Reduce the House Edge and Increase Your Chances of Winning at Roulette
Roulette is the casino game most people associate with glamour and mystery, although it provides a surprising level of depth for serious betters. The game is easy enough for a casual player to play and understand, but the best strategy can significantly reduce the house edge and increase your chances of winning.
The name roulette is derived from the French word for little wheel, and it’s been around since the 17th century. It was invented by the French physicist Blaise Pascal as part of his quest to create a perpetual motion machine, and it took off in popularity quickly. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it gained even more traction in European casinos. In the US, however, it still has a smaller following than games like craps, blackjack and video poker.
When a gambler bets on a specific number, they do so by placing chips on a betting mat in front of them. The precise placement of these chips is a signal to the dealer that a particular bet is being made. The bets are then placed in the proper slot on the table. Those bets that cover six numbers or less are known as Inside bets and those covering 12 or more are called Outside bets.
Some of the most popular bets in roulette are the red/black and odd/even. While these bets offer some of the lowest odds, they also have one of the largest payouts should you win. Outside bets are also available, with their odds slightly lower than those of the inside bets.
A good way to reduce the house edge in roulette is to choose a table with a low minimum bet. Each roulette table carries a placard that describes the minimum and maximum bets allowed. Look for a table with a low minimum bet and a high maximum bet to maximize your chances of winning.
Once the ball has stopped spinning, the dealer will place a marker on the winning number. This will remove the losing chips and the winners will be paid. Winners are encouraged to cash out their chips as soon as possible. This helps them stay within their predetermined budget for future bets. Some players like to watch the other players, hoping to learn something about the game that they don’t or to do the opposite of what their opponents are doing. This is a waste of time, however, as it won’t improve your odds more than coincidence would.
Some betters like to use the Martingale system for roulette, which requires doubling the size of your bet after every loss. This is an effective strategy for even money bets, but it’s not suitable for other types of casino bets like high/low or red/black.