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Roulette is a classic and thrilling casino game, known for its spinning wheel and the exciting anticipation of where the ball will land. However, understanding the variety of bets, strategies, and terms involved can greatly enhance your gameplay.
To help you get started or improve your game, we’ve compiled a detailed glossary of essential roulette terms.
Action - Refers to the total money wagered by a player during a roulette session or game.
Airball roulette - An automated version of roulette where the ball is propelled into motion by air pressure, eliminating the need for a dealer.
All-in - Betting all your remaining chips or funds on a single spin or outcome in roulette.
>American roulette - A variation of roulette featuring 38 pockets on the wheel, including an additional "00" along with numbers 0 to 36, which increases the house edge.
Back Track/Backtrack - The outer rim of the roulette wheel where the ball spins before falling into the numbered pockets.
Ball-Track - Another term for the backtrack, where the ball travels around the roulette wheel.
Bankroll - The total amount of money a player has set aside for gambling during a session.
Bet on the Layout - Any bet placed directly on the numbers or sections of the betting table (the layout).
Biased Numbers - Specific numbers that may come up more often due to imperfections in a biased wheel.
Biased Wheel - A roulette wheel with mechanical imperfections that cause certain numbers to appear more frequently.
Big Number - A number that has hit more frequently than expected during a roulette session.
Black Action - Refers to placing large bets using black chips, which are usually valued at $100.
Black Bet - A wager placed on all black numbers (18 black numbers on a roulette wheel).
Blacks - Black-colored chips, typically valued at $100 each.
Bottom Track - The part of the roulette wheel where the ball travels just before it starts dropping into the numbered pockets.
Cancellation Betting System - A strategy where players cancel numbers from a list based on wins and losses to manage their bets.
Capping a Bet - Illegally adding chips to a bet after the outcome is known.
Carre - French term for a corner bet on four numbers.
Casino Advantage - The statistical edge the casino holds over players in any game.
Chasing Losses - Increasing bets in an attempt to recover previous losses.
Cheval - A French term for a split bet on two adjacent numbers.Choppy Game - A game where wins and losses alternate
frequently without any clear trends.
Cold Table - A roulette table where players have been losing frequently.
Colonne - A French term for a column bet, betting on one of three vertical columns of numbers.
Column Bet - A wager on one of the three columns of 12 numbers on the layout.
Combination Bet - A bet that covers multiple numbers, such as splits, corners, and streets.
Corner Bet - A bet on four adjacent numbers, placed at their intersection on the table.
Croupier - The dealer who operates the roulette wheel and manages bets.
Dealer - The casino employee responsible for spinning the roulette wheel, managing bets, and paying winners. Also called the croupier in European casinos.
Derniere - A French term meaning "last," typically referring to the third dozen bet (numbers 25-36).
Double Zero - A feature unique to American roulette, referring to the 00 pocket on the wheel.
Douzaine - A French term for a dozen bet in roulette, referring to 12-number bets.
Dozen Bet - A bet on one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36).
Electronic roulette - A digital version of roulette where the game is controlled by a computer rather than a live dealer.
En Plein - A French term for a straight-up bet, placed directly on a single number.
En Prison - A rule in European roulette where losing even-money bets are held for another spin if the ball lands on zero.
European roulette - A roulette wheel with 37 pockets, numbered 1 to 36 and a single zero.
Even Bet - A bet on even numbers (2, 4, 6, etc.).
Even Money - A bet with a payout of 1:1.
Even Money Bet - A bet that pays out the same amount as wagered, like red/black or even/odd.
Even Up - Another term for an even-money bet.
Fair Game - A game where the outcome is determined solely by chance, with no external bias or manipulation.
Five-Number Bet - A unique bet in American roulette, where the wager is placed on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3. It has a higher house edge than other bets, making it less favorable for players.
Gaffed Wheel - A rigged roulette wheel designed to manipulate the outcome in favor of the casino, making it unfair for players.
Greens - Refers to the $25 chips used in many casinos, commonly called "green chips" due to their color.
High Bet - A wager placed on the higher numbers on a roulette table, typically numbers 19 through 36.
Hoca - A historical card game similar to roulette that was popular in the 17th century, often considered a precursor to modern roulette.
Hot Table - A term used when players at a roulette table are consistently winning, creating a favorable atmosphere.
House Edge - The statistical advantage that the casino holds over players, ensuring the casino profits over time.
Impair - In roulette, this refers to an "odd" number bet. Betting on impair means wagering that the outcome will be an odd number.
Inside Bet - A type of bet placed on specific numbers within the numbered layout of the roulette table, including bets like straight-up, split, street, corner, and line bets. These bets generally have higher payouts but come with lower odds of winning.
La Partage - A roulette rule that applies to even-money bets. If the ball lands on zero, players lose only half of their wager, and the other half is returned. Common in European roulette.
Line Bet - A wager in roulette that covers two adjacent rows of numbers (six numbers total). It offers a payout of 5:1.
Low Bet - A bet that the ball will land on a number between 1 and 18, inclusive. This is an even-money bet with a payout of 1:1.
Manque - A French term in roulette referring to a bet on low numbers (1-18). This is an even-money bet.
Marker or Dolly - A small object used by the croupier to mark the winning number on the roulette layout after the ball has landed.
Mayer Line - The dividing line between inside and outside bets on a roulette table layout.
Mini Roulette - A smaller version of the traditional roulette game with 13 numbers (1-12 and 0).
Money at Risk - The total amount of money that a player has wagered and could potentially lose.
Nickel - In roulette, a "nickel" refers to a $5 betting chip. It is a common term in American casinos.
Noir - The French word for "black," used in roulette to indicate a bet on the black numbers (which are half of the non-zero numbers on the wheel).
Odd Bet - A wager placed on all odd numbers on the roulette table (1, 3, 5, etc.). It pays 1:1 if one of the odd numbers wins.
On the Square - Refers to a fair and honest game in roulette, with no tampering or rigging involved.
Outside Bets - Bets placed on options located outside the numbered grid on the roulette table, such as betting on red/black, odd/even, high/low, or columns. These bets usually have lower payouts but a higher probability of winning.
Pair - Refers to placing a bet on two numbers that are adjacent on the roulette table.
Parlay - A betting strategy where winnings from one bet are reinvested into a new bet, increasing the stakes.
Passe - A French term meaning "past"; refers to a bet on high numbers (19-36).
Pockets - The numbered slots on the roulette wheel where the ball can land.
Positive Progression - A betting system where the bet size increases after each win.
Premiere - Can refer to the first spin of a roulette game.
Quarter Bet - A bet placed on four numbers at once by putting the chip at the intersection of the four chosen numbers on the layout. This bet is also known as a corner bet.
Quarters - Refers to $25 chips, typically used in higher-stakes games. It can also refer to a corner bet placed on four numbers.
Red Bet - A bet placed on all the red numbers on the roulette wheel. If the ball lands on a red number, the bet wins and pays 1:1.
Reds - Refers to $5 denomination chips, typically red in color, used in most casinos.
Rouge - The French word for "red." In roulette, it refers to a bet placed on the red-colored numbers.
Section Slicing - A betting strategy where a player covers a specific section of the wheel by placing multiple bets on adjacent numbers.
Session - The duration of time a player spends at the roulette table, from start to finish.
Single-Zero Wheel - A European-style roulette wheel with only one zero, which offers a lower house edge.
Split Bet - A bet placed on two adjacent numbers, pays 17:1.
Stack - A pile of chips, typically used in betting.
Straight Up Bet - A bet on a single number, pays 35:1.
Street Bet - A bet covering three consecutive numbers in a row, pays 11:1.
Surrender - In some roulette variants, players may recover half their bet if the ball lands on zero, typically offered in European roulette.
Table Layout - The design or arrangement on the roulette table where players place their bets, including sections for numbers, columns, colors, and special bets.
Transversale - A French term for a street bet, covering three consecutive numbers on a single row.
Triple or Trio Bet - A bet that covers three numbers, including 0 or 00, and pays 11:1.
True Odds - The actual statistical probability of an event happening, not adjusted for the house edge.
Wheel Head - The central part of the roulette wheel, which houses the rotating mechanism and contains the numbered pockets where the ball lands.
Wheel Roller - The individual responsible for manually spinning the roulette wheel in some setups, although this role is mostly automated in modern casinos.
Wheel Strategies - Tactics employed by players to track or predict ball outcomes on the wheel, often involving observation of wheel speed or biases.
Wheel-Clocking - A strategy used by players to time and track the wheel's rotations to spot patterns, potentially identifying where the ball is more likely to land.
Zero - In roulette, zero (0) is a green pocket on the roulette wheel, representing the house edge.