Roulette is a very popular game all over the world. It is entirely a game of fortune and luck, which attracts thousands of people each year to try their luck. Popularised in the casino of Monte Carlo in Monaco, it has now spread to many countries and enjoys quite the popularity. It is the perfect gambler’s game, where practice is matched with the turns of a simple wheel. However, it is not played at random. There are specific rules for the game to be played.
The aim of roulette is to predict where exactly the ball will land after each spin of the wheel and bet accordingly. Some players do this by random selection, other by lucky choices and yet others by observing the numbers that show up frequently while playing. The rules of roulette are quite simple in essence and do not differ much.
Up to eight players can play at the roulette table at a given time. In the game, the house is represented by the croupier. The croupier is the dealer and takes care of all the bets placed and the respective winnings or losses. For the game to be played, each player must have chips to bet. These come in different colours so that the wagers are not confused on the table. To start the game, players place a bet on any number they wish in the roulette wheel. The wheel has either 37 or 38 slot, depending on the European and American version of the game. They are numbered from 0 to 36 in the European version and have an extra 00 slot in the American version.
One can make bets on the table layout that has numbers noted on it or on the outside of this layout. Once this is done, the dealer spins the roulette wheel and lets the ball roll in it. During this time new bets can be added and old ones can be changed. At a point, when the dealer announces that no new bets can be placed, all wagers are stopped. When the wheel stops, the ball drops into a numbered slot. Those who bet on the number or nearest to it win and others lose. If the bet was on the outside, then it can be won if the number is represented. After one has played as much as they wish to, these chips can be exchanged for money.
Some casinos, to offer a fair play allow the players to take back half their bets or bet the whole amount again if the ball lands on zero. However, if the ball lands on zero once again, then the bet is lost. This is known as the En Prison rule. There is also the La Partage Rule, in which the player loses half the bet and cannot bet the entire amount for the next turn. This is used to bring in more advantage to the house. The rules of roulette are essentially meant to keep it unpredictable yet fast paced so that it remains interesting for all.
This article was written by Ridhi Rajpal.