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The Las Vegas Gambler ROULETTE Roulette is another of the "simple" games that a lot of people shy away from because they do not understand the simplicity of the game. Basically, when playing roulette, you are merely betting that your choice of a number or group of numbers picked from a 37 or 38 numbers on the table layout, will be the number that the little ivory ball will drop into on the wheel. Again, this game frightens most uninitiated gamblers because they see the layout and immediately try to figure out what is going on. Very simply stated you can bet any number or combination of numbers and the calculated odds of your choice coming up ultimately determines the payout. To illustrate: Bet one number and a win pays 35:1 Bet two numbers side by side and a win pays 18:1 and so on down the line until you get to betting either "RED", "BLACK", "ODD", or "EVEN"groups all of which pay 1:1. Some of the confusion arises because of the layout. The roulette table is laid out with three columns of 12 numbers in each from 1 to 36. Zero and double zero are at the top of the three columns. Each number is alternately colored "RED" and "BLACK" You can bet roulette in a number of ways. The way that you bet will determine the odds and ultimate payout if your number comes up. To begin with, The house has the advantage right from the start. First of all because the highest payout that you can receive is 35:1. With the American layout, This wheel has 38 numbers, 1 to 36 plus the zero and double zero. When a wheel has 2 zero's the house has an advantage of 5.26%. This means that for every $5 bet the house is assured of making 26 cents profit. It doesn't sound like a lot but when you add up all the bets, it is enough to keep the lights on, pay the dealer, give you free drinks and still pay the stockholders. . In the American table layout with zero and double zero, one of the factors that aids the house is the fact that both of the "ZERO numbers are "GREEN" numbers, and not considered either "ODD" or "EVEN"so even if you bet red or black, odd or even consistently, an occasional "green" number will come up and change the percieved odds of 1:1 . The European table on the other hand,has 37 numbers, 1 to 36 plus the zero. With only 1 zero the house has advantage is 2.70%. This means that for every $5 bet the house is assured of making only 13.5 cents profit. This is the best wheel to play because of the lower house advantage making it easier to win. When you come to Las Vegas, if you are going to paly roulette, the European wheel is the one to look for. Another advantage of playing a "True" European layout is the fact that when this game was first devised in France in the early 16th century (by most estimates), when "ZERO" came up, all bets except those that were bet on zero, were impounded by the "crupier" (dealer in American casinos) and held over until the next spin of the wheel. We know from personal experience, The Monte Carlo on "The Strip" has "single zero roulette tables. This Casino Hotel is located just north of Tropicana, across form The MGM and of course, they do not impound your bet when single zero comes up. After all they are an American casino. No matter how you look at this game, it, like all games are fun to play and while you are at the table you can even imagine that you are one of your favorite characters from the movies when you are playing. So make your buy-in, pick your number(s) and most of all, HAVE FUN!! Our roulette page on The Las Vegas Gambler Web page is currently under construction, until we complete construction, please feel free to play roulette for free at the link to our affiliate "POGO" below. Thank you for visiting our ROULETTE page. Please come back and visit again! The Las Vegas Gambler Click here to go Back to The Las Vegas Gambler's Home Page Want to contact us, You can do so at: The Las Vegas Gambler, Mail Box