The last decade has seen the rise of roulette in online casinos, breathing new life into the traditional game of chance. The word ‘roulette’ originated in France and means a small wheel. The croupier throws a ball and spins the wheel, which lands randomly on one of the numbered and coloured pockets. There are 37 pockets, except for American roulette, which has 38 pockets.
Types of Online Roulette
Players should be informed that there are several versions of roulette. The most popular are European, American, French, and lightning roulette. There are slight differences in the rules, with the American version having a slightly better house edge due to the extra number on the wheel. Many online casinos today offer a wide range of lightning roulette options and a unique live dealer casino that is the cream of the cream! The immersive features and player interaction are irreplaceable and recreate a true land-based casino.
Variety of bets
Players have a variety of options for betting on the outcome of a spin. They can bet on a specific number, a black or red number, grouping of numbers, high or low bets and much more. Each bet has different probabilities and payouts. Admittedly, the betting system may seem complicated at first glance, but players will soon get used to it. If new players stick to some basic rules, although there is no guarantee of victory, the chances of achieving it can be increased.
The Roulette Wheel
Understanding the wheel is key. The zero pocket is always there and can affect the outcome of bets. There is still a chance that the ball will fall into this pocket, thus changing the odds. Betting on colours gives a 48.6% chance rather than 50%, with the difference increasing even more with American roulette due to the extra number in the wheel.
Terminology and betting
The second thing to master is the terminology used, especially for the more complex betting options. The simplest bet is to pick a number. This type of bet is called a straight bet. It is the most unlikely bet to succeed but pays out the highest odds. Players can also choose to bet on a group of numbers, such as the first, second or third dozen numbers, which are numbers 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36. Another popular and simple bet for novices is to choose a colour: black or red.
Roulette Strategies
Many strategies claim to increase your chances of winning at roulette. While no approach can guarantee victory, it may be a good idea to take a few ideas from them. For starters, the most critical factor is timing. Players should not make rash bets in the beginning. It is advisable to stay consistent with lower bets, but over a longer period of time. Roulette is primarily a game of chance rather than skill. The main factors are patience and budget management during the game.
Martingale & Reverse Martingale Systems
One of the most quoted roulette strategies is the Martingale system. It suggests increasing the bet after every loss. Players will need nerves of steel and buckets of patience as losses begin to accumulate before a bigger win materialises. Also known as ‘Paroli’, the reverse Martingale system suggests a positive progression that increases the bet after each win to ride a winning streak. At the same time, the system advocates betting progressively less after a loss to minimise losses.