Roulette Wheel

The Roulette wheel is a central component of the popular casino game known as Roulette. It consists of a rotating wheel divided into numbered compartments and a small ball. The wheel is designed to determine the winning number and colour in each round of play. Read on to learn more about this casino classic.

How to Play Roulette Wheel?

The traditional Roulette wheel layout consists of 36 numbered compartments, alternating between red and black colours, starting from 1 to 36. In European or French Roulette, there is typically an additional green compartment numbered as 0 (zero). American Roulette wheels have an extra green compartment numbered as 00 (double zero). Roulette wheels are typically constructed using wood or metal materials. They are mounted horizontally and can freely spin around a central pivot point. The wheel comprises a stationary outer rim and a movable inner component known as the wheel head or wheel spinner.

The wheel head is the spinning part of the wheel that contains the numbered compartments. When the wheel is set in motion, it rotates in the opposite direction to the ball. The wheel head includes the ball track or ball track separator, which guides the ball’s movement and determines its final resting place.

The ball track is a grooved circular path located around the outer edge of the wheel head. It is slightly inclined inward to prevent the ball from easily bouncing out. As the ball is launched onto the track, it travels along until it loses momentum and comes to rest in one of the numbered compartments.

The numbered compartments on the wheel head, often referred to as pockets or slots, are labelled with specific numbers and coloured either red or black. The green pockets represent zero (0) in European or French Roulette, while American Roulette has an additional pocket for double zero (00). The arrangement of numbers on the wheel head follows a specific pattern, which may vary between European and American Roulette wheels.

The Roulette wheel is designed to be well-balanced to ensure randomness in the ball’s movement. An imbalanced wheel could introduce biases, resulting in a higher likelihood of the ball landing in particular sections or pockets. Casinos regularly monitor and maintain their wheels to minimise biases and ensure fair gameplay.

The spinning speed of the wheel is a crucial factor in the game. The croupier (dealer) spins the wheel in one direction while launching the ball in the opposite direction. As the ball progresses along the ball track, it gradually loses speed until it eventually settles into a pocket.

Variations of Roulette Wheel

There are several variations of the Roulette wheel, each with its own unique characteristics and rules. The main variations are:

1. European Roulette Wheel: The European Roulette wheel features 37 numbered compartments, including numbers 1 to 36 and a single green compartment marked as 0 (zero). The numbers are coloured red or black, and the zero is green. This wheel has a lower house edge compared to its American counterpart.

2. American Roulette Wheel: The American Roulette wheel consists of 38 numbered compartments, including numbers 1 to 36, a single green compartment marked as 0 (zero), and an additional green compartment marked as 00 (double zero). The numbers are coloured red or black, and the zeros are green. The presence of the double zero increases the house edge, making it slightly less favourable for players compared to European Roulette.

3. French Roulette Wheel: The French Roulette wheel is similar to the European wheel, with 37 numbered compartments from 1 to 36 and a single green zero (0) pocket. The key difference lies in the La Partage and En Prison rules, which can be applied in French Roulette. These rules provide players with certain advantages when the ball lands on the zero pocket, effectively reducing the house edge.

Roulette wheel number sequence

The number sequence on a standard European and French Roulette wheel is as follows:

0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26

On the American Roulette wheel, which includes an additional double zero (00) pocket, the number sequence is slightly different:

0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-33-16-4-23-35-14-2

The number sequence on the Roulette wheel follows a specific pattern, and the numbers are not arranged in numerical order. The alternating colours of red and black are also arranged to create a balanced distribution of odd and even numbers across the wheel.

Roulette table layout

The layout of a standard Roulette table is carefully designed to accommodate the various betting options and ensure a smooth gaming experience. The central part of the table is dedicated to the betting area, divided into sections for inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets involve specific numbers or combinations, with numbered boxes provided for each possible outcome.

Outside bets encompass broader categories like colours, even or odd numbers, and high or low numbers, with labelled boxes to place chips accordingly. Adjacent to the main betting area, some Roulette tables feature a racetrack-shaped betting area. This additional section allows players to place special bets known as “call bets” or “neighbours’ bets.” The racetrack mirrors the numerical sequence of the wheel, enabling wagers on specific combinations of numbers as they appear in the wheel’s order.

Near the betting area, the table limits are displayed, indicating the minimum and maximum bet amounts permitted for each round. These limits may vary depending on the specific table and casino. At the top end of the table, the Roulette wheel head is positioned. This is where the wheel with numbered compartments is located.

The wheel head is usually set vertically or at a slight angle, ensuring clear visibility for players and facilitating smooth spins by the croupier. One side of the table is dedicated to the croupier or dealer area. It includes the dealer’s position, where the croupier stands to spin the wheel, launch the ball, and manage the game proceedings. The croupier area may also feature a chip tray for storing and distributing chips to players, as well as a marker used to indicate the winning number on the table layout after the ball comes to rest.

Types of bets

In Roulette, players have a wide range of betting options available on the Roulette wheel. The main types of bets commonly found in the game can be categorised into inside bets, outside bets, and call bets.

Inside bets involve placing bets on specific numbers or combinations of numbers within the wheel. Examples of inside bets include the straight bet, where a player bets on a single number, and the split bet, where a player bets on two adjacent numbers. Other inside bets include the street bet, corner bet, five-number bet (exclusive to American Roulette), and six-line bet.

Outside bets are broader categories of bets that cover groups of numbers or characteristics of the wheel. These bets include the red/black bet, where a player bets on the ball landing on a red or black number, and the odd/even bet, where a player bets on the ball landing on an odd or even number.

Call bets are special bets that are often placed using the racetrack layout, which is an additional area on the Roulette table. These bets involve specific combinations of numbers on the wheel. Examples of call bets include the Voisins du Zéro, which bets on a specific series of numbers close to the zero on the wheel, and the Tiers du Cylindre, which bets on a series of numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from the zero. Other call bets include the Orphelins and Neighbors bets.

Betting strategies and tactics

Players often utilise various betting strategies and tactics to increase their chances of winning or manage their bankroll effectively. While it is important to note that no strategy can guarantee consistent wins in a game based on pure chance, several common strategies are commonly employed by players.

The Martingale Strategy is a well-known progressive betting strategy. With this approach, players double their bet after each loss, aiming to recover their previous losses and make a profit when they eventually win. For instance, if a player initially bets $10 and loses, their next bet would be $20.

The Fibonacci Strategy is based on the Fibonacci sequence, where each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and so on). Players using this strategy place bets based on this sequence, progressing to the next number in the sequence following a loss. After a win, they regress two numbers back in the sequence. The purpose is to minimise losses during losing streaks and take advantage of winning streaks.

The D’Alembert Strategy involves increasing bets by one unit after a loss and decreasing bets by one unit after a win. The objective is to achieve a balanced betting progression, mitigating losses while making gradual gains.

House edge

The house edge in Roulette refers to the statistical advantage that the casino has over players. It represents the average percentage of each bet that the casino expects to win in the long run. The house edge in Roulette is determined by the presence of the zero (0) or double zero (00) pockets on the wheel, depending on the variation being played.

In European Roulette, which has a single zero (0) pocket, the house edge is approximately 2.7%. This means that, on average, for every $100 wagered, the casino can expect to win about $2.70. In American Roulette, which includes both a single zero (0) and a double zero (00) pocket, the house edge increases to around 5.26%. The additional double zero (00) pocket increases the casino’s advantage, resulting in a higher house edge compared to European Roulette.

Game of Chance

It is important to remember that roulette is a game of chance and that a lot of luck goes into winning the game. Unlike other games such as poker, there are no strategies which can be said to statistically help with your chances of winning. As such, playing responsibly and keeping in mind the odds is recommended to all players.