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Roulette Meaning & Terms - Gambling Guide

16 minutes read

Complete list list of 52 gambling terms and their meanings for beginners. What is roulette? The difference between American and European roulette.

What is roulette?

The world-famous game of roulette is a gambling game in which players make bets. It consists of a revolving wheel and a small compartment where a small ball will come to rest in. There're two versions of this fascinating game – American and European, and they both have their fans.

The American roulette

The American roulette slot wheel has 38 divisions including numbers from 1 to 36, 0, and 00. In American roulette or Double Zero Roulette, numbers from 1 to 36 are alternately colored red and black, while the single zero and the double zero are marked in green. All 38 numbers are identically arranged on the wheel, thus, the ball has an equal probability to settle in any of the divisions.

The American & European roulette

The main objective or roulette meaning, which any player pursues in any type of roulette, is to predict which numbered pocket the roulette ball is going to settle into. In order to do that, all players make bets on a particular number, after which the dealer turns the roulette wheel in one direction and spins the roulette ball in the opposite. Once the ball finds its way into the pocket with that particular number, the respective players get paid.

The European roulette

The European roulette wheel has 37 divisions, where numbers from 1 to 36 and 0 can be found. Numbers from 1 to 36 are alternately colored red and black, while the single zero is marked in green.

French roulette follows roughly the same rules as European and American roulette, but there are two exceptions – the additional La Partage and En Prison rules apply. While French roulette is also a single-zero game, similarly to its European counterpart, it features a different table layout.

Lightning roulette is a bombastic game with added high-payout RNG Lucky Number wins to every game round. In each game round, between one and five Lucky Numbers are hit by lightning and given multiplied payouts of between 50x and 500x.

In Lightning roulette, the full range of Roulette bets are on offer to players, otherwise, it's the same old European roulette we all know and love. Lightning roulette offers 37 pockets divided into Green, Black, and Red. What makes this type of roulette different is essentially its speed and those special Lucky Numbers.

After each of the player’s bets has been accepted, the amount of Lucky Numbers (one to five), the Lucky Numbers themselves and the amounts of the Lucky Pay-outs will be randomly generated. Each Lucky Number pays one of the Lucky Pay-outs of between 50 and 500:1, if the ball lands on the Lucky Number and if the player has made a Straight Up bet on that number. Non-multiplied Straight Bets pay 30:1. All other bets such as splits, corners, red/black, and dozens pay the same as standard Roulette.

Is Lightning roulette rigged? No one can know for sure as it's played online, however, as in the case with most online casino games, the outcome of the game depends entirely on chance and the casino itself. If the casino has multiple licenses and doesn't use 'gray' software, there're chances their games are fair. In any case, roulette winning probability depends solely on the player's luck.

There's a number of roulette variations, including:

  • Steam roulette (roulette at Steam),
  • Quantum roulette,
  • Ladbrokes roulette (roulette game at Ladbrokes Casino),
  • Playtech roulette (by Playtech Gaming),
  • Fortnite roulette,
  • Immersive roulette (by Evolution Gaming),
  • Bingo roulette,
  • Grand National Roulette, and many more.

Roulette system

When playing roulette online one will find out the betting process is relatively easy, and there're not so many roulette terms to learn. The player has to place his or her chips on the desired bet and press the ”Spin” button. Once the betting round is over, he or she needs to choose either to place another bet (”Rebet” button) or to abandon the game (”Clear Bets” button).

Roulette slag - meaning

Now, when it comes to special roulette terms, there's a couple of the most common phrases and expressions you should know and remember.

Action Player — This refers to players who frequently make big bets. Some might use it to refer to a mindless player whose big bets do not pay off.

Bankroll — The bankroll indicates the total funds that a player sets aside and uses during the game.

Biased Number — A specific wheel number that hits more often than usual. These numbers appear on biased roulette wheels and are statistically proven after a detailed analysis.

Black Bet — When players bet that the next ball will land on a black number.

Cancellation Betting System — In this system, a number sequence is used, and each winning bet cancels certain numbers. On the other hand, after a losing bet, it adds numbers. A common variant of this betting system is called “LaBouchere System.”

Call Bet — This type of bet is mostly used in French or European roulette. It requires the player to call out their bet instead of just placing a wager on the roulette table. Types of call bets are Voisins du Zero, Tiers du Cylindre, Jeu Zero, Neighbors, and Orphelins.

Capping a Bet — If players cap a bet, they forcefully add chips to a winning bet after that bet has finished. It is also similar to “Past Posting.”

Casino Advantage — Often referred to as the “House Edge,” it’s a percentage of the mathematical advantage that the casino has over the player.

Chasing Losses — The action of players who lose and then increase their bets in an attempt to regain the money they have lost.

Combination Bet — When the player uses one chip or more and bets on two numbers or more.

Comp — Complimentary points that players receive upon reaching specific betting levels.

Croupier — Another, more formal term for the dealer. In roulette, the croupier is the employee who works at the roulette table and spins the wheel.

Coup — When a player wins on a single spin or bet.

D’Alembert System — In this progressive betting system, players modify their bet by +1 when they lose and by -1 when they win.

Dead Table — This is a roulette table that is fully prepared for the game; however, it has no players.

Dealer — Dealers are members of the casino staff. They handle and operate the games.

Double Up Betting System — To make up for their previous loss, players will double their bets. The “Martingale System” is a popular version.

En Plein — A Straight-up Bet in French (see “Straight-up Bet”).

En Prison — In French, this term signifies an advantageous option for single-zero roulette. Even-money bets are not lost in case the zero shows. In place of that, the bets get locked up. If there is a winning bet on the next spin, it will be returned fully. But if it is a losing bet, the money goes to the house.

Even Bet — When players make an even bet, they place a wager on an even number to win in the next round.

Even or Odd Bet — When players make an even or odd bet, they place a wager on either an even or odd number to win.

Fibonacci Betting System — A form of progressive betting. It is used to determine the size of your bet by following the numbers of the Fibonacci sequence (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13…). After every lost bet, the player bets the value of the next number in the sequence. And after each win, the player removes two of the highest numbers from the sequence and continues from there.

Gaffed Wheel — A rigged roulette wheel.

Grind — A player who plays for small money.

High Bet — When players place an even-money wager on 1–18 (top half).

High or Low Bet — When players place an even-money wager on 19–36 or 1–18. 

House Edge — The casino’s mathematical advantage on a player’s bet.

Impair — In French, this term stands for an Odd Bet.

Inside Bet — When players make a wager on the numbers closest to the center of the table layout. The bets are placed only on individual numbers or small groups. Bets include Straight-up, Split, Street, Corner, Line, Five-Number Bet, Basket, and Snake Bet.

La Partage — A rule resembling the En Prison bet, which applies to French roulette. It means half of the player’s lost money will be returned if the ball hits zero.

Low Bet — Signifies a bet on low numbers between 1 and 18.

Marker — The croupier uses the marker to point out the number that won the spin. New bets cannot be placed on the table if the marker is still on it.

Mini Roulette — A type of online roulette that has a smaller wheel with fewer numbers (usually 0 to 12).

No Action — This term is used by the dealer to indicate that the casino will not cover a specific bet. Plus, it could also mean that a decision or spin will not count.

Pair — In French, this term stands for Even Bet (see “Even Bet”).

Parlay — When a player doubles their bet after winning.

Passe — In French, this term stands for High Bet (see “High Bet”).

Pocket — Pockets are the numbered boxes on a roulette wheel.

Penny Ante or penny roulette — Used to describe a game that is played for incredibly small stakes.

Premiere — The term means “first” in French. During the Dozen Bet, it applies to the first 12-number group.

Quarter Bet — A type of single bet. It signifies betting on one winning number out of four on the layout. Also known as “Corner Bet” or “Carre” in French.

Single-Zero Wheel — A wheel with only one zero.

Split Bet — When a player makes a wager on the line that divides two numbers. If one number hits, the player wins. The payout is 17:1, and players can split between the two numbers.

Surrender — When a player loses and the casino takes half of the bet. The bets are even money, and it applies if the ball hits on 0 or 00.

Table Hopping — When players switch between different roulette tables frequently.

Take Down — When a player takes back their wager before the game starts.

Trio Bet — A trio bet or triple bet is another term for Street Bet. See “Street Bet.”

Visual Wheel Tracking — Refers to a skill of observing and predicting where a quick roulette ball will land.

Wager — Another way of saying bet.

Wheel Chips — Signifies chips used only for roulette.

Wheel Strategies — Tactics used to take advantage of flaws on the roulette wheel in order to gain an edge.

Zero — Refers to the number on a roulette wheel which is usually green. Players can make bets on zero in the same manner as bets on 1 to 36.

Is there any skill in roulette?

One can with all certainty say that, unlike with poker or blackjack, there's absolutely no skill in roulette. What you need is the right setting and conditions to play this game and a bit of luck on your side.

If you are a beginner player, we recommend reading our article How Roulette Works in Online Casino and Red and Black Betting System for Roulette at a Casino.

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