Roulette Terms
1 to 18 / 19 to 36 Bet – An even money outside bet where the player bets on the number selected by the next spin of the wheel is between 1 to 18 or 19 to 36. These bets can also sometimes be called “High” and “Low” bets with high referring to the higher numbers 19 to 36 and low to the lower set of 1 to 18.
American Wheel – A roulette wheel consisting of 38 slots, 36 numbered 1 to 36 and two green slots labelled 0 and 00. The American wheel is named as it is predominantly used in American casinos and offers a slightly higher house edge on 50/50 bets.
European Wheel – A roulette wheel consisting of 37 slots, numbers 1 to 36 plus a single green 0 slot. These wheels were predominantly used in Europe, hence the name and offer the player the lowest house edge compared to the American wheel. This is also sometimes known as French Roulette due to the fact that the game originated in France.
Column Bet – An outside bet which is placed at the end of one of the three rows of numbers on the layout and which covers all the numbers contained within that column. This bet offers a payout of 2/1.
Corner Bet – An inside bet which is placed on the corner at which four single numbers on the layout meet. If any of the numbers connected to the corner comes up, you win the bet at odds of 8/1.
Dozen Bet – An outside bet which is placed on the 1st 12, 2nd 12 or 3rd 12 boxes corresponding to numbers 1-12, 13-24 and 25 to 36 on the wheel. A dozen bet pays out at odds of 2/1
Even Bet – An outside bet that pays out at even money where the player bets on the outcome of the spin of the wheel resulting in an even number being selected.
First Five / First Four Bet – On an American Wheel a First Five bet is a wager on the first five numbers, 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 at odds of 6/1. On the European Wheel, a First Four bet is a wager on the First Four Numbers, 0, 1, 2 and 3 at odds of 8/1.
Inside Bet – A bet on the layout that is placed on the inside of the layout and is generally much higher odds than outside bets. Inside bets include single number bets (35/1), a split bet (two numbers at 17/1), Line Bets (3 numbers at 11/1), Corner Bets (4 numbers at 8/1), First Five or First Four Bets (depending on whether it is an American or European Wheel – 6/1 or 8/1) Street Bets (6 numbers at 5/1)
La Partage – A rule offered on some European roulette games where if the ball lands in the single zero wheel, for all bets placed on the even money options (1 to 18, 19 to 36, Red or Black or Odd or Even) half the punters stake is returned to them. The rule only applies to even money bets. This is also known as the Surrender rule.
Layout – The layout is the grid where all roulette bets are placed.
Street Bet – A line bet is when a player places their chip at the top of a line of three numbers on the layout. The bet then covers these numbers and is won if the ball lands in the slot of any of the three numbers covered by the bet. A Line bet pays out at 11/1 and it is an inside bet.
Odd Bet – An outside bet placed on an odd number being selected on the next spin of the reel. This pays out at even money.
Outside Bet – Outside bets are bets on the layout that are at the edges of the layout, hence the outside and they are all the lower odds bets. This includes Column and Dozen bets (2/1), plus all the even money bets Odd/Even, Red/Black and 1-18/19-36 (even).
Red or Black Bet – An even money outside bet which sees the player bet on the colour of the next number selected being red or black.
Split Bet – A split bet is when the player places their chips on the dividing line between two adjacent numbers. It is therefore an inside bet on two numbers. If either of the two numbers is the result of the spin, the player wins at odds of 17/1.
Straight Up Bet – An inside bet made on a single number. The wheel must spin this single number for the player to win the bet. It pays out at odds of 35/1.
Six Line/Double Street Bet – An inside bet placed at the top or bottom of the line that divides six adjacent numbers on the layout. This bet covers those six numbers, three each side of the dividing line and it pays out at odds of 5/1.
Surrender – A rule also known as La Partage, where the player who makes an even money bet will receive half their stake back to them if the ball lands in the green zero or double zero slots.
D’Alembert System – A betting system used in roulette and other casino games where the player adds one chip to their bet after a losing bet, but removes one chip from their bet following a successful bet. It is based on the somewhat inaccurate belief that a player is more likely to lose after they have won and more likely to win after they have lost.
Fibonacci Strategy – A strategy similar to the Labouchere system which instead of using a sum of numbers to add up to a predetermined amount, it uses the Fibonacci sequence as its basis (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 etc). A player bets using the sequence and when they win, they cross out the last two numbers in the sequence. If the player loses, they add the number of chips they bet to the end of the sequence. When the player wins their next bet is the sum of the previous two numbers in the list.
Flat Betting – Flat betting is when a player at the table makes the same size bet on the same outcome in every game, for example, consistently betting on red on every spin of the roulette wheel.
Follow the Leader – A simple system which sees the player follow the result of the previous spin to place their next bet. If the last winning bet was on red, and you bet black, you switch your bet to red next time and you always follow the result of the last spin of the ball. This system utilises the idea that winning streaks happen from time to time and that by following the result of the spin, a player can hit a lucky streak and win.
Labouchere System – A system where the player decides on an amount of money they would like to win and then writes down a list of positive numbers which add up to the desired sum. With each bet the player stakes the amount determined by the two numbers at the start and end of the list. If the bet is successful, the two numbers are crossed off the list. If the bet loses, the total loss is added and this amount added to the end of the list. The process is then repeated until either all numbers are crossed off – and the player wins the stated amount – or the player runs out of money.
Martingale System – An exponential betting system where the player starts off betting at the lowest unit and upon losing, makes their next bet double the size of the previous. Therefore a player who starts off with a 1 chip bet and loses three times in a row would place bets of 1, 2, 4 and then 8 chips on the fourth spin. If a player wins, then they restart the sequence by betting one chip again.
Paroli System – A progression betting system where the player bets in blocks of three with the size of each wager determined by the result of the previous bet. Starting with one chip, if the player bet loses, they bet one chip again. If the players bet wins, then they double their wager. The same process is followed for the third bet (meaning if the player has won twice previously, they will wager 4 chips on the third bet). After three bets the process starts again with a single bet. The logic behind this system depends upon the notion that winning and losing bets tend to happen in streaks.
