Roulette terms: A-Z glossary
Even though playing roulette is a fairly simple game, there are many terms that are used that you might not be familiar with. These roulette terms are frequently used in articles about the game, and you’ll also hear a lot of them when playing the game.
Some of the most popular roulette terms that you should be familiar with before playing are included in the list below.
A
Action: The total sum of money you wager over a specific time frame.
Airball: A roulette is a particular style of the electronic, air-pressure-operated roulette wheel.
American Roulette: The most popular roulette variant in North, Central, and South America is called American roulette. There are 38 pockets on the wheel in this game, each numbered 1-36, plus a zero and a double-zero.
B
Ball-Track: The outer, stationary rim of the roulette wheel where the ball is spun is known as the “ball track.”
Big Number: A number that has exceeded its theoretical average is referred to as a big number. Big Numbers over the long term could be a sign of a biased wheel.
Backtrack: The part of the wheel’s outside rim where the ball is spun.
Bet on the Layout: A wager placed anywhere on the table’s numbers section is known as a bet on the layout.
Biased Wheel: A wheel where not every number has the same chance of winning on any given spin. Many roulette success stories involve players taking advantage of unfair wheels and placing bets on winning combinations.
Black Bet: A bet that the following number will be black is referred to as a “black bet.”
Block Betting: In some roulette strategies, a group of numbers on one segment of the wheel is bet on.
Bottom Track: The inner, slanted part of the roulette wheel that does not move when it is spun is known as the bottom track. The roulette ball goes down the bottom track before hitting the wheel head and landing in a pocket for its ultimate resting place.
C
Capping A Bet: A bet is capped when additional chips are unjustly added to one that has already won.
Casino Advantage: The edge that the house has over the player, typically represented as a percentage.
Call Bets: A call bet is one that is placed orally, without putting any chips on the table. While announced bets, in which a player announces a bet and then immediately places the chips on the table to cover it, are permitted, many casinos do not allow true call bets.
Carr: The word “carr” is French for Corner bet.
Chameleon Strategy: The term “chameleon strategy” in roulette refers to a player who copies the tactics of other successful players at the table.
Chasing Losses: Increasing your bets to make up for losses. a risky and unsatisfying playing style.
Check Rack: The tray on which casino chips are kept is referred to as the “check rack.”
Cheval: French word that defines a Split bet.
Choppy Game: A game that is choppy is one in which neither the player nor the house has been winning consistently or one in which no obvious streaks have been developing.
Cold Table: Any table where you and/or other players have been losing is known as a “cold table.”
Colonne: French word that defines a Column bet.
Column Bet: A bet on one of the three available columns of numbers is known as a column bet. Pays two to one.
Croupier: The casino employee who monitors activity at the roulette table is known as a croupier. The more formal and accurate term is croupier, but this employee may also be referred to as a dealer.
Combination Bet: Any bet where one or more chips are placed on two or more numbers is a combination wager.
Corner Bet: A single bet that one of the four numbers on the layout will win is known as a corner bet.
D
Dealer: The person working the games at the casino.
Derniere: The final set of 12 numbers in the Dozen Bet is referred to as the “Derniere,” which is French for “last.”
Double Up System of Betting: This is a strategy of betting in which a player doubles his bet following a defeat in an effort to recover some of the staked funds.
Double Zero: The “00”-designated area on an American roulette wheel that is exclusive to those countries. Accordingly, these wheels are also referred to as “double zero” wheels.
Douzaine: The Dozen Bet’s French name.
Dozen Bet: A wager on one of the three groups of 12 numbers that are available—1 through 12, 13–24, or 25–36—is known as a “dozen bet.” pays two to one.
E
En Plein: A Straight Up Bet, is a French term.
En Prison: The French word “en prison” literally means “in prison.” Only bets paying even money were subject to a rule. Some online roulette casinos give players the option of taking back half of their wagers when the result is zero or leaving it (in prison) for another spin. In the second scenario, the entire bet is lost if the outcome of the subsequent spin is once again zero.
European Roulette: This variant of the game is most frequently found in Asian and European casinos. The house edge is decreased in this game because there is only one zero used. In addition, if the ball lands in the zero pocket, the en prison rule enables players to get back half of all even-money wagers. European roulette now has a significantly lower house edge than American roulette thanks to these rule changes.
Even Money: Every bet that pays 1 to 1 is known as even money.
Even Up: Even bet has no numerical advantage for either side. As all layout bets have a fixed house advantage in roulette, this can only result from wheel and croupier biases.
F
Fair Game: A game that is fair is one in which neither the house nor the player has an advantage. The game of roulette is unfair.
Five Number Bet: Given that a player wagers on the outcome of the numbers 0,00, 1, 2, or 3, this wager is possibly the worst one can place on an American roulette wheel.
French Bets: These bets cover specific areas of the actual roulette wheel. They are well-liked in European casinos, especially with high rollers. In order to cover all the numbers in each section of the wheel, a player placing a French bet actually places multiple bets at once.
G
Gaffed Wheel: A wheel that has been rigged (by either player or the casino).
Greens: Chips valued at $25.
H
High Bet: The bet one places that the next spin will produce a number between 19 and 36.
Hoca: Early version of roulette.
Hot Table: A table where the players have been winning.
House Edge: The percentage of each bet that the casino anticipates keeping on average over the long term, or the house edge, is the mathematical advantage it has over the player. The house edge on a roulette wheel with a single zero is 2.70%.
I
Impair: French word for the Odd Bet, or a bet that one of the next spin’s winning numbers will be odd.
Inside Bets: Bets placed on the area of the roulette wheel that has the numbers printed inside it. This betting payout is at relatively high odds and only covers single numbers and small groups of numbers.
L
La Partage: A roulette rule that is similar to the En Prison rule, except that the player in this case loses half of their wager and is not given the option of leaving it “En Prison” for a subsequent spin. When the outcome is 0, this applies to the “outside” even-money bets Red/Black, High/Low, and Odd/Even.
Line Bet: A player can place a bet known as a “line bet” that one of the six numbers in each of the two rows of three numbers will win.
Low Bet: When a player bets on the outcome of a number between 1 and 18.
M
Manque: French word for “low bet”
Marker: The device the croupier uses to record the winning number following each spin. Prior to the croupier taking the marker off the table and starting the next spin, players shouldn’t place any new bets.
Mayer Line: A roulette betting strategy that increases the stake slightly after a losing wager. A win of ten units results from the removal of all ten numbers in a row.
Mini Roulette: This variety of game is accessible at some online casinos. A smaller wheel with only 13 numbers (0–12) is used in this game, and payouts are changed accordingly. Additionally, when a spin yields a zero, many Mini Roulette games return half of all losses, which makes the house edge similar to the advantage the casino enjoys in traditional roulette games.
Money at Risk: Amounts that have been bet and are potentially at risk.
N
Nickel: A $5 chip that is typically red in color.
No Action: All bets are canceled and the casino starts the action over from the beginning if the croupier calls no action once during a spin. After no action is called, bets may be cancelled.
Noir: French for “Black Bet” is noir.
O
On the Square: An honest game.
Orphans: A common phrase heard in casinos in Europe. Describes a bet on three particular numbers—6, 34, and 17—that are close neighbors on the wheel but are spaced apart on the layout.
Orphelins: Another term commonly used in European casinos is orphelins. It’s a bet on a certain group of numbers on a particular area of the roulette wheel that are close by on the wheel but not next to on the layout.
Outside Bets: Bets placed outside the limit of the roulette table. These bets typically cover main aim is to increase of the roulette wheel and have lower odds of winning. Many bets, like red/black or odd/even, are even money wagers.
P
Pair: Another name for an Even Bet.
Parlay: When a bet is doubled after a win, this phrase is used.
Passe: The French word for a high bet.
Pockets: Possible landing spots for the roulette ball on the wheel. Each pocket has a distinct number between 1 and 36, and there is also a pocket with the number 0. (and a 00 pocket on an American roulette wheel). The numbered pickets are divided into two colors: red for the first half, black for the second, and green for zeros.
Positive Progression: Any betting strategy that involves raising stakes after a win.
Premiere: The first set of 12 numbers in the Dozen Bet is referred to as the premiere in French.
Q
Quarter Bet: A bet that one of four numbers will be hit on the upcoming spin is known as a quarter bet. Similar to corner and square bets.
Quarters: $25 worth of chips. Typically, green.
R
Red Bet: This is an outside bet that pays 2-1 in which the player bets that the upcoming spin will result in a red color.
Rouge: French word for Red Bet.
S
Section Slicing: By dividing the wheel into sections based on the numbers that have been successful, biases can be found.
Session: A set amount of time allotted for playing a casino game. typically ends at a set time or after a certain number of wins or losses.
Six Line: A betting is known as a “six line” that covers two consecutive rows of numbers on the roulette wheel, totaling six numbers. Typically, this betting pays out at 5-1 odds.
Sixainne: French for a 6-line bet.
Split: When placing chips on the intersection of two numbers on the roulette wheel, a bet known as a split covers two adjacent numbers. Typically, this betting pays out at odds of 17-1.
Straight Up: A bet made by setting chips on a single number on the layout of the table. Typically, this bet pays out at a 35-1 odds ratio.
Street: A bet made by setting chips along the edge of a three-number row on the roulette table layout. Typically, this betting pays 11-1 odds.
Surrender: When a player chooses to surrender, the casino only accepts half of their losing bet on an even-money wager when the 0 or 00 appears. Few casinos in the US provide this.
T
Table Layout: French and American tables are the two primary kinds.
True Odds: The actual possibility that a will happen.
Tiers Du Cylindre: French expression that is frequently used in casinos in Europe. It is a wager on a specific set of adjacent pairs of numbers on a particular sector of the roulette wheel.
Transversale: French word for a street bet.
Trio Bet: This betting is identical to the previously mentioned Street Bet. You wager that one of three numbers will be the winning number in the trio bet.
V
Visual Wheel Tracking: The skill of predicting the location of the ball’s landing by sight.
Voisins du Zero: French term used frequently in European casinos is “voisins du Zero.” It is a bet on a specific set of numbers on the roulette wheel’s pocket that is close to zero.
W
Wager: Another word for bet.
Wheel Checks: The unique, unmarked chips known as “wheel checks” are used only on roulette tables.
Wheel Chips: Unique chips are only used in roulette.
Wheel-Clocking: There are two primary definitions or categories for wheel-clocking. One is to monitor the outcomes of roulette spins to spot patterns and potential bias in the wheel. The other method involves electronically or visually measuring the wheel’s speed in an effort to foretell where the ball will land.
Wheel Head: The area of the roulette wheel that has numbered pockets.
Wheel Roller: A croupier or dealer at the roulette table.
Wheel Strategies: Techniques designed to take advantage of flaws in the wheel and give the player an advantage.
Z
Zero: The designated zero space on a roulette wheel. This “single zero” space can be found on all roulette wheels, and American roulette wheels will also have a double zero pocket.