Among all the table games you’ll find on a casino gaming floor, roulette might seem the most difficult to pick up. However, the game is actually quite simple.
BetMGM’s contingent of online casino games can make learning roulette convenient, but many players prefer to play at a physical casino. Taking a spot at a roulette table in a casino can be intimidating for some less experienced players, though.
A little research can go a long way before you step up to the table, and you can gain confidence as you play. Playing roulette at a casino is as simple as settling on your comfort with risk, establishing your budget, and learning the betting options.
The Basics of Roulette Gameplay
On the simplest level, your only objective in roulette is try to predict what number or numbers the roulette ball will land on when the wheel stops spinning. If you guess correctly, you win.
You denote which bet(s) you want to place by putting the chips you wish to risk on a corresponding spot on the roulette table. Once all the bets are in from everyone playing, the croupier (the person operating the game) will declare “no more bets,” begin the wheel’s action, and release the ball onto the wheel.
When the wheel stops and the ball comes to a rest, the croupier will denote the winning result by placing what is called a dolly on the spot on the table corresponding to the slot where the ball came to a rest. The croupier will then collect the chips from all the losing wagers for the house and award new chips to any players who got lucky enough to win their bets.
At that point, players can withdraw if they choose or place new bets on the next spin. Players can continue to play as long as they have enough chips to meet the table’s minimum, which is usually posted clearly.
Outside of operating the game, the croupier is also there to assist players with their choices. It is not a violation of standard table etiquette for players to ask questions, although taking that to an extreme may annoy some players who want to get on with the game.
That’s why it’s best to familiarize yourself with the different types of roulette bets before you put down your chips on a table.
What Kinds of Bets Can I Make in Roulette?
To understand the various categories of bets in roulette, it’s good to also become familiar with terminology used in roulette. Many of the phrases and words involve wager options themselves.
Basic bets in roulette fall into two categories; inside and outside. Inside bets refer to numbers that are inside of the grid on the roulette table whereas outside bets refer to the numbers on the table. Remember that these distinctions refer to the table, not the wheel.
Within these categories are a number of individual wagers, many of which you can make simultaneously if you like. For example, on the inside, you can bet straight up.
That means you are simply betting on the pill (the ball) to land on a specific number. On the outside, you could put down a Red/Black bet, in which you wager on the ball to either land on a black or red number.
While these bet options can present a lot of ways to differentiate your plays, slight variations to the rules in roulette can increase your choices further.
Which Roulette Variant is the Best?
On many casino floors, you might find multiple versions of roulette. The two most common varieties are American and European.
European is the original, the closest to the game that first became popular over the long and interesting history of roulette. There are 36 numbers that alternate between black and red with a green zero spot.
American roulette, on the other hand, adds a second green spot. The number on that spot is a double zero. Because of that extra spot, American roulette has a house edge that is more favorable to the casino.
If that makes you wonder why anyone would ever play American roulette, some players prefer the game because the extra spot affords even more ways to bet on the game. If you get lucky, the potential payouts can be larger due to the extra risk.
You may find other variants and if you have questions, casino staff are happy to help. Whether you have questions about the layout of the roulette table and wheel or side bet options, it’s best to play knowing what you’re getting into.
What is the Best Roulette Side Bet?
If side bets in roulette interest you, it’s important to first become adept at the standard wagers in the game as you will usually need to place one of those bets before you can lay a side bet. If you’re interested in side bets, this is also a great example of why you need to pick the right roulette variant to match your interest.
The rules of the respective roulette games will dictate what side bets are an option. An example of one is the Lucky Ball side bet, which is a kind of “blind bet” because you won’t know what number you need the ball to land on until the game selects it for you.
Typically, side bets in roulette come with greater risk than most of the standard wagers and therefore can be quite rewarding if your luck holds out. At the same time, there is no one universal best side bet in every situation in roulette.
Navigating roulette side bets like a pro is as much about learning when not to place them as it is striking at the right time. In any situation, successful roulette playing is about managing your bankroll.
Successful Roulette Strategies in the Casino
Like with any other casino game, a winning strategy is setting a budget for your roulette session and deciding on an amount you are going to risk on each spin. Among other great roulette money management tips is setting loss and win limits for your roulette play.
Another huge part of formulating a solid roulette strategy is accepting that there is nothing you can do to influence the game once you have put your bet(s) down and it’s all a matter of pure chance. Avoiding the gamblers’ fallacy is also key.
The gamblers’ fallacy is a superstition that holds that if a number hasn’t hit in a while, it must be due soon. This is completely false. Each spin in roulette is completely independent of all the preceding spins and the odds totally reset every time.
If you want to see the random nature of roulette in action before you go to a casino, playing the game online can be a stellar way to do so.
Play Roulette Online at BetMGM
Remember, if you can’t get to a casino, visit BetMGM Casino for the next best thing – live dealer roulette – which has the closest look and feel to the real thing. BetMGM welcomes players from four US states to try out playing roulette online, whether they are novices or veterans of the game. Those states are:
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Among your options for roulette play at BetMGM are online versions, where everything is completely digital, and live-dealer games, where you virtually take a seat at a real roulette table in a broadcast studio. When you register for BetMGM, you can use the bonus funds from your casino welcome bonus to find the roulette games you prefer.
Roulette is a game of chance that casino guests return to again and again because no two games are ever identical and mastering it takes a lot of experience. BetMGM is happy to help you build your roulette resumé.
