Australian Roulette Guide - It's More Than Just a Pretty Name

Many people immediately equate the game of Roulette with the thrill of Monte Carlo, Vegas, and high stakes casino action. Any fan of the silver screen knows that the Roulette wheel is equated with the thrill of the chase, big money, and of course romance. 

The truth is the game of Roulette began in the 1600s, most likely by monks at a monastery. The purpose was not to find a way to raise money. The historical theory is varied, ranging from boredom to a more logical, mathematical reason. Whatever the initial purpose for creating a wheel with numbers and the spin of chance, it was created by the French. The word roulette means "little wheel".

This little wheel has brought a great deal of gaming enthusiasts centuries of enjoyment. Many enter into a casino, and above the noise of the casino, the chiming of winning slots, and the bellow of craps dealers you will see the crowds gathering around the beautiful spinning wheel. To win on the Roulette wheel is the fantasy of new and old gamblers. There is just something mystical and alluring about the magic wheel. Knowing how to ride this adult carousel is the key to making those winning fantasies come true.

What to Know About Roulette

• American Roulette has slots for 0 and 00, while the European Roulette only has a 0
• A roulette wheel is a wheel of chance set into a bowl designed for fluid spinning
• American Roulette has 38 slots and European Roulette has 37
• American Roulette gives the casino a greater house edge than European
• All roulette spaces are red and black other than the 0 and 00

How Roulette Works

Before you get started playing roulette at a casino you need to know the basics of how the game works. Essentially a dealer spins a grooved wheel and tosses a ball on top of it. The ball bounces over top of the wheel and eventually lands in a section. The sections have even and odd numbers and red or black colours. Before the wheel is spun you bet on where the ball is going to land. If you’re right you receive a payout based on the amount you bet. If you’re wrong you forfeit the money bet.

How Do I Get Started: What Are the Rules

When learning the game of Roulette, it is important to remember that there are actually two versions. There is the American version and the European version of play. That differentiation is forthcoming. First things first!

What exactly is a Roulette wheel? It is a wheel of chance that is set into a bowl that allows for fluid spinning action. The bowl revolves one way with a ball that is dropped and revolves the opposing direction. Eventually, the ball will land in one of the 38 divisions on the edge of the wheel. For modern European and Latin American tables, there are 37 divisions. The number that the ball lands on is the winning number.

Prior to a dealer rolling the ball, players place bets on the betting area. Players lay down chips specifically on numbers or colours that they believe will be the winning numbers or colours. The betting surface is defined by rows of three numbers aligned in columns, the rows as such known as inside bets:

• Row 1: 1, 2, 3
• Row 2: 4, 5, 6
• …
• Row 12: 34, 35, 36

The rows and columns are crowned with either the 0 (European Roulette) or the 0 and 00 (American Roulette). There are also outside bets where players can bet on sets of numbers, colours, and or "odds" or "evens" only.

When approaching the table for the first time, it is important to understand the betting layout of the surface as well as subsequent payout of each of the bets. Doing so will help you get familiar with the layout before playing with real money.

Improve your play further by following our top roulette tips.

Bets and Payouts

The table and corresponding numbers on the wheel are divided up randomly between red and black. There are an equal number of red and black numbers, or in keeping with the language of roulette, rouge and noir. There is also an equal number of even and odd, numbers pair, or impair.

• Rouge: 1,3,5,7,9,12,14,16,18,19,21,23,25,27,30,32,34,36
• Noir: 2,4,6,7,10,11,13,15,17,20,22,24,26,28,29,31,33,35

The payouts are the greatest when choosing a single number, but that is because the odds are very low that you will win them. The payouts are 35:1. Roulette is a game of chance. Many people have their favourite numbers and choose to walk on the wild side now and then and leave it to chance. But that is part of what makes the game so exciting.

Choosing a Strategy

Because Roulette is strictly a game of chance, one will never find a sure fire system. There are many varieties of systems out there and many people swear by them. But for every system there is a failure. That is why it is important to mix up strategies and go with the flow when one strategy seems to be working over another.

There are those aficionados who believe the best thing to do is to press a little when you are winning, and back off and coast when you are not. It is virtually impossible to influence an outcome by placing specific bets. This is one wheel that you cannot drive! The more you win, the more you bet, and so it goes. Unless when your bankroll is taking a hit, of course.

There is no need to let the odds deter you from the excitement that Roulette provides to players. And, yes, there is some big money to win by way of Roulette. But like any games of chance, you let the flow of the game dictate your action. Most importantly, you should establish your own way and stick with that as an individual strategy. If you haven't found a pattern that works for you other than the numbers you found in a fortune cookie, then maybe try a couple of the most widely regarded strategies and systems.

Systems of Play

Parlay System: Much like the Paroli System, parlay means to keep playing with all your winnings. So if you bet 5 and win 5 then you would bet 10 next time. The important idea to take from this system is to stop betting at some point and to walk away with all your winnings. This works well for creating massive wins over a short period of good luck and doesn’t risk anything other than your winnings.

1-3-2-6 System: Very similar to the Paroli System, but in this case it's mostly semantics. This system suggests that you can win four times in a row. One unit is your initial bet, the second bet is three units, the third bet is two units and the fourth is six units.

Martingale System: The Martingale system of betting works well for players who have a large bankroll and are willing to make bold plays. To use this system players simply continue making the same bet each time they win. They double their bet each time that they lose. So if you win 5 then you would continue betting 5 each time you win. The moment you lose though you double that bet to 10 and continue doubling for every loss until you win. When you win you will have made up for all that you lost and won one unit. Go back down to your base bet and continue betting the base until you win again.

This strategy works well when there is no bet cap, but that’s almost never the case at a casino. You risk losing big when you run out of money to bet, or you reach the bet cap and you still lose.

Paroli System: You start with one bet and you increase your bet when you win rather than when you lose. This is the complete opposite of the Martingale System. The system is a bit more relaxed because you’re only risking prize money rather than your own bankroll. If you keep doubling your bet and eventually lose, you’ll just be out prize money. It’s important to stop after a couple wins or you’ll inevitably lose all your winnings.

When the day is done, the idea is to quit a winner. For some, leaving with what you came with is a huge win. Leaders in the field suggest the worst strategy overall is the "win the spin" mentality. This focuses you on one number at a time and rarely does that happen. There is a reason why the payouts are 35:1 on a single number. One could say it's truly an "oddity".

Variations of Roulette

The primary difference between the three varieties comes down to zero, though not to be confused with nothing, zilch, nada. Rather, to zero and zeroes. Read on and discover a little more than zero.

European Roulette

The European Roulette game has one less notch in the wheel than the American Roulette and is similar in numeration to the French Roulette wheel. There is only one green space on the wheel and on the betting layout. It is a single zero, whereas a North American board will have that and a slot with two zeros.

Although this seems like an insignificant zero variation, it changes your odds significantly. Not only does it reduce the odds and impact your chances of winning, it impacts your bankroll. The chance of hitting your number goes from 36:1 to 37:1. The European varietal is in your favour over all. However, it is important to realize that the ultimate payout is not different between the varietals. One number is worth 35:1 regardless of the number of notches on the wheel. In the end this means that, over time, you have a greater chance of winning when you play European Roulette.

French Roulette

The same wheel used for European Roulette is used for the French varietal. This means that it has one less notch on the wheel than the American wheel, one zero compared to two zeroes.  The primary difference between the European and French games lies in the "shared" or "La Partage" rule. The La Partage rule states:

• When you bet on odds or evens and the ball lands on the zero then you get half of your bet back. The dealer takes half of your bet and returns half of it to you. This coupled with the reduction in numbers on the wheel increase your winning potential.  A reduction in the house edge is significant. The difference between French and European Roulette is 2.7% house edge in standard European roulette to just 1.35% house advantage in French Roulette.

American Roulette

American Roulette has not just one zero on the wheel and on the betting layout, but a zero and a double zero. In the long run, the difference is statistically significant. Even though you have 38 notches or slots on the wheel, the greatest payouts on the table are still 35:1. That increases the house edge significantly. Keeping in mind that the European Roulette casino advantage is 2.7% and the French edge is 1.35%, the American edge is extreme at 5.27%. Remember that this difference really only affects real money bets on groups of numbers. If you enjoy betting on noir or rouge, or pair/impair, then there will be minimal change.

Can I Play Online?

You dream of walking into a casino and feeling the energy, and you anticipate laying a bet on that lucky number. After studying and exploring the game of Roulette, you are ready. Sadly, the nearest brick and mortar casino is hours away. You are ready to jump in and experience a system.

Great news: real money winning is not just for land-based casinos. Online Roulette is the next best thing, and in many ways even better. Many of the online Roulette casinos offer incredible bonuses. Don't worry about what variety of play you are engaging in. You can win and increase your bankroll just by making your first deposit.

One key difference between online casino play and land-based casinos is not only the hefty bonuses or better environment in which to focus on your game. Very often, you will be able to choose which varietal you wish to play on. And as we outlined before, there is a significant difference between American, European and French Roulette. 

Whether you prefer to play a "virtual" game of Roulette or a "real" game, there are some very important tips and strategies to follow. Check out what our experts have to say.

Top Tips

It is very important to determine how much money you can actually risk when playing any games of chance. While some risks are better than others, anytime you enter into a casino you have to have a game plan prepared. Our experts have compiled top tips for Roulette:

Play the outside: Make bets on things like colour and even or odd. Although this may not seem glamorous, the chances of winning are greater. You increase your odds, and when you start winning you can venture out and experience the rush of being bold.

Be focused: It is so important to pay close attention to what numbers have shown and, yes, if there are any trends that you can identify. Overall, it is a game of chance and odds.

Play for Free to Begin Learning

Before you play at one of the real money tables you should take the time to get to know roulette at a free table. This will help you learn the different strategies and help you perfect your technique. After you get comfortable with the game you can move on to pay tables and you’ll fare better than you would if you just started off for real money immediately.

Limit outside influences: Although a libation of choice may be enjoyable, limit how much you consume as well as too many conversations. If you are there to win it, then limit.

Go for the bonus: Bonuses can significantly extend your playtime and your bankroll. Explore online and find reputable online casinos that provide variety and, in some cases, a no-deposit bonus.

Variety is the spice of life: Choose online casinos that offer European, French, and American Roulette. Beginning with European or French will advance your skill level with an increased advantage and give your more practice time. They also increase your chances of winning money over the American variety, so try to stick to them when you can.

Play at a Reputable Casino The worst thing that you can do is play at a casino that isn’t offering fair odds and gameplay that you can count on. Always take your time when selecting a casino to play at and make sure that they are well reviewed and built on quality software. Doing so helps you guarantee that you’re getting good odds and that you can count on the results of the games.

Only Gamble with Your Bankroll Not your Winnings An excellent way to improve your chances of walking away with more money than what you started with is to only play with your original bankroll money and to never use any of your winnings. Simply set aside the amount that you win as you play and gamble with what you came to the table with. When you run out of your original bankroll simply walk away from the table without ever using any of your winnings.

Know the Odds It’s important for you to know all the odds of different bets before you begin placing them. It’s easy to gamble away your money on a bet with poor odds if you don’t realise it has poor odds initially. When you know what the odds are for each and every bet you’ll be less likely to make costly bets with little chance of paying out and you’ll begin winning more consistently.

Beginner's Mistakes

The first thing beginners should do is to explore what Roulette is: the varieties, the general bets and rules, and why it's important to follow our expert tips. But to be more specific, some of the beginner mistakes to avoid are as follows:

Not creating a financial plan and sticking to it.

Because Roulette is a game of chance, it is in the end a gamble. While there are those who will claim that they won big, there is likely another truth buried somewhere in the story, namely that in fact they lost along the way to riches. Now, don't be discouraged, you can win real money and have a great time doing it. How much are you willing to lose? The best bet is to start slowly with a maximum investment in mind. And when you win, enjoy the win!

Not choosing the right wheel.

Choosing the right wheel to begin your madcap adventure is the difference between a 2.70% house edge and a 5.26% casino edge. The American Roulette wheel doubles the house advantage. Go with either the European or the French, start low and slow and learn and grow.

Rushing ahead.

Rushing ahead is about placing bets out of your league because you have watched too many movies and think that maybe Lady Luck is on your side. Another form of it is believing that you can place your whole bankroll on the likes of your mother's birthday and you will hit 35:1. It is better to think of your $50 bankroll in terms of 10 wagers of $5 with a chance of building up slowly. When you have that extra $5, then you can call upon dear ole' mom to give you the big win.

Placing too many wagers on one spin.

Pace yourself. You have time; it's on your side. The casino is betting on your novice energy to win it big fast. If you want to increase your chances of winning, place an outside bet or choose an inside bet that covers more than one number with a single bet. Sure, it reduces down the return on your investment, but you won't lose multiple times on one spin of the wheel.

Believing that online Roulette isn't real Roulette.

Let's face it, experiencing the rush of live casino action is sublime. However, it can be distracting, inconvenient, and more expensive in the long run. Why waste gaming funds on food, drink, transportation, and in some cases parking when you can play online or even mobile for free? More money on the wheel means greater potential to win real money. Also, online casinos are very generous with welcome bonuses, loyalty bonuses, and additional promotions that brick and mortar establishments cannot give you. But even more importantly, most North American land-based casinos only offer the American wheel. Online casinos offer a much greater wheel variety.

Not taking advantage of free online Roulette.

This could actually be the most costly of all mistakes made by novices. You are entering into a new territory of gambling. You have never played before. You don't understand all the warnings, guidelines, and variances in Roulette wheels. You might even believe that our experts are blowing smoke. But the truth is that experience has showed us that learning the game is the first step in winning the game. Go ahead, play a free online game of American Roulette and wager the same amount of money and pattern on European and French tables and measure the difference.

Not knowing when to quit.

This applies to all games of chance, and even games of skill such as poker. Whether you're playing on land or online, there comes a time when you are merely chasing the loss in order to win. This will not only frustrate you, it could break your bankroll. Even the super star professionals will tell you that you're bound to lose when caught up in that dynamic.

Have Fun! It is just a game. As long as you apply all these strategies to the game and you don’t rush into high limit games right away you should have a positive playing experience when enjoying roulette. The game is quite simple and that’s why it’s attractive to so many players.

More Popular Games