Roulette: An insight into the gameDespite being one of the oldest true casino games in the world, roulette isn’t showing any signs of becoming outdated and is still one of the most popular games in the casino. Players aren't just heading to the casino to enjoy roulette either, with millions logging on and spinning virtual wheels over the internet to get their fix. This ease of access and increased exposure has led to roulette being more than just a simple casino diversion, with tactics,
science, psychology and exploits dominating gameplay.One of the leading online casinos out there, 888casino, have created a one of a kind comprehensive educational roulette manual written by Frank Scoblete, the well-known casino pro and author of many books, this is undoubtedly
the best roulette strategy guide available. Early forms of Roulette started out in the late 1700s, so it isn't like we haven't had much time to figure out how to beat it. The game consists of a wheel (The word Roulette is French, meaning 'little wheel') with sections ending in pockets that run all the way to the edge like spokes, with each pocket numbered from 0 or 00 to 36. These 'single zero' (European) and 'double zero' (American) wheels have a specific layout, with alternating sections painted either red or black or green for zero. The whole wheel is mounted on an axle, which allows it to spin before coming to a rest.
The croupier begins the game by spinning the wheel fast enough so the numbers can’t be read, before releasing a small ball, either ivory, steel or plastic onto a raised platform above the numbered sections in the opposite direction to the spin of the wheel. Players can place bets until the croupier declares that no more bets can be made and the ball will eventually land in a numbered section. Players can bet on multiple outcomes, including the colour of the section, whether the number is odd or even, whether it is in a certain range or across multiple numbers, or if they are feeling lucky, on the exact number itself. There are also other 'outside' bets, where specific numbers can be chosen to increase the odds, i.e. a 'snake bet'.The casino depends
heavily on mathematics and player’s to ensure that the roulette wheel will give a house edge and prevent players from making too much money. Roulette is always weighted in favour of the casino, with the player having a 1 in 36 or 1 in 37 chance when gambling on a particular number and the casino having a 35 in 36 or 36 in 37 chance of retaining the bet (depending on whether a European or American wheel is being used). There are however shorter odds, such as betting on red and black or on 'dozens', aka the 3 groups of numbers that can also be wagered upon. The Martingale system is a popular method that relies on a player picking a colour to start off, then doubling their bet if they lose. In the long run, this should pay out eventually but of course player’s funds are limited and tables have upper limits if it takes many spins to make a return.Novice players need to be careful not fall for what is known as
'gambler's fallacy'. This is where players may observe three red numbers in a row for example, then decide the next number will probably be black and bet on it. The odds never change however, with the outcome always 50/50, even if there have been millions of black numbers in a row!There are also complicated strategies with fancy names that take a mixture of brain power and probability knowledge, i.e. The 'Double Negative', or the 'D'Alambert Strategy' that can take players down a rabbit hole that is more than just enjoying a game of roulette and more of a maths test. Either way, there are still some great strategies that are both simples to master and will give proven results with a bit of practice.
