Roulette 101 - Play Like a Pro with 4 Easy Tips

Roulette is a simple game that can yield high profits for a gambler. The house edge is very high in the game of Roulette, so the best option is to have a complete understanding of the game. A little luck never hurts either. Following these four easy tips can increase one's chances of success with roulette.

1. Know the basics. Understanding the basics of Roulette is essential for anyone who wants to master the game. The object of Roulette is to pick the winning number that appears on the Roulette wheel. Players can bet combinations of numbers, choose the color, or choose whether the number will be odd or even. There are two types of Roulette wheels. The American wheel has 38 numbers because of a (00) slot. The European wheel has 37 numbers (0-36). In America, the house edge is 5.26 percent, which is significantly higher than Europe's 2.63.

2. Understand betting in Roulette. There are many bets that can be made in Roulette. The two types of bets are inside bets and outside bets. A Straight Up bet is a bet on a single number. This risky bet pays 35 to 1. Split Bet is a wager on two numbers that pays 17 to 1. While safer than a Straight Up bet, the odds are still against the player. Street bets or a line bet is a bet on a whole row of numbers. This bet pay out is 11 to 1. A Corner bet or Quad bet occurs when the chip is placed so it touches the four corners of the numbers being bet. This bet pays 8 to 1. The Basket bet is the worst bet in Roulette because the house edge is 7.89 percent. It is a five number bet on zero, double zero, and numbers-1-2-3. This bet pays 6 to 1. The final inside bet is a double street bet which is a wager on six numbers paying 5 to 1. The outside bets are the Dozens bet and the Column bet, which are both 12 number bets paying 2 to 1.

3. Know when to bet and how much to bet. The dealer has to keep the wheel moving at all times and spins the wheel in the opposite direction of the ball movement. While the ball is still moving one can place bets. Many players place bets while the ball is in motion because they can grasp a more accurate idea of where the ball will land. Be cautious when doing this, however, because when the ball starts to slow down the dealer will call out "no more bets." The size of your bet can greatly affect your overall performance. Some players bet too high, which is not advisable in such a game as Roulette. The house edge is high, and so the best bets are moderate. A mass amount of moderate wins is just as good as one big win. However, a few moderate losses are certainly better than one big loss.

4. Play at full roulette tables. Playing at a full table will give you about 30 spins an hour, thusly reducing the time in which your money is exposed to the brutal house edge. Also, do not worry if someone else has already placed chips on a number, there are different colored chips in Roulette so you can place your bet on someone else's.

There is no sure fire way to win roulette because it is largely a game of chance. However, understanding the game, and being a wise gambler can help increase one's chances for wins. Full Roulette tables are always the best, and lower risk bets can amount to more than high-risk bets. In the end, Roulette is a game of chance; so a bit of luck is always a good thing to have.

Joseph Gagne enjoys roulette and other UK online casino games. Learn more at http://www.casinochoice.co.uk .