Learning roulette is relatively easy. Many casinos have classes, and there s great information at the official website of Roulette 77. But part of that process of understanding the game means realizing and playing the odds.
In some casino games it’s possible to reduce the house edge. In roulette, however, the house edge on most bets is 5.26 percent… except for one. We’ll cover that in just a moment. A good general rule when you enter a casino is that the simplest games do not necessarily offer the best odds. A game like craps, for example, with its fast action, confusing table layout and bets flying furiously can offer some of the best odds in the casino.
Craps is a played at a much faster pace than roulette, and that rate of play can translate into many more decisions per hour. In roulette, if you bet the least amount on outside bets (we’ll get to that in just a bit), then you might not lose much more than if you play the same amount of time at the craps table.
When you learn roulette, you should know that losing is part of the process. For that reason, you should not be playing except for the entertainment value. But if you’re going to play, you should have the best strategy possible! And just like any other casino game, knowing your odds is key to knowing the optimal strategy. Fortunately, learning roulette odds is very straightforward.
Let’s say you bet on red. There are 18 winning spots on the table for red out of 38 total. That is a win rate of 47.37 percent. Every other result is a loser. That happens 52.63 percent of the time. Subtract your win percentage from the losing percentage and you get 5.26 percent. That is the house edge on every spin of the roulette wheel, except one. That one bet is a five-way bet on Nos. 1, 2, 3, as well as both zeros.
Betting on the outside results in winners more often than inside bets. This will result in less volatility, meaning you have a better chance of lasting longer without going broke. Outside bets include black/red, high/low, and even/odd. These pay even money. Other outside bets pay 2-to-1 and include dozens or columns.
When you first arrive at the table to play roulette you will buy chips and tell the dealer what denomination you want, which are typically $5. You will then receive the chips in a color different from every other player. For each spin, place your bet by putting a chip (or chips) on the layout. The minimum bet will be listed at the table and often varies from $5 to $25. If you want to minimize losses, play the minimum. If you’re there to gamble, feel comfortable and can afford the variance, bet what you like.
You can make more than one bet and can continue to place bets until the dealer waives a hand across the table. Then, watch the spin and hope for the best! Learning roulette takes just a short time, but the excitement can last a lifetime!
