Learning to play roulette can be a relatively painless experience, just
so long as the ones teaching you don't have a bias. Many who claim they
wish to teach you how to play roulette are actually pushing a system.
To read up on systems and how to use them effectively visit our roulette
system section. Why should you read this page then? What's my hidden agenda?
It's relatively innocent, no worries, I just throw some advertising up
on my site in the hopes that if someone does want to play roulette online,
they'll get there from here. So to help you out, on this page we cover
how to place your bets, what you need to know to do it smoothly, and the
value of each option.
Placing your bets
Like all table games you can play at the casino, roulette has what are known as 'table limits'. These limits define how little you must bet at the table, and how much you are allowed to bet. You may be confused as to why casinos would limit the upper amount of what you may spend at one time when you play roulette, but that little secret is revealed on our roulette systems page. The lower limit at a roulette table comes into effect in two different ways: one for inside bets, and another for outside bets. You are required to play the table minimum at least on each of your outside bets; on inside bets the total of all of your bets must meet or exceed the table minimum. This bit of information is all you need to know in order to start to play roulette.
Inside Bets
As we know, there are two types of bet you can place when you play roulette: outside bets and inside bets. Lets start by looking at the inside bets. The inside bets are made up of specific numbers or combinations of numbers within the number layout, or along the border of it. Remember, the total of all of your bets must add up to at least the table minimum. This means if your table minimum is five dollars, you can put one dollar down on five different numbers and be ok. The same is not true for outside bets.
Straight-Up bet - This is the bet you may think of first in roulette. Pick a single number, and if it comes up you win. This bet pays back at 35 to 1.
Split bet - This bet allows you to place a single bet on two different numbers if those numbers are beside each other on the table layout. To play this bet put your chips down on the line between them. This bet pays 17 to 1 if either of your chosen numbers come up.
Street bet - This bet is just like the split bet, but you're splitting over three numbers. You accomplish this by placing chips on the outside of the row of numbers you want to bet on. So if you want to bet on the numbers 1, 2, and 3 all at once, put your chips down on the line that is the outside edge of the 3. This bet pays 11 to 1.
Corner bet - The corner bet is another combination wager, letting you bet on four adjoining numbers. Placing your chips at the point where four numbers meet will indicate you want a corner bet. This is sometimes referred to as a square bet. If any of the four numbers come up, you're paid 8 to 1.
Fiver number bet - There is only one five number bet available, and as such, it's referred to as the five number bet. To play this bet put your chips at the intersection of 0 and 1 on the corner (not the corner that joins with two, but the other one). You can win if any of 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3 are hit. You are paid 6 to 1. Sadly this is bet has a higher house edge of any others when you play roulette.
To read more about how to play roulette, including details on outside bets, read on...