Roulette has long been viewed as one of the most glamorous casino games, with the wheel often attracting an excitable crowd and setting the scene for a social evening with the potential for a big win. But while there’s no denying that it’s a fun game to partake in, scooping the jackpot isn’t always as easy as you might hope.
Even so, taking some time to understand the odds and get to grips with the rules before your first game can go a long way towards boosting your chances of reigning triumphant and heading home with a wallet full of cash. We asked the experts at Ahti Games to share their top tips and tricks to help set you off on the road to success.
Learn the ropes at an online casino
The more you play, the more adept you’ll become at making the right choices, and playing online from the comfort of your sofa is a great way to get some practice in. Ahti Games Roulette is a great place to start, and will give you a feel for how the game works before you head to a land-based casino and begin rubbing shoulders with the world’s biggest high rollers. You can also find some simulations of the game online, where you don’t have to bet with actual money, which can be a good place to start while you build your confidence.
Know the odds before you play
Like many casino activities, roulette is a game of chance and knowing the odds will help you to place the right bets and potentially, end up with a win. Put simply, the odds of landing on a single number with a straight-up bet are 37 to 1, bearing in mind that there are 38 numbers on the wheel in total (1 to 36, plus 0 and 00). Nevertheless, the house only pays out on numbers 1 to 35 on winning bets, and the odds are the same for those placing combination bets.
Know that not all roulette wheels are created equal
While the principles of roulette remain largely the same wherever in the world you are playing, wheels from America are slightly different to those in Europe. Even within Europe, you may find variations, such as in France – and then, there are multi-ball and multi-wheel versions of this glamorous table game. Knowing what type of wheel you’re playing on before you begin is key, because the set-up can impact upon the strategy you choose to implement. While American wheels, which are the most popular, feature the 0 and 00 with a house edge of 5.67 per cent, European wheels only feature one green 0 and a reduced house edge of 2.7 per cent.
Have a strategy
When placing your bets, be sure to stick to the table minimum and play only the outside bets. Bet on either red or black for each spin of the wheel, as this will cover 18 of the 38 possible combinations and pay out one to one. You could also try placing two wagers of equal amounts on outside bets to mix things up a bit, as this will give you 26 numbers to hit – for example, placing one bet on black and another on column three.
Avoid number five bets
Known as the ‘five number bet’ or ‘basket bet’, this particular type of bet is based on the American roulette wheel and will pay you out a generous 6:1 should you be fortunate enough to land on the 00, 0, 1, 2 or 3. But given that the odds for this are actually in the casino’s favour, giving them a house edge of 7.8 per cent, they aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, and are thus best avoided.
Take advantage of bonuses
When you’re playing online, be sure to make the most of welcome bonuses and promotions to maximise your leverage. Many will offer free spins and loyalty bonuses to those who return regularly, and using these to practice with when you’re still getting to grips with the game is a great way to play real money roulette without the risk. The more you play and the higher your wagers, the greater the chance you eventually have of being invited to join a casino’s VIP programme, which comes with a whole host of perks and benefits.
Please gamble responsibly (18+ UK) – check age restrictions before participating
