online craps casinos

You are here ♣ Craps › Casino Games › Roulette

Roulette

Enjoy these free versions of online casino roulette at craps online!

Free European Roulette
Free American Roulette
Free VIP European Roulette
Free VIP American Roulette

Roulette is a popular casino game where players bet on a single number or set of numbers from a layout of thirty-eight numbers on a table with a spinning wheel on top. The wheel has thirty-seven slots for European or thirty-eight slots for USA which correspond to the numbers on the table. The wheel is spun by the dealer, also known as the croupier who then throws a steel ball or marble opposite the direction of the spinning wheel.

The ball drops on a number slot when the wheel slows its spin. The players who bet on that particular number or square wins the game. Players bet by using specially colored chips available at casino counters. Winners are given cash chips which can later be exchanged for real cash. As many as eight players can participate in a game.

History

Roulette is French for “little wheel”. The game originated in France in the 18th century. It was a by-product of an invention by the known French mathematician Blaise Pascal while he was trying to invent a perpetual motion machine. The game spread throughout Europe and America in the 1800s. A different numbers layout gradually evolved in America but the game principle remains the same.

Layout

The numbers in roulette range from 0 to 36. There are two versions of the game, European and American. The European version has thirty-seven slots which correspond to the numbers 0 to 36 while the American version includes the digits 00 which gives it 38 slots to choose from. Half the numbers reside in black boxes while the other half are red. In some versions, the numbers 0 and 00 known as house boxes are colored green. The ways the numbers are arranged also differ in the European and American versions. The American version has the wheel at one end while the European version has the wheel at the middle. The American version is the one used in most casinos.

Betting

In roulette, the odds may seem intimidating so most people try their luck at the slot machines instead. What most people don’t know is that they actually have better odds of winning at roulette instead of slots—it’s just a matter of knowing how to bet. Players don’t necessarily have to bet on just one number since sweeping half the numbers with just one bet is allowed. There are many ways of betting in this game that keep the odds to your favor. Betting can be categorized as inside and outside. Inside betting means that the player can bet on a single number or a range of numbers adjacent to the chosen number (keep in mind that the player is still allowed to bet a combination of inside and outside betting on the board). Outside betting allows the player to bet on a range of numbers via row, color or whether the numbers are odd or even.

The following are some ways to bet inside and outside.

Inside Betting

• Straight-up – means that the player bets inside the square of one particular number. The player gets the maximum payout (at most 37 times the bet) when the number wins.

• Split – the bet is split between two adjacent numbers, either horizontal or vertical and the chip is placed on the line between the numbers. The payout here is split in half.

• Corner – the bet is placed in the intersection of four adjacent numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.

Outside Betting

• Red or Black – the player bets only on a particular color. Payout is one to one.

• Even or Odd – the player declares his is betting on an odd or even number. Also a one to one payout.

• 1 to 18 or 19 to 36 – the player bets on this range and wins if the ball falls within this range. Payout is two to one.

• Dozen bets – the player can bet on the first dozen (1-12), second (13-24) or third dozen (25-36). Payout is same as above.

Having different kinds of bets allow the player different choices and increased chances of winning. Seeing the outside betting choices, we see that if the players so chooses, he/she’ll be playing with a 50-50 chance of winning, which in most cases is better odds than most casino games out there.

Conclusion

Like any numbers game, roulette provides the excitement of playing against chance. The bigger the risk, the bigger the excitement and winnings the game has to offer. Its various betting options keep the odds of winning high, keep the players on the table and keep the game exciting for everyone.