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Roulette
casinoA casino game where a ball is spun on a numbered wheel. Players bet on where the ball will land.
Key Takeaways
- 1American roulette has 5.26% house edge, European has 2.70%
- 2Always play European roulette when available
- 3Every bet has the same house edge — no bet is 'better'
- 4No betting system can overcome the house edge
What is Roulette?
Roulette is a casino game where a ball is spun around a wheel containing numbered pockets. Players bet on where the ball will land — specific numbers, colors, or groups of numbers.
The Two Wheels
| Feature | American (Double Zero) | European (Single Zero) |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 0, 00, 1-36 | 0, 1-36 |
| Total pockets | 38 | 37 |
| House edge | 5.26% | 2.70% |
Always play European roulette when available. The house edge is nearly half.
Common Bets
| Bet | Payout | Probability (American) | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single number | 35:1 | 2.63% | 5.26% |
| Red/Black | 1:1 | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| Odd/Even | 1:1 | 47.37% | 5.26% |
| Dozen | 2:1 | 31.58% | 5.26% |
| Column | 2:1 | 31.58% | 5.26% |
The Uncomfortable Truth
Every bet on the roulette table has the same house edge (5.26% American, 2.70% European). No betting system — Martingale, Fibonacci, D'Alembert, or any other — can change this. The wheel has no memory, and each spin is independent.
The Only Strategy
- Play European roulette (half the house edge)
- Look for "La Partage" or "En Prison" rules (cuts edge to 1.35%)
- Set a loss limit and stick to it
- Treat it as entertainment, not an investment