Announced Bets in Roulette
Roulette is a casino game that is known for its glamour, mystery, and excitement. It has been popular since the 17th century and it is one of the most played games in casinos around the world. However, it is in danger of being passed over by newer and more exciting casino games such as slot machines, video poker, blackjack, and craps.
It’s important to understand the rules of the game before you start playing. There are several types of bets you can place, and each has different payout odds and payback rates. You should also be aware that the house edge in roulette can vary depending on the type of wheel you play on, from 2 percent on an American double zero wheel to 2.70 percent on a European single-zero wheel.
Inside and Outside Bets
There are many different types of “inside” bets, which are bets that cover numbers on the roulette table or a specific grouping of pockets based on their position. You can also place “outside” bets, which are bets on odd or even, red or black, or a combination of these choices.
The roulette board and the wheel are designed to prevent cheating by operators and gamblers. For this reason, the table is much larger than in land-based casinos and there are no slits in the wheel or table where players can insert devices to help them win.
Aside from the main bets, there are also special betting combinations that are commonly featured in French Roulette and often present in online European Roulette variations. These bets are called announced bets, and they are crucial to understanding the game.
Announced bets are usually 5-number bets that cover a certain number and 2 neighbouring numbers on each side. The length of these sections and the number of neighbouring pockets can be adjusted as you place the bet.
Another common announced bet is ‘5 and the neighbours’, which covers the number 5 along with the neighbouring numbers 24, 16, 10 and 23. This bet can be placed on any section of the wheel, but it’s more common to see it on the ‘Neighbours’ section.
This bet costs 40 chips and pays a maximum of 392 chips if it wins. It is a very risky bet but it’s worth the effort if you get lucky and win.
Roulette can be fun and exciting but it’s not without its disadvantages, like the house edge. While the odds of hitting a single number on a straight-up bet are 37 to 1, the house only pays 35 to 1. This discrepancy between the true odds and the odds paid by the house makes it a drain on your wallet.