LES REGLES DE LA ROULETTE AU CASINO

Roulette, an iconic and historic casino game, involves predicting which numbered slot a ball will land on when spun on a wheel. Players place their bets on numbers, colors, columns, dozens, or various other combinations, trying to guess the final outcome.

But, are you aware of the existence of various forms of roulette, each with its own rules and odds of winning? This article aims to explore the specifics of European or French roulette, American roulette, and English roulette. You will learn to identify the type of roulette offered by a casino and adjust your gaming strategy to improve your chances of success.

THE ORIGIN OF ROULETTE

THE ORIGIN OF ROULETTE IN CASINOS

The origins of roulette remain vague and are subject to debate. Several theories exist to describe its creation and development. The most common story tells that Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and physicist, invented it in 1655 while on retreat in a monastery. His motivation was to develop a perpetual motion machine, which led him to create a wheel with numbered slots. Another version suggests that a French monk, looking to diversify monastic activities, was behind this game of chance. A third proposition mentions an influence from Chinese culture, claiming that roulette was brought to Europe by traders and missionaries.

ROULETTE THROUGH THE AGES

Roulette made its first official appearance in France in the early 18th century, then known as the "little wheel." Although a decree from the Bordeaux Parliament prohibited it in 1716, followed by an ordinance from Louis XV in 1749, it survived in underground gaming establishments. At that time, roulette was characterized by a wheel with 36 numbers and a zero and double zero slot, colored red and black respectively. In 1842, brothers François and Louis Blanc, casino managers in Germany, eliminated the double zero slot to favor player chances and attract a wider clientele. They thus established the European or French version of roulette, which features only a single zero, colored green. This variant quickly gained popularity, especially in Monte Carlo where the Blanc brothers opened a casino in 1860 with the approval of Prince Charles III of Monaco. The American version retains the double zero and sometimes introduces a slot with an American eagle, emblem of freedom. It primarily spread in the mining towns of the American West in the 19th century. As for English roulette, it is distinguished by the limited number of players (maximum 7), the use of different colored chips per player, and the ability to bet on adjacent numbers on the wheel.

EUROPEAN/FRENCH ROULETTE

THE EUROPEAN CYLINDER

The European cylinder is the key element of roulette, where the dealer spins the ball. It consists of 37 slots, numbered from 0 to 36, alternating between red and black, except for the 0, which is green. The numbers are arranged in a specific order designed to balance betting odds. Thus, you will never find two even or odd numbers directly following each other, nor two numbers of the same color.

THE BETTING TABLE

The betting table represents the section of the table where players place their chips to bet. It is organized into different zones, each corresponding to a distinct type of bet. There are inside bets, focused on specific numbers, and outside bets, covering broader categories of numbers like colors, columns, or dozens. The European table also provides spaces for "announced bets" or "neighbors," targeting groups of adjacent numbers on the cylinder.

THE TYPES OF BETS AND THEIR ODDS

The appeal of European roulette lies in its variety of bets, each offering different payouts and chances of success. Here is an overview of the main bets, including their names, brief descriptions, payouts, and the house edge.

+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Bet Name | Description | Payout |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Straight | A single number | 35:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Split | 2 adjacent numbers | 17:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Street | 3 numbers on line | 11:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Corner | 4 numbers in square | 8:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Six Line | 6 numbers on 2 lines | 5:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Column | 12 numbers in column | 2:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Dozen | 12 numbers 3 dozens| 2:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Red/Black | 18 numbers colored | 1:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Even/Odd | 18 even/odd numbers | 1:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+
| Low/High | 1 to 18 or 19 to 36 | 1:1 |
+--------------+------------------------+---------+

Note: House edge for all bets is 2.7%.

THE "EN PRISON" AND "SHARING" RULES

European roulette incorporates two special rules, "Sharing" and "En Prison," which can lower the house edge to 1.35% for certain bets. These rules come into play when a 0 appears, and the player has opted for an outside bet (Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High). According to the "Sharing" rule, the player recovers half of their bet. With "En Prison," they can choose to either recover half of their bet or leave their bet "in prison" for the next round. If a 0 comes up, the player loses their bet. If they win, they retrieve it without any additional gains.

AMERICAN ROULETTE

American roulette is primarily characterized by one additional slot, marked by a double zero (00), which increases the house edge to 5.26%, compared to 2.7% for European roulette. It is also distinguished by a different arrangement of numbers on the cylinder, alternating between even and odd as well as high and low numbers. Notably, the betting table is simplified, excluding "announced" or "neighbors" bets, while introducing specific bets for this variant.

DISPOSITION OF THE AMERICAN CYLINDER

The cylinder of American roulette has 38 slots, ranging from 0 to 36, plus the 00 slot. Except for the 0 and 00, which are green, the slots are colored red and black. Here is their order, starting from the 0 and turning counterclockwise.

SPECIFIC BETS FOR AMERICAN ROULETTE

American roulette offers unique bets that are absent in European roulette:
• The bet on the first five numbers (0, 00, 1, 2, 3), with a payout of 6:1, but featuring a house edge of 7.89%.
• The bet on the 0 and 00, paying 17:1, with a house edge maintained at 5.26%.
• The bet on a line of five numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), offering a payout of 5:1 and a house edge of 5.26%.
• The bet on a line of four numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5), with a payout of 8:1 and a house edge equivalent to 5.26%.

ENGLISH ROULETTE

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS

English roulette is a variation of the famous European roulette, widely found in British casinos. Its features include the limited number of players, allowing only 7 people to play simultaneously, the assignment of individual colored chips to distinguish each player's bets, as well as the ability to place bets on neighboring numbers on the cylinder. This version of the game also introduces special rules such as "Sharing" and "En Prison," offering certain benefits for bets on even money (Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High).

RULES OF THE GAME AND IMPLEMENTATION

The gameplay of English roulette is similar to that of its European variant. It is played with a cylinder of 37 slots, numbered from 0 to 36, and a betting table where players place their bets. The dealer announces the start and end of bets, spins the ball, and declares the winning number.

The special rules of English roulette are detailed as follows:

- The "Sharing" rule: in the event of a 0 appearing, players who have bet on even money receive half of their bet back.
- The "En Prison" rule: for a 0 appearance, players on an even money bet can choose to "leave their bet in prison" for the next round. Their bet is returned without winnings if the bet wins, lost if the bet loses, and remains in prison if the 0 is drawn again.

CONCLUSION

Through this article, you have discovered the main features and specifics of European or French, American, and English roulette. You now possess an in-depth understanding of the composition of the cylinder, the betting table, and the various types of bets specific to each variant. Additionally, the unique rules such as the "Sharing" or "En Prison" rules applicable to European roulette, which can significantly affect your chances of success, are no longer a mystery to you.

Armed with this information, you are ready to master the rules of the various roulettes present in casinos. It is time for you to choose the version that resonates most with your preferences and put your knowledge into practice. Remember to always play responsibly and prioritize the enjoyment of playing.

Good luck!