Some call it the queen of the casino. And it probably is. It is a staple of every casino, both land-based and online, across the globe. In this guide, we’ll explore its history, rules, strategies, and, of course, the best live casinos for roulette online.
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Casino connoisseurs are more or less aware of the history of roulette. It first began to be played in France in the 18th century. Many consider the famous mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal to be the inventor, but this legend has never been confirmed. Together, we will review the basic principles of the game that you should know before sitting down at the table.
The basic principle of the game is simple. On the table, there is an arrangement of 36 numbers, from 1 to 36, which alternate in color: Red and Black. In the European version, there is one 0 (Green), while in the American version, there are 0 and 00. Both are green.
At the top of the table is a wheel divided into 37 or 38 segments depending on the version being played (American or European). The numbers are randomly arranged in a layout determined by the game’s creators. Many stories have been written about this layout, but its true nature is unknown.
Before each round, players choose one of the many bets on the table. You can bet on a number, a color, a row of three numbers, a corner or square of four numbers, six line numbers, dozens, or sections of the wheel. Orphan bets are also quite popular, but they require a special analysis, which we will look at below.
Once the croupier spins the wheel, players have a few seconds left to place bets. When the croupier announces the end of the betting round, any bets placed after that point are considered void. The dealer will then spin the ball. After a few bounces, the ball will land on the winning number on the roulette wheel.
Payouts are made on the spot based on the winning number, according to the following table:
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Inside bets are those placed on events occurring within the main area of the table. In other words, the section with the numbers. Examples of inside bets include bets on single numbers, splits, street bets, corner bets, five-number bets, and six-number bets.
Outside bets relate to the outer section of the table. These include Red/Black, dozens, groups of 18 (Low/High), and the famous Orphans. These are bets that everyone has heard of, but few really know what they mean. Typical examples are Voisins du Zero and Tiers du Cylindre. In most casinos, these are referred to by their French names. It’s a tribute to the country that gave birth to roulette.
For those with a grasp of mathematics and probability, roulette certainly does not favor the player. The odds are in the casino’s favor. However, this does not seem to deter a number of roulette enthusiasts who have devised systems with quite a following.
The most well-known are the Martingale and Reverse Martingale systems. These systems are found in almost all games of chance. They are based on doubling your stake after a loss. In the standard Martingale system, you double your stake after a loss. In the Reverse Martingale system, you double your stake after a win.
Highly experienced players and professionals distinguish themselves primarily through bankroll management, or the proper management of their playing capital. These players know that everyone has good and bad nights when it comes to games of chance. First, they set win or loss limits to determine when to leave the table. Meanwhile, some have a system for how much they bet on each type of roulette bet.
If you are new to gaming tables these are a few basic tips you should have in mind:
Over the centuries, many have attempted to tip the odds of roulette in their favor. Mathematicians and scientists of all kinds have written entire treatises on game theory and improving the odds in favor of players.
The most widespread roulette strategy worldwide is the Martingale Method. If it sounds familiar, it’s because its basic principle allows you to apply it to any game of chance. It is also very simple. For every round in which you lose, double your stake for the next round. One basic requirement is that you place bets with 1:1 odds (e.g., Black/Red).
In the Reverse Martingale, you double your stake if you win a round. Keep doubling as long as you keep winning. When you lose, you return to the basic stake.
The Fibonacci sequence became widely known thanks to Dan Brown’s famous book, The Da Vinci Code. The book revealed to the general public the love that mystics everywhere have for the sequence of numbers associated by Fibonacci. However, betting on these numbers using this strategy has no mathematical basis. Still, it does have “magical” properties, as has been attributed to it from time to time.
Another variation is the D’Alembert system. In this system, the bet amount is not adjusted using a fixed multiplier or a number from the Fibonacci sequence. Instead, it is based on the player’s arbitrary choice.
Unfortunately, however, there is no magic formula for roulette. All the systems and strategies analyzed in this article thus far suffer from the same weakness: they ignore the possibility of a run of negative results. While these are rare, they cannot be ruled out. When that happens, you’ll need an endless bankroll to capitalize on the mathematics behind every roulette strategy.
First, let’s address the most important point. In a traditional land-based casino, you don’t have the option to experiment. In other words, you can’t play with virtual money, as you can in most online live casinos. You’ll have to learn “the hard way,” as Americans say.
Then, many people prefer roulette in a land-based casino for the social aspect of the game. They enjoy the banter around the table, the crowd, the teasing, and the jibes directed at the croupier. Or for the one-liners from players who lose, which often reach cult status. If you play at a land-based casino in your country of residence, you will certainly be able to enjoy roulette in Greek. This is not always available online.
Of course, quite a few online live casinos now have tables with Greek croupiers. However, not all of them. On the other hand, online casinos have the advantage of offering versions of roulette that don’t exist in land-based casinos. For example, there are amazing versions such as Immersive Roulette, Mega Fire Blaze Roulette, Lightning Roulette, Quantum Roulette, Nexus Roulette, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Roulette, among many other variations. These versions could not exist in a physical casino due to their sound and graphics.
Also, there are the roulette betting limits which are more flexible online. It makes sense that a live online casino, which brings together tables from all over the world, can offer higher limits. It can also provide more VIP roulette tables.
In conclusion, if you want to socialize at the gaming table and share joys and sorrows with others but have fewer game options, then a land-based casino is the right place for you. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for hundreds of different roulette variants and possibly higher betting limits, choose one of the legal live casinos at Lasvegas.gr.
Most casino players overlook the need for practice. It’s important to get familiar with the games, the math involved, and the pace of each round.
In online live casinos, there are tables where you can play with virtual money. These are the same versions you’ll find in real-money roulette. In the “Table Games” section, you’ll find European Roulette with virtual money, Free American Roulette, and a few other versions.
At these tables, you have an unlimited bankroll. They operate using the same algorithm as real-money roulette tables. But be careful! This does not apply to roulette tables with live dealers, which do not use an algorithm-based mechanism.
Start by playing for free. Experiment with roulette strategies, familiarize yourself with the odds of each bet, count how many rounds you play in a given time frame, and pay close attention to the details. As with any casino game, the details make all the difference.
Finally, since these tables simulate real-life games and scenarios, you will realize that extreme scenarios can occur, such as ten consecutive black outcomes or the same number appearing repeatedly. That is why you should not exclude them from your betting strategy.
Roulette originated as Pascal’s wheel, which had 36 numbers and a single zero. This basic version, in its original form, is known as European Roulette. It features a single zero and specific inside and outside bets.
A similar version soon appeared and remained the most popular in France, the game’s homeland, by the time Pascal’s roulette had already begun its “journey” around the world. In this version, if the ball lands on 0, outside bets do not lose the entire amount, only half. This is known as the La Partage rule. Similarly, French roulette has the En Prison rule. With this rule, on bets that pay 1 to 1, if 0 comes up, the stake is not lost but remains on the table for one more spin.
In American roulette, the numbers on the wheel are arranged differently. The biggest difference, however, is that the wheel has 38 numbers (36 plus 0 and 00), which increases the likelihood of losing.
Of course, in the internet age, there are hundreds of other versions, too. The odds vary greatly from game to game. A stroll through the lobbies of legitimate live casinos will dazzle you with high-quality variations from providers such as Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play, and Playtech.
However, if you want the best chance of winning, look for French roulette. Not that you won’t have fun with the others. It’s just that the house edge drops to 1.35% for even-money bets thanks to the two aforementioned rules.
If you ever play roulette, regardless of where or when, you’ll understand why so many players prefer it. Few casino games – perhaps only slots – can offer multipliers of 35x and 36x on your stake. But is that the only reason it’s so popular all over the world?
The answer is no. The beauty of it is that you can play with friends without getting annoyed by what the person next to you is doing. Unlike in Blackjack, one person’s decisions don’t affect others at the table. There are also quite a few people who go to the casino just to socialize with the dealers.
Now, however, in the internet age, roulette has taken on a whole new dimension. It has become a platform for launching exciting new versions. These versions have superb graphics and gameplay, multipliers that can reach 1000x, and more betting opportunities. We would have liked to conclude this article by saying that the systems we analyzed above can guarantee winnings. We won’t make that claim. However, we can guarantee that they offer an interesting alternative to the standard way of playing. After all, roulette is exciting enough on its own!
Every casino in our list has been tested for licence, live-dealer tables and payout speed.
European and American roulette differ in the number of zeros they have: European and French roulette have a single zero, while American roulette has a zero and a double zero. This means there are 38 possible outcomes, which changes the odds. To the player’s disadvantage, of course!
You will definitely get a roulette bonus If you play at a legitimate casino like those in our list. All websites in the industry offer welcome bonuses and regular promotions* for roulette players. Nowadays, however, many land-based casinos also have offers* for first-time visitors. Some even have offers for roulette VIPs.
The Martingale and the Reverse Martingale are probably the best systems in Roulette. However, there is no mathematical proof that any of the systems we analyzed above guarantee winnings. They can certainly improve your strategy, especially if you play haphazardly. Mind you though, all systems have their weaknesses. Use them wisely.
The Orphans in Roulette is a bet on the numbers surrounding 0 and 00 on the Roulette Wheel. These numbers are 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, and 34. Due to their location, they cannot be selected as a combination with a bet on the main table. However, there is a corresponding bet on the outside of the wheel. And it actually has quite a few devotees.
Yes, at several casinos on the internet you can play at high-quality localised tables from Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play, and Playtech. There are English, German, Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Greek, Hindi and several other translations of the popular game.
