Roulette Do’s and Dont’s
December 13, 2010
Don’t play on an “American” wheel. This may seem unpatriotic to the uninformed, but the difference between a “European” wheel, which does not include the 00 as a slot, and the “American” wheel, which has the 00 included, is an overall house edge for the casino of 5.26%, which is simply unbeatable in the short or long term. The edge the casino has with European wheels is smaller; take the opportunity to play those tables if they are available at your casino.
Don’t play the “basket” bet. Betting on the line between 0 and 1 is what is commonly referred to as a “basket” bet, which looks appealing due to the ability to hit 5 numbers for one bet. The casino’s edge on this bet, however, is a staggering 7.29%, which is sure to cripple any bankroll after a few $50 bets go down the tubes on that bet: for every $100 you place on it, you should only expect $92.71 back!
Do be willing to play the even money bets. Even though the thrill of hitting your number when playing roulette may be something to cheer for, it also comes with the common knowledge that the casino is not paying out 37:1 odds on your 37:1 shot. The red/black bet or even/odd bets, however, are the best edge that you can get on the table, offering any even money bet on a 18/37 shot, which is a much more negligible house edge than directly betting a number every time. It may seem like a boring way to play roulette; red, red, black, red instead of 34, 34, 17, 00, but in the long run, your gambling funds will decreases less on your time at the tables will increase; both positive side effects from playing smart roulette.