fairly uncommon, some dealers may not know what the term "neighbors" means.  If you can reach all the desired numbers on the table, place the chips yourself.

    After the ball stops, the croupier places a marker on the winning number, and sweeps away all losing bets.  This all happens quickly; then the croupier proceeds to pay off the winning bets still left on the table.

STRATEGIES

    There are no systems that will guarantee winning at roulette.  Casinos always enjoy an advantage over the players of 2.7 percent or better.  However, one system called the "martingale" system appears to be somewhat effective for roulette play.  This system works only on bets whose payoff odds are at 1 to 1 (for example, red or black, even or odd, high or low).  The way it works is this: first bet one chip on any of the bets listed above.  If you win, keep the wager the same - at one chip.  If you lose, then double your bet to two chips.  Continue the same procedure: if you win, keep the bet the same; if you lose, then double your bet.  In the long run the martingale system will ordinarily see you ahead by one chip.

    The casino industry has responded to this system by placing limits between minimum and maximum bets allowed.  Also, after a series of loses, the stakes can be fairly high, possibly even higher than the table limit.  As a result, the martingale system requires quite a bit of bankroll (the money to wager) for it to work.  But work it does - if you can stick with it.

    Another system similar to the martingale has also proven to be effective.  It too is a system that works only on bets whose payoff odds are at 1 to 1. The way this system works is this - wager one chip and if you win, keep the chips there and let it double (if you lose, bet again).  If you win again, keep the money there.  When you think you have won enough, put the chips into your pocket and start the sequence over again with a single chip.

    There is another clever system at roulette which only works on bets whose payoff odds are at 1 to 1. In this system, if you win, reduce your wager by a half.  If you lose, increase the wager by a half.  This system keeps the stake within a reasonable limit and is somewhat effective, though does not ensure a winning evening.

    The system that professional gamblers and avid players use to beat the house in roulette is more complex and time-consuming.  These people study the habits of a roulette croupier for a long time.  They study how the dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball.  The patterns that arise gives a professional some important clues.  The theory holds that after dropping the ball thousands of times, a croupier will develop a pattern and a groove may form in the wheel.  This will result in the ball landing in the same group of pockets more frequently than others.  A group of players used this method some years ago and won millions from various casinos in Las Vegas.  If you have a few weeks to spend at a casino, and eyes that can catch such subtleties, it might be worth a try.
 

TIPS FOR WINNING AT ROULETTE

1. Given the choice, play European (single zero) roulette.

2. Use a system to play "even odds" bets

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