Walk into pretty much any casino in the world and you’ll likely find that the biggest buzz and the liveliest atmosphere is found at the roulette wheel. As a game that relies almost entirely on chance, it’s simple to pick up, pits punters against the house and gives them the thrill of beating the odds to claim potentially lucrative prizes. What’s not to like?
While it’s undeniable that there’s far more luck involved in roulette than there is in poker, blackjack or baccarat, for example, there are those who maintain that it’s not all down to chance. With that in mind, it’s worth investigating whether there is any truth to those rumours. Is there any skill involved in the game? Where can you read about the different roulette strategies? And can you turn the same techniques to your own benefit? Read on to find out more.
Learn the rules
The first rule when playing any game is, in fact, to make sure you understand the rules of engagement thoroughly. It’s a common misconception that all games of roulette are the same, but there are actually a number of varieties on the theme which contain subtle but significant differences.
For example, the three main types of roulette are French, European and American – and we believe this is the order of preference in which you should seek them out. That’s because French roulette returns half of the stake to the player if it lands in the green zero, while European and American roulette does not. Indeed, the latter game is especially sneaky, since there are double the number of green zeroes on an American roulette wheel as others, giving the house a slightly bigger edge.
Study the wheel itself
Roulette markets itself as a game of pure chance – and to a large extent, it is. However, there is some research to suggest that where the ball lands is not entirely random. Its final position is determined by a number of factors, including the position at which it is released on the wheel and the speed behind it.
While the conclusions of studies on this subject are as yet unconfirmed and unsubstantiated, they do provide interesting food for thought when weighing up where to place your wager. What’s more, if the wheel itself is warped, misshapen or damaged in any other way, all bets are off (no pun intended). Those looking to gain an advantage over the house are advised to steer clear of such tables.
Take advantage of statistics
Whereas compiling statistics (even in your head) was something that has been traditionally frowned upon by casinos and has provided inspiration for Hollywood films like 21, it’s actively encouraged in the modern environment. Or at least, in the format which the casino itself chooses.
This is especially true if you choose to play roulette online. When doing so, you’ll often find that your casino of choice affords you access to a plethora of facts and figures about how frequently the ball has landed on a certain spot, as well as its entire history over a certain number of spins. It may be possible to study this data and gain insights into where it might fall next time round, too.
With any casino game, it’s impossible to guarantee a positive outcome every time you play – and the chances of doing so become even slimmer when it comes to a game that is so heavily based on luck as roulette is. Nonetheless, you can try and leverage the odds more in your favour by following the helpful tips above.