For bettors that play just to have some everyday fun this segment about the wheel of fortune probably would not be completely clear. However, after having understood the basics, ambitious gamblers usually take their knowledge to the next level. This is a bit more scientific, better said, mathematical side of roulette.
Getting more familiar with the whole concept of probable outcomes is very important for everyone that is planning to invest real money into the casino. Moreover, it is crucial to find all the necessary information about the house edge and the winning odds.
Probability of an Online Wheel
The simplest way to explain this term would be that the probability is an extent to which something is likely to happen. Transferred into a gambling community, it would sound a bit different but with the same meaning. First of all, realize that anything can occur when the cause is the roulette wheel. There is no same pattern that can be followed in advance. Therefore, the main presumption is that all results are possible.
Having that in mind, a basic definition could be pulled out: the probability of winning equals the number of ways to win, divided by the possible outcomes (that includes both winning and losing). For instance, the French Roulette has 37 numbers. The player puts his/her bet on one of them. That is only 1 positive and 36 negative potential results. In this case, the probability would be:
1/1+36 = 1/37 = 0.0270 = 2.70%
This can be done with various kinds of stakes, like the Street bet. The wage is on three horizontal numbers. There are 3 ways to win and 34 not to. Following a simple formula the probability would be:
3/3+34 = 0.0810 = 8.10%
How about six numbers stake? There are 6 potential victories and 31 failure:
6/6+31 = 6/37 = 0.16216 = 16.21% (15.79% in American Roulette).
Now, imagine that all of the possible betting options and every single type of roulette can be expressed through this value. And just how many trillions of arrangements without counting the possible repetition of numbers are there.
First, let us take a look at the difference between the French and the American wheel when it comes to this topic. Because of one extra field, the double zero, the US type of a game is riskier. It has a higher edge of 5.26% on splits. Take a quick look at some of the values in the table below:
| Betting Type | European | American |
| Straight Up | 2.7% | 2.63% |
| Corner | 10.81% | 10.53% |
| Column | 32.43% | 31.58% |
| Red/Black; Even/Odd; Low/High | 48.65% | 47.37% |
The Serious Side of the Games
Have in mind that many think that the odds and the probability are the same things. This can often confuse first-time bettors so remember that there is a difference between these terms. There are two main ways one can calculate the odds (both for success or failure):
- Probability of positive outcome / 1 – Probability of positive outcome;
- Much easier method: Ways to win/ways to lose.
The tricky part begins when the casino takes part in these situations. Watch out for the fact that bookmakers always show the edge of failure. So, the smaller the chance is, the bigger are the cash outs.
However, have in mind that every house will take advantage of a profit margin. Nothing comes for free. Check odds for basic betting kinds for the European style wheel:
| Stakes | Payments |
| Red/Black | 1:1 |
| Even/Odd | 1:1 |
| Low/High | 1:1 |
| Dozen/13-24 | 2:1 |
| Straight Up | 35:1 |
| Split | 17:1 |
| Column | 11:1 |
| Line/Six Line | 8:1/5:1 |
Note that sometimes players may see odds expressed in reverse. Instead of 35:1, it will be written 1:35. Those are odds of failure/against success. For the newbies, this tends to be a bit confusing.
There is another important term that should be mentioned and it is deeply related to everything said so far. That is the house edge. When all the parameters are familiar it is not hard to calculate this value. The best way to understand this is through an example.
In the American Roulette, there are 38 fields. Let us presume a bettor picked Red/Black option. This means he/she will carry a victory when a ball lands on one of the 18 coloured numbers. The chances of winning are approximately 47.37% (18/38). From this step, the house edge is easy to find out. Having in mind that losing percent is 52.63%, the calculation would look something like this:
4737 – 5263 = -0526 (or 5.26%).
Play to Beat the Odds
The first question every new bettor will ask is how to win over a house. And when it comes to roulette to afford. Simple because there is no certain and effective way to beat the odds.
In spite of that, several scientists tried to use physics and prove that this is actually possible with the Theory of Chaos. At first, they observed and noted the time ball takes to pass a point in order to calculate the velocity of it. With the help of these easy measurements, they were able to predict which half of the wheel will the ball land on in mesmerizing 59% of the time. That way they managed to get back even 18% of their unsuccessful bets. In comparison to 2.7% that is good news.
However, to try that out you need to prepare deep pockets and tons of patience. If those are not your preferences that always leaves the positive aspects of the game itself. Choose a respectable casino that offers plenty of bonuses you can use.
Of course, before signing in check if the promotions are adapted for the particular jurisdiction and read best-ranked Casino Reviews. Also, make sure bookmaker supports the specific currency (Euro, Dollar, the UK Pound). In addition, look up the roulette tables that have “La Partage” and “En Prison” options. These will, actually, bring you back half of the stake in the case of a loss.
