A Guide to Online Roulette
The elegant wheel of fortune is the backbone, and the board is where the betting combines to produce one of the most iconic casino games ever invented, roulette. The game has thrilled millions and become a staple in land casinos everywhere. This last decade has seen the proliferation of roulette in online casinos, breathing new life into the traditional game of chance. The word ‘roulette’ was coined in France and it means little wheel. The croupier throws the ball and spins the wheel which lands randomly on one of the numbered and coloured pockets. There are 37 pockets, with the exemption of American roulette, which has 38 pockets.
Types of Online Roulette
Players should be informed that there are several versions of roulette. The most popular are European, American, French, Lightning roulette. There are slight variations in the rules and the American version has a slightly better house edge due to the extra number on the wheel. Many online casinos today offer a wide choice of roulette options with lightning roulette and the exceptional live dealer casino being the cream of the cream! The immersive qualities and player interaction are irreplaceable and recreate a genuine land casino experience.
Variety of Bets
Players have various options at their disposal for betting on the outcome of a spin. They can bet on a specific number, a black or red number, groupings of numbers, high or low betting, and more. Each bet has different probabilities and payouts. Admittedly, the betting system may appear to be complicated at first glance, yet players will soon get used to the system. If new players stick to some basic principles, although there is no guarantee of victory, the chances of achieving one can be improved.
The Roulette Wheel
Understanding the wheel is crucial. The zero pocket is always there and can affect the outcome of the bets. There is still the chance the ball falls into that pocket groove, thereby changing the odds. Betting on colours offers a 48.6% chance, rather than 50%, with the difference growing even further with American roulette, due to the extra number in the wheel.
Terminology & Betting
The second thing to master is the terminology used, especially for the more complex betting options. The most straightforward bet is to choose a number. This type of bet is called a Straight. It is the most unlikely bet to succeed, yet it pays out the highest odds. Players may also choose to bet on a group of numbers, such as the first, second or third dozen numbers, which are the numbers 1-12, 13-24 or 25-36. Another popular and straightforward bet for newcomers is to choose a colour; black or red.
Roulette Strategies
Many strategies claim to increases the chances of winning at roulette. While no approach can guarantee victory, it might be a good idea to take some ideas from them. For a start, the most critical factor is time. Players should not place rash bets at the outset. It is advisable to be consistent with lower bets but over a more extended period. Roulette is primarily a game of chance, not skill. The primary factors are patience and managing the bankroll over the course of the game.
The Martingale & Reverse Martingale Systems
One of the most quoted roulette strategies is the Martingale System. It suggests increasing the wager after each loss. Players will need nerves of steel and bucket loads of patience as losses start to accumulate before a larger win materialises. Also known as ‘Paroli’, the Reverse Martingale System suggests a positive progression that increases the wager after each win to ride a winning streak. Simultaneously, the system advocates betting progressively less after losing to minimise the losses.
The D’Alembert & Reverse D’Alembert Systems
The D’Alembert System suggests that even chance bets will gain wins. If players have a winning streak they ride their luck and limit their losses on a losing streak. The Reverse D’Alembert system follows the idea that to be successful, players will need more wins than losses. The system can work efficiently if used correctly.
Fibonacci and Reverse Fibonacci Strategies
The Fibonacci system utilises an unusual, yet exciting strategy. It advocates a more prudent and slower approach. By using a slower rate of progression, losses are won back over a more extended period of time and over several spins. This prudent system means players will be ‘in the black’ eventually and come out on top. The rules of the Reverse Fibonacci system are shifted around to create a reverse version of the original.
Best of the Rest
Several other strategies claim to improve the chances of winning. They include the Labouchere System also referred to as the cancellation method. The system constructs bets on lines and simultaneously cancels numbers off whenever the player wins. Another strategy is the Cover the Table System. Here players bet on several numbers, thereby covering almost the entire board. The general idea is to stake one chip on each of the 35 or 36 numbers on the wheel. Alternatively, players can also choose to bet on 17 half numbers, or splits, as they are called. Then there is the Flat Betting System, which involves staking precisely the same amount after each spin without progressions. The Oscar Grid Strategy suggests increasing bets while on a winning streak and reducing them on a losing one.
The Dozens and Columns System uses two betting systems at once. The first choice betting on the columns, or the dozens. The second advocates betting on two at the same time. Last but not least comes the famous James Bond strategy immortalised in the novels. The daring system covers 66.6% of the table, including the zero, yet it does not use progressions. It must be stressed that these strategies are not a cart-blanc for success; nonetheless, they make the game more exciting, adventurous and do limit the losses if used correctly and patiently!