Roulette is a game of European origin that still remains largely popular in Europe.  Internationally speaking, it is one of the most popular gambling games in the casino.  And although the game does not afford one of the lowest House Edges for its best bet, it nonetheless remains the game of choice for many players.  In actuality, the lowest House Edge for initial bets at the roulette table is approximately 2.6%, which is not that bad at all, especially when compared to other bets in the casino.  There is also a situation at some roulette tables (called en prison) that will return a House Edge of approximately 1.35%.  Be advised that the Single Zero European version of the game gives the lowest casino advantage, as opposed to the American version, which offers a 5.3% House Edge.  That being said, even though there is no strategy that will lower the House Edge at roulette, the game still affords good chances at winning bets and having a good time.  Perhaps it is the activity of the game that draws players.  The action around the table itself is quite laid back, and the speed of play is rather slow.  And although the online casino experience is sped up a bit - thanks to a faster and shorter spinning wheel programmed into the software - it is exciting to wait for the winning number.  Again, aside from ill-founded rumors regarding fixed wheels, perhaps it is the inherent trust the game gives players, owing to its mass appeal.  Everything happens directly in view of the player at the roulette table, as opposed to a deck of unexposed cards, which will always inherently never reveal everything that is taking place.

The way the game operates is rather simple - Bets are placed and a ball is dispersed into a spinning wheel.  Depending on what number the ball rests, bets are won or lost accordingly.  Therefore, the two factors a player needs to be familiar with are the layout of the table itself and the different kinds of bets that can me made.  Beginning with the table, three columns intersecting with three rows take up the bulk of the playing space.  The resultant boxes are numbered 1 through 36, each box alternately colored red and black.  (Incidentally, these numbers correspond to the amount of numbered slots in the roulette wheel as well) Within these boxes and on the lines separating them are where inside bets (straight up, street, corner, split, five-number and line) are placed.  All other areas on the table are commonly referred to as outside bets.  Flanking the left side of the numbered columns will be either one or two boxes with a 0 and/or 00, depending on whether the table is a European or American version.  Flanking the right side of the numbered columns are three boxes (one for each column) labeled "2 to 1".  This is where column bets are placed, which as the boxes imply, pay 2 to 1 odds on winners.  Flanking the first column of numbers nearest the player are three adjacent boxes labeled "1st 12", "2nd 12" and "3rd 12".  These boxes are where the wagers called dozens are made.  The remaining column of six boxes at the immediate front of the table correspond in pairs.  The two most outside boxes labeled "1 to 18" and "19 to 36" are referred to as Low or High Bets. Immediately to the inside of these boxes are two boxes labeled "Even" and "Odd".  As the names imply, this is where even bets and odd bets are made.  The two centermost boxes are marked with the words "Red" and "Black" with their corresponding color.  This is where chips for the Red or Black Bets are placed.

Such is the format of the roulette table.  In the table above, all boxes are printed horizontally so they can be easily read.  (The boxes in a true table will be printed horizontally and vertically).  However, the shape of the table does not change. 

The potential roulette bets are as follows: 

INSIDE BETS

Straight-up
This bet is akin to lottery or keno.  The wager is made by placing chips on any one of the thirty-five numbered boxes, zero or double-zero.  If the rolling ball lands on the corresponding number of the wheel, the bet wins. Straight-up bet payout odds are 35:1.

Split
The split wager is made by mouse-clicking a chip on the line separating any two numbers.  It is predicting that one of the two adjacent numbers will be landed by the ball in the wheel.  Split bet payout odds are 17:1.

Street
This bet covers one of the twelve columns, also called streets, composed of three numbers in numeric order.  It is predicting that one of the three numbers in the chosen 'street' will be hit be landed by the rolling ball.  The bet is made by placing chips on the horizontal line separating the outside bet boxes from the first column of numbers, centered with the first number of the desired row or street.  Street bet payout odds are 11:1.

Corner
This bet covers four numbers at one time.  The bet is made by mouse-clicking a chip(s) on the common corner of four boxes, which is the centermost point between all four boxes.  The bet wins if the ball settles in any one of the four  numbered slots corresponding to the box values.  Corner bet payout odds are 8:1.

Line

The line bet covers six consecutively adjacent boxes in numeric order.  It predicts that any one of the six chosen numbered boxes will by landed by the ball in the wheel.  To place the bet, chips are set on the line dividing the first column of outside bet boxes from the first column of numbered boxes starting with 1 and ending with 34.  On this line, the chip is placed where a single line dividing two numbered rows intersects with it.  For instance, the numbers 7 through 12 are bet by placing a chip on the bottommost common point between the number 7 and 10 and the line of the "1st Twelve" box.  Line bet payout odds are 5:1.

Five-Number
As the name says, this is a bet covering five numbers - the 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3.  It is made by placing a chip(s) on the outside left corner point of the line separating the 0 and the 1.  This bet is also called the House Special, which is ironic, considering it has a very high House Edge.

OUTSIDE BETS

Red & Black
This is a bet placed on either a red or black number.  It is predicting that either a black or red number will come up.  Obviously, this bet is quite simple and has a 50/50 chance of winning, since there are an equal amount of black and red numbers.  To make the bet, a player will place chips in either the box marked "Red" or "Black".

Odd & Even
Similar to the red and black bet, this bet is on one of two outcomes - Whether the roulette ball settles in an even-numbered slot or in an odd-numbered slot on the wheel.  The bet is placed with chips in either the "Odd" or "Even" outside bet box. Odd or Even bet payout odds are 1:1.

Low & High
Another 50/50 wager, the Low wager predicts the ball will fall on a number from 1 to 18 (the low half) while the high wager predicts the ball will land on any number from 19 to 36 (the high half).  It too is made by placing chips in the corresponding box marked either "High" or "Low".  Low and High bet payout odds are 1:1.

Columns
Taking note of the roulette table layout, there are three boxes on the bottom end of the three columns of numbers labeled 2 to 1.  Each column corresponds to the column box adjacent to it.  Paying 2 to 1, the bet predicts that any number in the selected column will be landed by the ball in the wheel.  Bets are made by simply mouse-clicking chips in the "2 to 1" box adjacent to the desired column.  Column bet payout odds are 2:1.

Dozens
Paying the same odds as the column wager, the dozens wager is structured the same way as the High/Low bet, except that it divides the playing numbers into three groups instead of two.  The three boxes nearest the first column of numbers is where chips are placed depending on the desired number coverage.  The box labeled '1st Twelve' covers numbers 1 through 12, the box labeled '2nd Twelve' covers numbers 13 through 24, and the bottommost box called '3rd Twelve' covers the numbers 25 through 36.  Dozen bet payout odds are 2:1.

En Prison
This rule, or condition, applies on a casino to casino basis, and only on the even money wagers (Red&Black, Odd&Even, Low&High).  The way it works is that if the ball rests on the zero. all even money bets do not lose, but rather, are entitled to either stay on the board or be taken back by the player.  Since 0 is neither red nor black, odd nor even, nor low nor high, some casinos will permit players this gesture which lowers the House Edge.

La Partage
This condition is the same as En Prison with one exception.  It does not permit even money wagers to be returned or to stay on the board after a 0 is landed, but rather, returns half of the players original bet.

Learn these bets and their corresponding odds, and you will be well armed at the roulette table, even if you are after a social experience and more of an entertaining time than anything else.  Remember, online roulette is a different experience altogether, even though it still rightly offers the anticipation a land-based casino can.  The play is much faster online, so sometimes it is wise to write down every wager you make...at least until you see the software's player history log is doing its job. To read up on the odds of the various roulette bets, see the roulette strategy tips section on this site.

More Roulette Tips, Rules and Pointers:

• Looking for Biased Roulette Wheels
• Some Tips on Roulette Etiquette
• Roulette Chip Stacks
• Understanding Roulette Systems and Gambling Strategies
• The Martingale System and Null Bets
• The Labouchere System
• Getting the Lowest Casino Edge at Online Roulette
• Summary of Roulette Bets - Inside and Outside
• Tips on Playing Roulette - How to Play in the Casino
• Seeking out the Best Casino Roulette in the House
• A Review of Bets Offered at the Online Roulette Table
• Differences Between Common Versions of Online Roulette
• Differences Between European Gold & French Roulette
• Thirty-Three Call Bets Offered at French Roulette