The House Edge in Roulette

Roullete

The roulette game is a popular gambling game in casinos all over the world. It has been a favourite since the 17th century and is one of the most popular games to play in casinos online.

Roulette is a simple game that is played with chips. The player places a bet on a number or a group of numbers and then lays down the chips on the table before the dealer spins the wheel. When the ball falls into a pocket, the bet is won.

Players can make bets on individual numbers, various groups of numbers, whether the number is red or black, high (19-36) or low (1-18), or even if the numbers are odd or even. A single bet can also be made on a combination of numbers, known as an “outside” bet.

Roullete is a European-style casino game where a spinning wheel is used. The wheel is divided into 38 compartments, each with a rim and metal partitions. The divisions are painted in a non-consecutive number pattern from 1 to 36 and alternate between red and black. In American-style wheels, the zero is coloured green and there are two extra green compartments on opposite sides of the wheel.

The wheel itself has a ring around its rim which is the spindle. The wheel is slightly convex and is perfectly balanced so that it spins smoothly with little or no friction.

Each of the 38 pockets or canoes is marked with a number from 1 to 36, as well as a double-zero and an extra green pocket numbered 0. On American tables only, there is also a second green pocket numbered 00.

When the wheel is spun, a ball drops into one of these canoes and the spindle then moves, bringing the ball to rest in one of the compartments. The resulting spin will reveal the number that has been hit.

Unlike some other gambling games, the house edge in roulette is quite a low 2.70%. It is however, very difficult to beat.

What makes the house edge in roulette so high is the fact that all of the bets on the roulette table are subject to a very small range of winning odds. The true odds of hitting a single number are 37 to 1, but the payout on a straight up bet is only 35 to 1.

This discrepancy means that, no matter which system you use or which type of betting strategy you employ, every bet has the same house edge. And if you are lucky enough to win, the house will pay out only a fraction of what it is worth!