Roulette gambling list 2023

The roulette gambling list will give you an in-depth at all types of this popular casino game. We will break down all aspects of roulette, including the rules, gameplay, bet types, online roulette, top movies about roulette, roulette variants and where to play. Roulette is available at most retail casinos globally, with it one of the highest-paying and risky games available. However the risks taken on by roulette players are tempered by the huge rewards and payouts the game can spit out.


Roulette gambling introduction

Roulette is one of the most enduring casino table games, a sleek, thrill-a-minute, high-stakes game of chance. There is nothing like the excitement of watching that little steel ball ricochet around the wheel and pop into your number, colour or row of choice.

The word ‘roulette’ conjures up images of Monte Carlo and other glamorous casinos, and huge stakes riding on a single spin, with players transfixed and scarcely breathing as they await the outcome.

But the question you must ask is whether the excitement of the “devil’s wheel’’ compensates for the house edge you are conceding.

A couple of things have become clear to us in our long and largely unprofitable experiences with roulette: there is no way to consistently beat the house, though there are staking plans that can give you the best possible chance; and if you have the choice you should play European roulette over the American alternative (see below).


Roulette rules

Roulette is a popular casino game that involves a spinning wheel and a ball. The objective of the game is to correctly predict where the ball will land on the spinning wheel. Here are the basic rules of roulette:

  1. The roulette wheel has 36 numbered slots (1-36) alternating in red and black colors, and one or two green slots for 0 and/or 00 depending on the version of roulette being played.
  2. Players can make bets on individual numbers or groups of numbers, including odd or even numbers, red or black colors, or high or low numbers.
  3. Before the spin, players place their bets on the table. The dealer, or croupier, then spins the wheel and drops the ball onto the wheel.
  4. When the ball lands in one of the slots, the dealer announces the winning number and pays out the winning bets.
  5. The payout for each bet varies depending on the likelihood of the outcome. For example, betting on a single number pays out 35:1, while betting on red or black pays out even money (1:1).
  6. In some versions of roulette, there may be additional betting options such as “neighbour bets” which involves betting on a group of numbers adjacent to each other on the wheel.
  7. After the payout, the dealer collects the losing bets and the game continues with a new round.

It’s important to note that each casino may have slightly different rules and payouts for their roulette games, so it’s best to familiarize yourself with the specific rules and payouts before playing.


Roulette gameplay

Roulette is a game of chance where players bet on where a small ball will land on a spinning wheel. The gameplay of roulette can be divided into a few basic steps:

  1. Place your bets: Before the ball is spun, players place their bets on the roulette table. There are a variety of different bets that can be placed, ranging from simple bets on red or black to more complex bets on specific numbers or groups of numbers.
  2. Spin the wheel: Once all the bets are placed, the dealer (or croupier) spins the roulette wheel in one direction and then sends the ball spinning around the outer rim in the opposite direction.
  3. Wait for the ball to land: As the ball spins around the wheel, it will eventually lose momentum and come to rest in one of the numbered slots on the wheel.
  4. Determine the winning number: The dealer then announces the winning number and places a marker on the table indicating the winning number.
  5. Pay out the winners: The dealer then pays out all the winning bets, based on the odds and the amount of the bet. This can range from even money for simple bets on red or black, to 35 to 1 for bets on a single number.
  6. Clear the table: Once all the payouts are complete, the dealer will clear the table of all losing bets, and the game starts over again.

It’s important to note that there are different variations of roulette, and the gameplay may vary slightly depending on the specific version of the game being played. Additionally, different casinos may have different rules and procedures for playing roulette, so it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the specific rules before playing.

Roulette history

The word ‘roulette’ translates from the French as ‘little wheel’, and the game has its origins in a surprising source.
In the 17th century French inventor and mathematician Blaise Pascal was trying to build a perpetual motion machine and the roulette wheel was a happy spin-off from his endeavours.

Blaise Pascal - roulette inventor
Blaise Pascal is largely credited with inventing roulette.

His wheel had no zeroes, and therefore no house edge, a state of affairs that was never likely to last for too long.

Gambling houses in France soon added slots for a single zero and double zero to make roulette profitable for the house; on the early wheels they were coloured red for single and black for double. These days they are, of course, green.

In the 1800s the game spread around Europe and the United States.

Then in the 1840s Frenchmen Francois and Louis Blanc introduced a wheel with only one zero to a casino in Bad Homburg, Germany, to attract business from rivals. As gambling controls were tightened in Germany, the Blancs later relocated to Monte Carlo. Their single zero wheel was later adopted all around the world.

The term “devil’s wheel” comes from the fact the original wheel had 36 numbers. If you add all the numbers on such a wheel together you get a total of 666, the so-called number of the devil. Legend has it Francois Blanc made a deal with Old Nick to secure the secrets of the game.

Roulette, in all its forms, has remained one of the most popular casino games, though it has been through its share of controversies.

Over the centuries many players (and operators) have tried to rig the wheel to gain an edge. Some succeeded, but, given the intense scrutiny on the game these days, you’re unlikely to find anything but a fair wheel, provided you stick to recommended casinos.


Bet types for roulette

The roulette table can seem a little daunting for newcomers, but the game is really not that difficult.

Bets are divided into two types: inside and outside. Outside bets will have higher limits than the inside bets, which include wagers on single numbers at odds of 35-1.

There are many more bets available, but here is our simple guide to the main bet types.

The inside bets

Straight number (single) (35-1 payout): Place the chip on the number, ensuring it is not touching the outer lines of the box.
Split (17-1): A bet on two adjoining numbers. Place the chip on the line between your numbers of choice.
Street (11-1): A bet on three numbers in a line. Place the chip on the outside line of the left or right number.
Corner (square) (8-1): A bet on four numbers making a square. Place the chip on the intersection between four numbers.
Double street (5-1): Place the chip on the intersection of lines at the end of two streets.

The outside bets

Red or black (1-1): A bet on in which colour the ball will land. Essentially an even-money bet, aside from the green zero slots.
Even or odds (1-1): Bet on an odd or even number coming up. Another of the toss-of-the-coin scenarios.
1 to 18 (low numbers) (1-1): A single bet under which you will win if the ball lands in any of the numbers up to and including 18.
19-36 (high numbers) (1-1): As above except you have the high numbers running for you.
Dozen bets (2-1): Similar to the low- and high-number bets except here you bet on the numbers 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36.

Column bets (2-1): A bet on any of the three vertical lines down the roulette table. Place your chip below the final number of the row.

Once all bets are down and the ball has nestled into a pocket, the dealer will place a marker on the winning number. They will then sweep away all losing bets and work out the payouts for the winners.

Players should not add or remove bets while the marker remains on the table.


Roulette variants

Roulette is a popular casino game that has been around for hundreds of years. Over time, many different variations of the game have been developed, each with its own unique rules and features. Here are some of the most popular roulette variants:

  1. European Roulette: This is the most common version of roulette, featuring a wheel with 36 numbered slots (1-36) and one green slot for the number 0. The house edge in European Roulette is 2.70%.
  2. American Roulette: Similar to European Roulette, but with an additional green slot for the number 00, giving a total of 38 numbered slots. The house edge in American Roulette is higher at 5.26%.
  3. French Roulette: Similar to European Roulette, but with a few additional rules such as La Partage and En Prison, which give players the option to save their bet if the ball lands on 0.
  4. Mini Roulette: A scaled-down version of the game with just 12 numbered slots (1-12) and one green slot for 0. This variant is often played online or in a digital format.
  5. Multi-Wheel Roulette: A version of roulette where players can bet on up to eight different wheels at once, increasing the chances of winning but also increasing the amount of money at stake.
  6. Double Ball Roulette: A version of roulette where two balls are used, providing the possibility for more complex bets and higher payouts.
  7. Live Dealer Roulette: A version of online roulette where the game is streamed in real-time from a physical casino or studio, with a live dealer conducting the game.
  8. Immersive Roulette: A live dealer version of roulette that uses multiple cameras to give players a more immersive experience, with close-up views of the wheel and ball as they spin.

These are just a few of the many roulette variants that are available to play. Each variant offers its own unique set of rules and features, so it’s important to understand the differences between them before playing.


European (single-zero) roulette v American (double-zero) roulette

American v European roulette wheels

The European wheel has 37 numbered slots: 1-36 and one green zero slot; the American version has 38 numbered slots: 1-36 and two green zero slots (single zero and double zero).

This might not sound like a significant difference but the double-zero game skews the odds markedly in favour of the house. For most bet types, the house edge almost doubles from around 2.7 per cent to 5.3 per cent.

That can make a big difference to how long you can stay in the game, whether playing online for real money or at a land-based casino.

Despite the names indicating otherwise, both games are widely available in North American and European casinos as well as online.

There is a reasonably common third version, French roulette, which is certainly one to consider.

French roulette is played on a wheel with one zero pocket and it incorporates the “la partage” and “en prison” rules, which favour the player and can reduce the house edge to as little as 1.5 per cent.

Under the la partage rule, if you have placed your chips on one of the even-money outside bets and a zero is spun, you will have half your original wager returned.

Under the en prison rule, if you have wagered on the even-money bets and zero comes up, your bet will remain on the table – in prison – for the next spin. If you win that spin your original wager is returned, but if you lose, it is of course forfeited.

There are certain other betting options available in French – Voisins, Ophelins and Tiers – and represent three areas of the wheel.


Roulette house edge explained

The house edge is the built-in advantage that casinos have over players in casino games, including roulette. The roulette house edge represents the percentage of each bet that the casino expects to keep over the long run, based on the rules of the game.

In European roulette, the house edge is 2.70%. This means that, on average, the casino expects to keep 2.70 cents of every dollar bet over the long run. For example, if a player bets $100 on a single number, the expected return is $97.30, with $2.70 going to the casino as the house edge.

In American roulette, the house edge is higher at 5.26%. This is due to the extra green slot for the number 00, which increases the number of possible outcomes and reduces the overall probability of winning. The house edge in American roulette is nearly double that of European roulette, meaning that players can expect to lose money faster when playing this variant.

It’s important to note that the house edge is an average over the long run, and that individual outcomes can vary widely. In the short term, players may win or lose significant amounts of money, regardless of the house edge. However, over the long run, the house edge ensures that the casino will always make a profit from the game. Understanding the house edge is an important part of managing your bankroll and making informed decisions about your bets when playing roulette.

Real money online roulette

People around the world flock to play roulette on the Internet. It is largely played on the live dealer tables, which feature a video stream to your personal computer, Mac, smartphone, tablet or smart TV. You will find all of the standard variants such as American, European and French, plus games such as multi-wheel, a version where you have more than one wheel on your screen, and many others.

To play real money online roulette firstly you need to find a safe casino to visit and one which accepts players from your location. For instance, an American player will need to find one with deposit options available for their jurisdiction. Because the USA has not regulated online wagering it is important to note you will have to play ‘offshore’, and will have fewer options than someone in the United Kingdom, Australia or many regions in Europe. These latter places fall into two categories: they are either fully regulated or have not addressed online gambling.

So how do you find a real money roulette table online? Firstly, you need to work out whether you want to play live dealer or a RNG game. We recommend playing live dealer because it replicates land-based play and is a lot more fun than a graphics-based game. A few of the more impressive live dealer set-ups are provided by Evolution Gaming, Playtech, Microgaming, Ezugi, Playfors and NetEntertainment.

You then need to use websites such as this one to find a casino with the game you wish to play. They will advise you on what casinos are the best for your region. You must then fund your account, which can be done with many different methods, including Visa and other credit cards, web wallets, payment processors, checks and the old-fashioned bank transfer.

You then will play either via the downloadable software (Microgaming, Playtech) or the instant-play interface, which you can access in your browser. If you have chosen the live dealer option a video feed will appear, and you will be able to ‘take your seat’ at the table. You then choose your chip denomination and place your bets on a table emulating the real thing, but powered by graphics.

Roulette systems

Unless you can find a faulty contraption in which the ball consistently drops into a certain segment of the wheel, this seems unlikely.

But here is one cautionary tale about playing high-stakes roulette in the belief that eventually your number (or colour) must come up …

On August 18, 1913, a roulette wheel at the Monte Carlo Casino spun up 26 blacks in a row. Yes, that’s right, 26!

This memorable event is often cited when it comes to explaining the gambler’s fallacy or, as it is also known thanks to this remarkable sequence, the Monte Carlo fallacy.

This is the belief that past outcomes will somehow influence what will happen in the future when it comes to games of chance. Which, of course, is nonsense. Each result is independent of any that came before.

So this is a gentle reminder that if you have plans to employ the Martingale system of wagering, think twice about doing it at the roulette table.

Your correspondent tried it once at a private casino in Glasgow and walked away with empty pockets, but hopefully a little wiser.


Quotes about roulette

We like our movies and we like our quotes at the World Gambling List. It’s those off-the-cuff comments that are often the best. Roulette, particularly the Russian kind, lends itself perfectly to quotes. So here we go:

“In Vegas, I got into a long argument with the man at the roulette wheel over what I considered to be an odd number.”

– Stephen Wright (English actor).

“Horse racing is animated roulette.”

– Roger Kahn (American author)

“All the evidence shows that God was actually quite the gambler, and the universe is a great casino, where dice are thrown and roulette wheels spin on every occasion.”

– Stephen Hawking (English physicist & philosopher).

“The roulette table pays no-one except him who keeps it. Nevertheless, a passion for gaming is common, though a passion for keeping roulette wheels is unknown.” – George Bernard Shaw

“You cannot beat a roulette table unless you steal money from it.”

– Albert Einstein (Who knew a thing or two about physics and numbers)

Best movies about roulette gambling

There are many great movies that feature roulette, each with its own unique take on the game and its players. Here are a few of the best movies about roulette:

Robert Redford plays roulette in the Sting
Robert Redford in the iconic roulette scene in the Sting.
  1. Casablanca (1942): While not strictly a movie about roulette, the game plays a prominent role in the classic film Casablanca. In one iconic scene, Humphrey Bogart’s character Rick Blaine bets against the Nazi officer Captain Renault at the roulette table, while also trying to help a couple escape the city.
  2. The Sting (1973): This classic movie starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford follows two grifters as they plan an elaborate con to take down a ruthless gangster. The movie features several scenes involving roulette, including a climactic scene where the con is pulled off at a rigged roulette table.
  3. Run Lola Run (1998): This German film tells the story of a woman named Lola who must race against time to save her boyfriend’s life. The film features several sequences set in a casino, including a thrilling game of roulette where Lola tries to win enough money to save her boyfriend.
  4. Croupier (1998): This British movie stars Clive Owen as a struggling writer who takes a job as a croupier at a London casino. The film offers a gritty, realistic look at the world of gambling, and features several scenes set at the roulette table.
  5. 21 (2008): Based on a true story, 21 follows a group of MIT students who use their math skills to win big at the casino. While blackjack is the main game featured in the movie, there are several scenes set at the roulette table as well.

These are just a few of the best movies about roulette, but there are many more out there worth checking out.