How to Minimize the House Edge in Roulette
Roulette has offered glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. It is one of the easiest casino games to play and offers a surprising amount of depth for serious players with the right strategy.
The game begins when the dealer clears the table of winning bets, and then players place their chips on the betting mat according to their desired bet type. Each number on the table has a corresponding pocket on the wheel and bets can be placed on either single numbers, groups of numbers or colors (red and black). The bets are made by laying the chips down on the betting mat, with the precise location indicating the bet being made. The name of the bet is derived from its French origin: more than 300 years ago, the 17th-century mathematician Blaise Pascal was credited with inventing the Roulette cylinder and wheel while trying to create a perpetual motion machine.
A Roulette wheel consists of a circular disk with 36 red and black compartments that alternately are numbered from 1 to 36, plus a green compartment numbered 0 and two additional green compartments on American wheels marked 00. A ball is spun around the perimeter of the wheel and then dropped into one of the pockets. Bets may be placed until the ball slows down and is about to drop into a compartment. The bets are against the “house,” or casino, and bets may be made on a single number or various groupings of numbers that pay off at less than even odds if the ball lands in them.
The house edge of a roulette wheel is 5.26%, which means that for every 100 dollars a player bets on the game, he or she will lose about 56 cents. This advantage can be minimized by playing at a casino that uses a European-style wheel and by placing the bets on the inside.
Some bettors try to predict where the ball will land by watching other players, hoping to pick up a clue from their actions or doing the opposite of them. While this practice can sometimes make a difference, it is usually not enough to change the odds significantly. The best way to minimize the house edge is to simply avoid betting on numbers that appear frequently, and to bet small amounts. Also, never dip into your winnings to bet more money on the next spin.
Roulette has offered glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. It is one of the easiest casino games to play and offers a surprising amount of depth for serious players with the right strategy. The game begins when the dealer clears the table of winning bets, and then players place their chips on the betting mat according to their desired bet type. Each number on the table has a corresponding pocket on the wheel and bets can be placed on either single numbers, groups of numbers or colors (red and black). The bets are made by laying the chips down on the betting mat, with the precise location indicating the bet being made. The name of the bet is derived from its French origin: more than 300 years ago, the 17th-century mathematician Blaise Pascal was credited with inventing the Roulette cylinder and wheel while trying to create a perpetual motion machine. A Roulette wheel consists of a circular disk with 36 red and black compartments that alternately are numbered from 1 to 36, plus a green compartment numbered 0 and two additional green compartments on American wheels marked 00. A ball is spun around the perimeter of the wheel and then dropped into one of the pockets. Bets may be placed until the ball slows down and is about to drop into a compartment. The bets are against the “house,” or casino, and bets may be made on a single number or various groupings of numbers that pay off at less than even odds if the ball lands in them. The house edge of a roulette wheel is 5.26%, which means that for every 100 dollars a player bets on the game, he or she will lose about 56 cents. This advantage can be minimized by playing at a casino that uses a European-style wheel and by placing the bets on the inside. Some bettors try to predict where the ball will land by watching other players, hoping to pick up a clue from their actions or doing the opposite of them. While this practice can sometimes make a difference, it is usually not enough to change the odds significantly. The best way to minimize the house edge is to simply avoid betting on numbers that appear frequently, and to bet small amounts. Also, never dip into your winnings to bet more money on the next spin.