Russian roulette is played by loading a single bullet into a revolver, spinning the barrel, putting it in your mouth and firing. You hope for the best. Now, the game has taken on a different and slightly less-drastic form. Casinos all over the world have roulette tables where people bet money on what number or color a small spinning ball will land on. While death is not one of the consequences, it is easy to lose a considerable amount of money in a short amount of time. To prevent this from happening to you, you should be aware of the rules of the game before you sit down at the table.
There are 38 compartments in the spinning wheel. Each has a number, 1 through 36 and 0 and 00. Except for the 0 and 00 slots, which are green, every other compartment alternates red and black. The wheel spins in a counter-clockwise direction. After it is spinning, the dealer will throw a small white ball in the opposite direction of the spinning. It will race around the center of the wheel before it eventually slows down and moves to the edge where the compartments are located. The ball will begin to rattle around as it is slowed down by the ridges of the compartments before it finally stops, landing in one numbered slot. The number of the compartment the ball lands in becomes the winning number for that round and all the bets that were placed.
On the table in front of the wheel is where you do the betting. There is a grid on the table with all of the numbers represented in the wheel. You can place your chips on a number and hope it lands on that number, or you can bet whether the ball will land in a red or black compartment. Many beginners start by betting on a color. You can place bets on red or black and you have almost 50/50 odds of winning, but your odds are reduced by the two compartments, 0 and 00, which are neither red nor black. Once you feel comfortable with how the game is played, you can move on to more risky and complicated bets.
There are eleven types of bets; six inside bets and five outside bets. It is important to learn the types of the bets and how they are played before going to the casino. Dealers and other gamblers will not want to pause the game to teach you how to play. Roulette is a fast-moving game, where if you do not know what you’re doing, you will either slow down the game considerably or you will not place your bet quickly enough and will lose a turn.
Additionally, when playing roulette, it is important to set limits for yourself to avoid gambling away more money than you can afford to lose. Once you’ve reached the goal you set, cash out and leave. Many people will gamble away their entire winnings at the roulette table, but if you’ve won the money you set out to win, you should seriously consider leaving the game. If you are brand new to the game, start betting small and work your way up to higher bets. You should feel comfortable at the table and always in control of your money.
By Stacy Hinojosa