The goal of the game of Roulette is for the player to predict which slot on the Roulette wheel the marble will fall into when the dealer (or croupier) spins the wheel.
The Roulette wheel has either 37 or 38 slots, (depending on whether you’re playing the American or the European version). The numbers 0 through 36 are assigned to each slot, plus an extra slot for the “00” in most American casinos. Players simply bet on which slot the ball will fall into. The Roulette table has a grid with each color-coded possibility labeled. Players make their bets by placing chips on the number or numbers they choose. They can choose a single number, or they can choose a category, such as “red numbers” or “odd numbers”. Then the dealer starts the Roulette wheel spinning. As the Roulette wheel is spinning, the dealer throws out the marble, and it spins around the edge of the Roulette wheel, eventually losing momentum and falling into one of the slots. Anyone who has bet on that number, color, or odd/even category is a winner.
All you have to do is to correctly predict where the marble will fall. But how can you possibly guess? Here are some tips to help you play Roulette responsibly, and have fun…
Play in a real casino, not online.
Roulette is a good crowd game, something that’s exciting to watch and follow along with. Playing at home, alone, online, takes all the camaraderie out of it. And, it’s way too easy to just sit at your screen for hours, losing money that you really can’t afford.
When it comes to games like Poker or blackjack, the real fun is when you are in a live casino with real players and machines to help you decide your fortune but that doesn’t mean that online portals should be neglected as they are a good place to practice.
Know Your Limits
Decide IN ADVANCE how much money you will play with. Don’t even take extra money or credit cards with you. You can’t spend what you don’t have with you, and this will keep you from getting so excited or wrapped up in the Roulette game that you get carried away in the heat of the moment.
Play the European Wheels
American Roulette wheels have an extra slot, the “00”, that tilts the odds slightly more in favor of the casino. As the player, your odds are better on the European Roulette wheels, so if you have a choice, pick the European one.
Don’t Believe in ‘Streaks’
The Roulette marble has no memory! Just because it landed on a red slot the last ten times does NOT mean that it’s ‘due’ to land on black soon. Every new spin of the Roulette wheel is independent of all the spins before and after it.
Don’t Buy a “System”
You can’t “fix” the odds in Roulette. No book or course is going to give you the secret to winning Roulette, so don’t waste your money on them. Roulette wheels are inspected for balance and integrity by state gaming authorities. A fair Roulette wheel truly cannot be predicted. Roulette is a game of chance. Accept that and just have fun with it.
Don’t take the Free Drinks
Casinos will frequently offer free drinks or even food to people that are winning at their Roulette tables. They are not just being nice! If you actually do manage to win some of the casino’s money, they know that the longer you keep playing, the better the chance they have to win it back from you. So they do what it takes to keep you at the table. If you get hungry or thirsty, they’ll give you what you need to keep you from heading for the restaurant instead. And if they can get you drinking something alcoholic, they know that your judgment will be impaired. There’s a good chance that you’ll make bad decisions while you’re playing Roulette, and lose back their money.
Understand the Odds
Realize that the house will usually win. They’re in business to make money, and all the games odds favor the house. Always. Know that different bets pay out differently, and consider spreading your money around to make it last longer. Always understand that you are buying ‘fun’. You are paying for the entertainment of playing.
Know When to Stop
Playing Roulette, or any other gambling game, is paying for entertainment. Always make sure that the fun you’re having justifies the money you’re spending. If it’s not, quit. Don’t be embarrassed to just get up from the Roulette table and walk away.
Always play responsibly. If you think you might have a gambling problem, or if you know someone who needs help, please call 1-800-BETS-OFF, or visit www.1800betsoff.org on the Web.
