April 13, 2020 3 min to read
The roulette wheel, a game of chance and math
Category : Hobby, Lifestyle
Ever since the dawn of men, we have been gambling one way or another. Today, there are many gambling games that are offered both in live casinos and the online ones, but few can match the popularity and allure of roulette.
Roulette has been around for centuries now and we have managed to invent various different formats and versions of the game. Today, roulette is a global phenomenon that is played by millions and we wanted to have a look at just what makes the game so appealing to the masses.
If you are looking to learn more about the game, keep reading, and if you are looking to start playing, you should visit the best place to play roulette games in Ireland and choose one of the many online casinos that offer this game in all its formats.
How Roulette Works
Of all the gambling games out there, roulette is probably the most unique one. While most other games use either cards or dice, roulette is a completely separate game, which requires a special wheel, table and ball, all of which are made just for this particular game and spread across the glamorous casinos across the world.
A game of roulette is played on the wheel and the table at the same time. Players use the table to place their bets on one or more of the 37 available numbers. Then, once all bets are placed, the dealer spins the ball in the wheel. The game is finished when the ball lands in one of the 37 sockets on the wheel, corresponding the 37 numbers on the table.
Players can bet on numbers themselves, as well as the color of the number (red or black) or whether the number will be odd or even. All payouts are made using a predetermined paytable, with bets like red/black (outside bets) paid at even money, and straight up bets on numbers paying 35:1.
In each case, the house retains a small edge. The 0 number is green and it is neither odd nor even, which means whichever bet you make, the house will always have a 2.7% edge over you. The goal for the player should always be to get some wins and quit while ahead, as in the long run the mathematical odds are always in favor of the house.
Applying Strategy to the Game
No matter which strategy one uses, the house edge always remains at 2.7% in the European version of the game and 5.2% in the American version. However, these are only the long run theoretical odds, and in the short run every session will end up with either a win or a loss that will rarely amount to these theoretical numbers, due to mathematical variance.
For this reason, people have invented many short term strategies that tend to give good results. Some of these include the Martingale System, which includes doubling the bet until a win is made, reverting to the original bet after every win. The Paroli System, on the other hand, keeps increasing bet up to a point selected by the player, giving them every chance to acquire the profit they had in mind.
While some players prefer to make low volatility outside bets, others will opt to bet on straight numbers and hope for the best. Whichever approach or strategy you take, it is important to remember that both strategy and chance always play a part in the game of roulette.
What’s More Important, Chance or Skill?
In the end of the day, chance is the thing that will determine how you will do at the roulette tables. No matter how smart you may be or how skilled you think you are at the game of roulette, there is just no telling where that ball will land. Trying to predict this is out of the option!
Instead, we recommend you take a step back, remember to enjoy the game for the thrill and adrenaline it can provide and never go too far with your attempts to win. Always play responsibly and only use the money you can afford to gamble away, otherwise roulette can quickly turn from harmless fun into a dangerous addiction.