Brief Guide to Roulette

The word "Roulette" is derived from a French word meaning small wheel. The origin of Roulette is not hugely clear. Some sources suggest that Blaise Pascal, a 17th Century French mathematician invented the roulette wheel, where as other sources state that the game originated in China and was brought to Europe by Dominican monks who were trading with the Chinese at the time.

During the late 18th century the Roulette wheel became very popular when Prince Charles, ruler of Monaco at the time, introduced gambling to Monaco as a way of alleviating the financial burdens of the region.

However, the modern version of the Roulette wheel did not appear until 1842 when two French bothers Francois and Louis Blanc invented the single "0" roulette game. The game was eventually introduced to America in the early 1800s.

The single "0" modification was adapted in America and two zeros "00" where added to the Roulette wheel. The game of Roulette gained a great deal of popularity in America during the California Gold Rush.

There are two types of Roulette Games:

European Roulette - The European Roulette Wheel contains 37 numbers including 0 and 1 to 36. Having only one zero (0) gives the house a 2.70 per cent advantage. In other words, for every $100 a gambler bets, the house will make $2.70 in profit.

American Roulette - The American Roulette Wheel contains 38 numbers including 0, 00 and 1 to 36. Having two zeros (0, 00) gives the house a 5.26 per cent advantage. In other words, for every $100 a gambler bets, the house will make $5.26 in profit.

Playing Roulette

After purchasing chips from the dealer, the player places them on the desired positions on the table in an attempt to predict where the ball will land after the wheel is spun and the ball comes to a complete stop.

Once the chips are placed on the table and the bets are made, the dealer spins the Roulette wheel whilst spinning the ball in the opposite direction inside the Roulette wheel. Players are allowed to continue placing bets during the spin until the dealer says "No more bets".

When the wheel slows down and the ball drops into one of the numbered slots, the dealer places a marker on the winning number on the Roulette table. Players who bet on the winning number or colour are rewarded whilst the players who bet on the losing numbers or colour lose their chips to the casino.

Roulette continues to be one of the most popular classic casino games, especially in Europe. This is due to the fact that European Roulette has only one zero and as a result offers a more appealing house edge to players.

Casino slot machines

Modern day slot machines work on a computer program that randomly selects winning combinations. Winning percentages and odds are set by the manufacturer of software developer and are calculated by millions of spins made with computer simulations. A slot machine is a mechanical device employing three, four, five, or more circular reels of varying dimensions. Each of these reels has several symbols on them. Most common designs are cherries, bars, melons, and the Number seven.

Theme Machines are very popular, using red, white, and blue sevens symbol. To better understand slot machine strategies and how winning at slot machines can be achieved, you must first know what kind of slot machine you are playing and understand slot machine strategy.

Three reels or four reels

Common sense should dictate that it is far easier to line up three matching symbols for a Slot Machine win, than four. To get four of anything is very difficult, even on liberal Video Poker. On a reel slot machine, three sevens can be achieved much more often than four sevens on a four-reel machine. Look for three reel machines to play on.

Progressive slots

Progressive slot machines are usually four-reel machines which offer a limitless jackpot that increases in value after each pull on every machine ina linked group. The top jackpot can be won only if the maximum number of coins is played and all the winning symbols correctly line up on the pay line. Progressive Slots do not payout very often, however if you want to play a progressive slots, pick one whose primary and secondary jackpots are also at a high level.

Two coin vs. three coin machines

In two coin machines, for the top jackpot, or maybe even the top two or three jackpots, the second-coin play will pay significantly more than just double the one coin jackpot. For example: top jackpot payoff on a two-coin machine is three sevens, paying £1,000, the same three sevens pays only £400 if you play only one coin. The three coin machine will show much greater payoffs for the top jackpots with the three coins played. Three coin machines might look more lucrative in their payoff than two coin machines, but don't be fooled by this. The player also has to bet more to get the higher payout. Consequently, the player will lose more money with each spin. Whatever slot you play, two coin, three coin, four coin, etc., always play the maximum number of coins. If you don't, you are not maximising your winnings.

One payline vs. three paylines

Most slot machines show the centre line marked as the payline. To win you must line up a winning combination on that centre payline and on that line only. But many machines show three paylines: at the top, centre, and bottom of the window. This means that a winning combination lined up correctly on any of the three paylines will payout. The advantage of three paying machines is that they give you more chances of winning. You can get double and triple pays if winning combinations appear on more than one payline together. The disadvantages are that the payoffs are usually very small and the top jackpot is paid out only if you line up the proper winning symbols in the correct sequence on the bottom, or third payline. Another disadvantage is that three payline machines are always three coin machines. Some machines offer five, or even eight paylines but, once again, you have to play five or eight coins per go.

Double-Up Symbols

A great variety of machines now employ so-called double-up symbols on their reels. This symbol, usually circular or in the shape of a diamond in a circle, and always bearing the words "Double" across the face can be very useful to the slot player. The payoff amount is double and these double symbols also substitute for any other symbol. However, there are not many double machines available at casinos. The good double-up machines are normally found stuck somewhere in the middle of a group of poor machines, or kept out of view of players trying to hunt them down.