American Roulette

American Roulette is one of the most popular and iconic versions. The French invented Roulette and introduced it to United States residents in the 1800s. The game has since evolved and its distinctive feature, the green double zero (00) pocket, makes it more popular than the French and European versions.

So, let’s discuss the main rules of online American Roulette and how to play the game.

How to Play American Roulette

Roulette is a simple game; it uses a spinning wheel with numbered slots, a metal ball, and a table with all available bet options. The aim of playing the game is to bet on which pocket the metal ball lands on after spinning the wheel.

There are 38 colored pockets, ranging from 0, 00, and 1 through 36. The 0 and 00 pockets are green and are positioned on opposite sides of the wheel, while other numbers are split evenly between red and black.

American Roulette has various betting options: color, odd/even number, High or Low, Column, etc., but you must place your wager before the dealer spins the wheel. Two main bet options cover various combinations on a single bet – Inside and outside bets.

Inside Bets

Inside bets cover all single numbers and combo bets placed in the inner segment of the roulette table. These bets are famous for high payouts and low winning chances. The following are types of inside bets.

Straight-up bets: are single-number bets that cover a single number, including 0 and 00. It pays out 35 to 1 on winning bets.
Split bets: Combination bets on two adjacent numbers on the table. This pays 17 to 1 if the ball lands on either number.
Street: bets on three numbers in the same row. 11 to 1 payout rate.
Corner/Square bets: covers a square block of four numbers with an 8 to 1 payout.
Basket bets: covers the first five numbers: 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. Winning bets pay 6 to 1.
Six-Line bets: cover six numbers (two rows of three numbers), paying 5 to 1.

Outside Bets

Unlike inside bets, outside bets do not cover specific numbers but larger groups of numbers. They are positioned outside the main table of numbers on the roulette table. Some of the stakes in this category include:

Color bets: cover all numbers of the selected color (red or black) with a 1 to 1 payout. However, there are exceptions for green.
High/Low bets: cover low (1 to 18) and high numbers (19 to 36) with a 1 to 1 payout on outcomes within the selected range.
Even/Odd bets: cover 18 odd and 18 even numbers with an even payout.
Dozen bets: cover three categories: first dozen (1 to 12), second dozen (13 to 24) and the third dozen (25 to 36). They pay 2 to 1.
Column bets: cover a column of 12 numbers with a payout of 2 to 1.

Placing Roulette Bets

At the start of the game, the player can purchase roulette chips from the dealer or croupier and place their bets on the table. To help identify the bettors quickly, each player gets a specific color of chips, and those wagering with more than one chip can place them in a single stack. To place a bet, take the number of chips you want to stake and place it in the box corresponding to your bet on the table. These boxes have the same size, so all numbers are equally likely to be hit on each spin.

The game begins after all players place their bets. The croupier then tosses the ball onto the spinning wheel. Players can continue placing bets until the ball starts slowing down or there are two or three spins left. The croupier notifies everyone when it’s no longer possible to bet; any bet made after this period is invalid (past posting).

When the ball lands in a pocket, the croupier announces the outcome by placing a marker on the winning number. All lost chips are cleared off the table and the winners receive their payout accordingly. The croupier removes the marker and starts a new betting round. Players in online casino sites have more time to analyze their bets and roll the ball. These two features give players an edge over their land-based counterparts, making it more fun and livelier.

The Double Zero: A Curse or a Blessing?

Every expert roulette player should know how the presence of 00 in American roulette changes the dynamics of the whole game. This unique feature influences roulette strategies, bet combinations, and possible ball draws. For instance, straight-up bets offer better house edges in European and French roulette with a winning probability of about 2.7%. In the American version, it’s up to 5.26%.

You get higher winning odds but at risk of payout rates, a disadvantage for amateur gamblers. Yet, American roulette is still a favorite from players globally, remaining one of the most popular and exciting social games.

For players at the start of their gambling career, we recommend you play the single zero roulette versions before exploring other options. Visit trusted casino sites and enjoy a virtual Las Vegas casino experience. Gamble responsibly!