Roulette is a casino game where players choose to place bets on a single number or various groups of numbers. This is a very well-known game and a favorite among casino players all over the world.

Although it is an easy game to play and simple to understand, there are a lot of different terms that may not be familiar to the average casino-goer. These roulette terms are used to discuss various aspects of playing roulette. If you are interested in this game, you may want to know more about all of these various terms.

Below is a list of the most common and, also some of the most important, roulette terminology. It is essential to know these terms if you want to better understand how the game of roulette works.

American Roulette – This is the version of roulette played in America casinos. In this version, the wheel has at least 38 pockets. They consist of numbers between 1 and 36, along with zero and double zero pockets. It is different from the European Roulette which only has one zero.

Bet on the Layout – This term is used when a wager is placed anywhere on the individual numbers part of the table.

Biased Numbers –Biased Numbers is one of those terms every player should know. It refers to a group of numbers on a roulette wheel, which are statistically proven to hit more often than others based on a long-term analysis. This means that not all numbers are equally likely to win on a given spin and, therefore, the wheel is showing some bias for certain areas rather than others.

Block Betting – Stands for a bet made on a block of numbers in the same section on a roulette wheel. This is a type of strategy for this game.

Bottom Track – The bottom track is the slanted, inner area of the roulette wheel, which remains immobile when the roulette wheel spins. It is the part of the roulette wheel where the ball slides before it stops in the pocket.

Chameleon Strategy – This is a type of strategy where someone is copying the types of bets and tactics of successful players.

Check Rack – The name given to the tray where roulette chips are kept.

roulette column bet

A column bet in roulette is highlighted

Column Bet – This is a bet on one of the three available columns of numbers, where each column consists of 12 numbers. Any bet on the columns pays two-to-one. So, if you bet $10 and won, you would win $20, plus your original $10 back.

Combination Bet – Any bet that has one or more chips on two or more numbers.

corner bet in roulette

The corner bet in roulette

Corner Bet – The corner bet is an inside bet on four numbers at one time. If any one one of the four numbers hits then you will and be paid eight-to-one. So, if you bet $5 and won, you would win $40, plus your original $5 back. This is also the meaning of the word Carré in French roulette.

Croupier – The name of the casino employee who is responsible for the roulette table. They can also be referred to as a dealer what is probably the most used term, especially at casinos in the U.S. However, croupier is the more formal and accurate term.

roulette dozens bet

The dozens bets in roulette are highlighted

Dozen Bet – Type of bet that can be placed on any of the three sections: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36. This means the bet can be placed on one of these three available groups of 12 numbers. Any bet on the dozens pays two-to-one. So, if you bet $10 and won, you would win $20, plus your original $10 back.

roulette table layout

A double-zero roulette wheel layout

Double Zero – This term is referred to as the pocket on the roulette wheel marked “00”. This is specifically found on American roulette wheels, which are also known as double-zero wheels. Games with a double zero raise the house edge to 5.26% as opposed a house edge of 2.70% which applies to single-zero roulette wheels.

Double Up System – A betting system where the players’ increase their bet by twice as much after a loss. This is done in order to regain some of the money played on the previous bet. This is also known as a progressive betting system. It is also sometime referred to as the Martingale betting system.

En Plein – An expression normally used to indicate the “straight-up bet.” Precisely, it refers to a bet made on a single number, when a player makes by placing the chips on that specific number.

En Prison – This is a phrase that means “in prison”. This is a rule applied to even-money wagers on single-zero roulette wheels only. Some online casinos, as well as some European casinos, will permit the player to take back half of their bet, or leave it imprisoned for another spin. This happens when zero hits. If the next spins give another zero, then the entire wager is lost.

European Roulette – European roulette was the original version of roulette. It is also the most popular in European and Asian casinos. These wheels have only one zero, which has the effect of lowering the house of edge as compared to a double-zero wheel. The house edge with only one 0 is 2.70%, while a double-zero wheel has a house advantage of 5.26%.

outside bets in roulette

Even money bets in roulette

Even Money – This term stands for a bet in which the payout is 1 to 1. Examples of even money bets in roulette are: red or black; odd or even; and low (1 to 18) or high (19 to 36). So, if you bet $10 and won, you would win $10, plus your original $10 back.

5-number bet in roulette

The five number bet in roulette

Five Number Bet – Players consider it to be the worst bet that someone can make when playing on an American double-zero roulette wheel. The player is betting on five numbers at one time: 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. This is the only bet on the double-zero roulette wheel that has a higher house edge than the other bets. The edge is 7.89% rather than 5.26% for all other bets. You should never make this bet!

French Bets – This is a very popular bet in European casinos, mainly among high rollers. These bets make up certain physical sections of the roulette wheel. Making a French bet is making several bets at once which allows the player to cover all of the numbers in certain wheel sections.

House Edge – This is the mathematical advantage that the casino holds over the player. On a single-zero roulette wheel it is 2.70%. On a double-zero wheel it is 5.26% on all bets, except for the five number bet which has a house edge of 7.89%.

Inside Bet – This is a bet based on the inside area of the roulette table where the numbers 1-36 are located, plus the zero(s). This bet is only for individual numbers or small groups of numbers. Only through this type of bet, as opposed to the so-called “outside bet,” the player can bet on combinations that exclusively include the numbers inside the green carpet. In practice, we are talking about a bet that is internal only if the chip touches a number (from 0 to 36) or one of its sides that delineates it. There are five kinds of inside bets a player can make: straight, split, corner, street, and double-street. On a double-zero wheel, players can also make a sixth bet: five number bet.

La Partage – This is a rule that is similar to the En Prison one. If the result of the wheel spin is zero, than the player immediately loses half of their bet. This is different than the En Prison rule, where they would have to wait for the result of another spin.

Marker – The croupier/dealer will put a marker on the winning number after each spin of the roulette wheel. Players can only place new bets after all winning players have been paid and the croupier has removed the marker from the table.

Mini Roulette – This game is available in some online casinos. It is a smaller wheel that consists of only 13 numbers (0 to 12) instead of the standard amount.

No Action – This name is given when the croupier calls no action. Once this command has been shouted to the players during a spin, all bets are cancelled.

Orphelins – This is a term used mostly in European casinos. It consists of betting on a specific group of eight numbers on a section of the roulette wheel: 17-34-6 and 1-20-14-31-9.

Parlay – A term that refers to the doubling of a bet after a win. Many players consider the system as one that doesn’t use any specific mathematical method. The player only needs to decide what amount he should place as a bet and what amount of money he wishes to earn. The main objective is to record two or more wins in a row. In the end, it will allow the player to profit exponentially until a target level is reached. Or, more likely, the player will lose the entire bet.

single zero roulette

A single-zero roulette game at the famed Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco

Single-Zero – This term refers to a roulette wheel that only has one green “0”. This is usually widely found on European roulette wheels, as opposed to American roulette wheels where they also have a “00” pocket and are known as double-zero wheels.  Games with a double zero have a house edge of 5.26% while  single-zero roulette wheels have a house edge of just 2.70%.

 

roulette split bet

The split bet in roulette

Split – When a bet covers two adjacent numbers on the roulette layout. The player will simply put their chip on the intersection of the two numbers they want to bet. Any bet on a split pays 17-to-one. So, if you bet $1 and won, you would win $17, plus your original $1 back.

Triple Zero – This term is referred to when the pockets on a roulette wheel have three sections with zeros: 0, 00 and 000. This is beginning to pop up in some Las Vegas casinos. Games with a triple-zero raise the house edge to 7.69% as opposed to 5.26% on a double-zero wheel and 2.70% on a single zero wheel.

Voisins du Zero – This is a French term that usually applies only to European casinos. It is used when there is a wager on a particular group of 17 numbers on a section of a single-zero roulette: 22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26-0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25.

Wheel Checks – The name of the special unmarked chips that are used specifically on roulette tables. The chips have no value anywhere else in the casino and they should only be used at the roulette table and only by the player who was assigned to those particular chips.

Zero – The pocket on the roulette wheel marked with a 0. All roulette wheels contain at least one single-zero pocket. American roulette wheels also have an extra double-zero pocket. Games with a double zero raise the house edge to 5.26% as opposed a house edge of 2.70% which applies to single-zero roulette wheels.

As you can see, there is a distinct kind of terminology when it comes to the game of roulette. Now you should have a better understanding of roulette and the various versions that are offered. With this terminology, you will be more knowledgeable about the game.

These are all very useful terms to know and they will also make you look like an expert whenever you play!

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