The House Edge in Roulette
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Roulette is a casino game of chance that involves spinning a numbered wheel. A small ball is thrown onto the wheel while it’s spinning, and when the ball comes to rest in one of the numbers on the board, the player wins. The game has several types of bets, each with its own odds. Some bets are better for new players, while others are more risky and offer a larger payout if you win.
When you sit down at a table, the dealer (also known as a croupier) will give you colored chips with a denomination assigned to each of them. You can choose to bet $1 or $100, for example, depending on your budget. Unlike other casino games, you don’t share your chips with other players.
Once you’ve placed your bets, the croupier will spin the wheel and throw the ball into it. Then, you wait as the ball bounces around the rim and eventually settles into a pocket marked with a specific number. If you made a bet on that number, you’ve won!
The House Edge
The house edge in roulette is 2.70% when the La Partage rule is in effect, and it’s 1.35% without it. This means that the casino keeps half of your even-money bets, and gives you the other half back if you lose. This is why many players try to find ways to beat the house – by betting opposite the favorite number or by watching other bettors in hope of learning something they don’t know.
The house edge in roulette is based on the fact that there are only 37 possible outcomes on the wheel, plus a 0 and a 00 (in American roulette). A 0 or a 00 will defeat any inside bet, so this type of bet pays out at a much lower rate than outside bets. The best way to minimize your losses is to play the game within your predetermined budget and avoid dipping into winnings to place more bets. This will keep you from losing more than you’re winning and ensure that you stay in the game longer.