American Roulette
Roulette has one of the smallest following amongst the many American casino games. It doesn’t come close to match the popularity of blackjack, slot machines, craps or video poker. When compared with baccarat, roulette draws more players of the two, partly because baccarat has customarily been regarded as the game for low budget players. Relatively new games such as Let It Ride and the Caribbean Stud Poker are threatening the already feeble popularity of the American Roulette. In European casinos however, the roulette draws large crowds and is among the mainstays among major European resorts such as Monte Carlo.
Distinguishing American roulette wheels and French wheels.
The major difference between the American roulette wheel and the European roulette wheel is the existence of the 00 feature present in American wheel but is absent in the French wheel that is used in the European roulette gaming. Whilst the American wheel has 36 numbers together with 0 and 00, the French wheel has 36 numbers and 0; without the 00 feature. Both wheels pay bets at odds that would be true if only 36 numbers are presented. The house advantage from the American wheel comes from the 0 and 00. On the French wheel, the house advantage results from 0.
In the United States, there exist a few French wheels that operate in high perimeter areas. They hold large few bets than the American wheels. It is thus recommendable for players in these quarters to search for the French wheels if they seek to make larger bets while playing roulette. Regardless of the sky-scraping house advantage, many casino enthusiasts engage in a few spins sooner or later after sitting in. They find it exciting and a relaxing way to spend their time.
The dealer, known as the croupiers in French, allocates ample time to select amongst the tens of the betting options available. After players select their favorable combinations, it then takes time for the ball and the wheel to spin and eventually the winner is established.
When compared to blackjack and craps, roulette moves at a more grand speed. Blackjack will move at an estimated pace of 60 hands per hour. Craps move at about 100 hands an hour while it takes an hour for roulette to roll 45 spins. A roulette player has thus fewer decisions every hour.
Roulette Equipment
Roulette is carried out on an elongated table with a wheel at one end. A dealer stands at an indentation in the table. The table is covered with a felt design with boxes for the numbers 1 up to 36. They are arranged in 12 rows and 3 columns. Nearest to the dealer or croupiers, and above the numbers 1, 2, 3, are boxes indicated for 00 and 0. All the numbers 1 up to 36 are bounded by black or red oval or rectangular grid. 00 and 0 have green backgrounds. Wagers use the rectangular grid with a box for each figure for ‘inside bet’.
Several boxes are located on the outside of the numbered boxes and are used for ‘outside bets’ that cover up to 18 combinations at a time. Most areas for the outside bets are located on the elongated side of the table across from the dealer.
The roulette wheel has 38 numbered slots all of which have the same colored background similar to the analogous numbers on the table layout. The small hard ball is mostly made of plastic, though it used to be made of ivory. The dealer will spin the wheel in one direction and will again spin the ball in the opposite direction round the track on the bowl shaped nook that embraces the wheel. The speed of the ball reduces after a number of spins. This causes the ball to fall off the track and onto the wheel itself. The ball bounces severally until it settles in a numbered slot.
