Comprehensive Roulette Glossary Of Terms & Slang

Here are some of the roulette terms you will hear while spinning the online roulette wheel. The below “Gambling City Guide to Roulette Definitions” will aid you in learning and profiting at this most popular of casino games.

Acquainting yourself with the following casino and internet roulette slang will help you determine the best roulette bets and, therein, play roulette better.

Action: A roulette bet. Below are the available roulette bets and their corresponding roulette payouts.

ROULETTE BET TYPE	ROULETTE PAYOUTS
Straight—Any single number (including 0 and 00)	35 to 1
Column—Any 12 numbers in a column	2 to 1
Dozen—1st 12, 2nd 12 or 3rd 12	2 to 1
Red or Black	Even Money
Odd or Even	Even Money
1 to 18 or 19 to 36	Even Money
Split—Any 2 adjacent numbers	17 to 1
Row—Any 3 numbers in a row	11 to 1
Corner—Any of the 4 neighboring numbers	8 to 1
5 Numbers—0, 00, 1, 2 & 3 – (Worst Bet in Roulette!)	6 to 1
Double Row—Any 6 numbers in 2 rows	5 to 1

The table layout shows the numbers 0 and 00 at the top, followed by the numbers 1 through 36. When you bet on specific numbers or groups, it is called an ‘inside’ bet. Straight Up, Split, Row, Corner, 5 Numbers and Double Row bets are all Inside Bets.

Roulette bets placed on Column, Dozen, Red or Black, Odd or Even and 1-18 or 19-36 are called ‘outside’ bets because their betting areas sit outside the grid.

American Wheel: Also called a US-style wheel, this wheel has 38 numbers (0 and 00 and numbers 1-36). The succession of numbers appears as follows (clockwise around the wheel): 0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2. The 00 gives American roulette a higher house advantage when compared to European roulette.

Backtrack/Balltrack: The track on the outside rim of the online roulette wheel where the dealer spins the ball.

Ball: A small white plastic ball. The dealer spins the ball counter-clockwise as the wheel spins clockwise. When the ball lands in a pocket on the wheel, the pocket where it rests shows the winning spin.

Biased Wheel: Imperfect wheel where particular numbers result more frequently that chance allows.

Biased Numbers: This denotes numbers that keep appearing, usually induced by biased wheels.

Big Number: A number that scores more frequently than is statistically feasible. This may be an indication of a biased number.

Black action: Betting with $100 (black) chips.

Black Bet: Betting that the next spin will come up black.

Bottom Track : Interior canted, fixed rim of the wheel where the ball rolls down prior to recoiling onto the wheel head and into a number pocket.

Capping a Bet: Also called Past Posting. A method of cheating that involves placing more chips on a winning roulette bet.

Carré : French word for “Square” also used to describe the Corner Bet (playing four numbers at one time).

Casino Edge : Advantage the casino holds on any bet. You are subject to the house edge whether you play video poker or online keno, as it is present in all land and internet games. In roulette, the casino edge for the American online roulette wheel (0 and 00) is 5.26%. Casino edge for European roulette (0 only) is only 2.70%.

To calculate the 5.26% house edge, consider the 35-1 payout of a straight bet, where the true odds are 37-1; therefore, your winnings are shorted $2. Thus, $2 divided by 38 = 5.26%.

In European roulette, the true odds are 36 to 1; therefore, your payout is shorted by $1; $1 divided by 38=2.63%.

Chameleon Strategy : Follow the winning players and copy their betting practices, thus “blending in” with their luck.

Chasing Losses : Stepping up your bets in order to “break even” and recover previous losses.

Check Rack : Also known as a chip rack or chip tray, this is the slot that holds chips during play.

Cheval : French word for “Horse”, also used to describe the Split Bet (playing two numbers at one time).

Choppy Game: Roulette session where no consistent patterns emerge.

Colonne : French word for “Column”, also used to describe the Column Bet (playing one of the 3 columns on the grid).

Column Bet : Betting one of the 3 columns. These columns are comprised of 12 numbers on the table layout. You place your bets at the base of upright column and winning bets pay 2 to 1.

Corner Bet : Betting on four numbers simultaneously by placing chips at the corner where four numbered squares intersect.

Croupier : French word for roulette dealer.

Derniere: French word for ‘last’, also used to describe betting on the third group of twelve numbers in a Dozen Bet (25-36).

Double Row: Betting on six numbers in two rows or ‘streets’ on the grid. Winning bets pay 5 to 1. Also called a Line Bet or a Six Number Bet.

Double Zero: Green number appearing only on American wheels.

Double-Zero Wheel: See American Wheel.

Douzaine: French word for “Dozen”. See Dozen Bet.

Dozen Bet :Betting on twelve sequential numbers on the table grid at one time. e.g.: 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36.

En Plein: French term for “Into Full”. Also used to describe the Straight-up Bet (playing a single number only).

En prison rule: Also called the Surrender rule, this rule appears more in European roulette. If the player makes an even money bet (odd/even or red/black), and the ball falls on 0, the player has the choice to lose one-half of his original bet or keep the money at stake “en prison”. This entails keeping his original bet on the table for the next spin. If a player chooses the “en prison” option, the house edge drops considerably for the following spin. If a zero hits on the next spin, the player loses the entire bet; you can’t play “en prison” for two consecutive spins.

European roulette: A roulette game with a wheel that holds 37 pockets and numbers from 0 to 36. European roulette offers a decreased house edge when likened to American roulette, so the player has better odds.

Even Number Bet : betting that the ball will land on an even number (2, 4, 6, 8, etc.) on the next spin. 0 and 00 do not count as even numbers.

Even Money : A bet with a payoff of 1 to 1. Red, Black, Odd, Even, Low, and High are even money roulette bets.

Fibonacci Betting System: This roulette betting system involves multiplying the bet after a loss by a progressive sequence of numbers, e.g. (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, etc.).

Five-Number Bet: This bet is only available in American roulette. The player bets on 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, all simultaneously. The casino edge on this bet is 7.89%, the highest in roulette.

Flat Bettor: Player who bets the same amount of money every single time.

Golden Numbers: See Biased Numbers.

Greens: $25 Chips, usually painted green.

High Bet: Betting on the top eighteen numbers (19-36). Pays even money.

High-Low Bet: Betting on either the bottom eighteen numbers (1-18) or the top eighteen (19-36). Pays even money.

House edge: The profit margin the house earns on each game. You can calculate it by the difference between true odds and the real roulette payouts the casino makes.

Impair: French word for “Odd”, also used to describe the Odd Bet (betting that the ball will land on an odd number [1, 3, 5, 7, etc.] on the next spin).

Inside Bet: A bet placed on a specific number or group of numbers within the numbered grid. Opposite of Outside Bet.

La partage rule: French term for “the division”. Primarily used in European roulette. Similar to the “en prison” rule. However, the player does not have the choice to leave the bet to play it for the next spin. He only loses half of the original bet and not the whole bet.

Layout: Roulette table pattern on the green felt surface showing the different betting alternatives visible.

Line Bet: Betting that any one of six numbers in two rows (also called ‘streets’) selected will win.

Low Bet: Betting on the bottom eighteen numbers (1-18). Pays even money.

Manque: French word for “miss”. Also used to describe the Low Bet (playing the bottom eighteen numbers [1-18]). Pays even money.

Martingale Betting System: This roulette betting system involves the player making even-money bets and then doubling up his bet every time he loses. Two flaws to this system make it unmanageable:

The player stands to lose a huge amount of money if he gets a few bad spins in a row.
Casinos have maximum bets on all tables, so the Martingale player may not recoup his losses before he reaches that maximum betting limit.

Negative Progression: A roulette betting system where players increase their bets after a loss (e.g. Martingale, Fibonacci).

Nickel: $5 dollar chip, usually painted red.

Noir: French word for “Black”. Also used to describe the Black Bet (betting that the ball will fall in a black pocket).

Non-Value Chip: Casinos supply these chips whose cash value hinges on the number of chips purchased in a buy-in. For instance, a buy-in of $200.00 with 40 chips comes out to $5.00 per chip. Another term for this is the “table minimum bet”.

Odd-Number Bet: Betting that the ball will fall on an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, etc.) on the following spin.

Outside Bet: Bets placed on the outside of the table’s numbered grid. These bets include Red, Black, Odd, Even, High, Low, 1st 12, 2nd 12 and 3rd 12. Opposite of Inside Bet.

Orphelins: French word for “orphans”. This rule usually occurs in European roulette. An Orphan bet is where a player bets on a specific number or group of three numbers that sit together on the wheel, but are quite distant from each other on the numbered grid. (Example 32, 15,19)

Pair: French word for “Even”. Another name for the Even Bet (betting that the ball will land on an even number [2, 4, 6, 8, etc.] on the following spin). 0 and 00 are not considered even numbers.

Parlay: Roulette betting system of doubling the bet after posting a win; the player puts his chips on the table and leaves them there, followed by an additional new bet, in preparation for the next spin.

Passé: French word for “Passed”. Also used to describe the High Bet (wagering on the top eighteen numbers [19-36]). Pays even money.

Past Posting: A cheating technique that involves placing more chips down on a bet that has already won, also known as Capping a Bet.

Pay Out: The winnings the player earns.

Pinching: A cheating technique that involves moving a losing bet from the table.

Plain: Also called a “Straight-up bet” (playing only one number).

Premiere: French word for “First”. Also used to describe the first group of dozen numbers (1-12) in the Dozen Bet.

Player Clocking: Watching a player that has been winning by using Chameleon Strategy, and then attempting to copy his bets.

Quarter Bet: Betting on four numbers at one time. Winning bets pay 8 to 1. See also Square Bet or Corner Bet.

Quatre: French word for “Four”. Also used to describe a four-number bet.

Red Bet: A bet that the ball will fall in a red pocket. Wining bets pay Even Money. Also called a Red Color Bet.

Red-Black Bet: A bet on either the eighteen red numbers (see Red Bet) or the eighteen black numbers (see Black Bet). Pays even money.

Reds: $5 chips, usually painted red. Also called “nickels”.

Reverse Martingale Betting System: A roulette betting system where the player doubles his bet after each win instead of after each loss.

Rien Ne Vas Plus: French for ‘No more bets’.

Rouge: French word for “Red”. Also used to describe a Red Bet (betting that the ball will fall in a red pocket).

Roulette chips: Casinos hand out these chips for roulette play only. These chips are not allowed at any other games as they do not carry any value denominations. In American roulette, different colored chips are given to each player to mark their bets on the table. In European roulette, the players are responsible for remembering which chips are theirs.

Roulette layout: A numbered grid with colors on a roulette table where players can put down their bets.

Roulette strategy: Any method a player uses so as to better his opportunities at winning or staying away from taking on large losses.

Roulette system: A method organized for players to assist them in winning at roulette or lessening house edge, (e.g. the Martingale System).

Roulette wheel: The wheel is the central component of the game. The pockets on the wheel alternate between black and red and odd and even numbers (from 1 to 36) with no regard to sequence. In the American variation, the wheel has an additional green pocket labeled “00”. The dealer spins the wheel clockwise and then throws the roulette ball onto the rim, setting it to spin counter-clockwise.

Row Bet: Betting on three numbers in a row (or “street”) on the table grid. Winning bets pay 11 to 1. Also called Street Bet or Three Number Bet.

Signature: The hypothesis says that a croupier can create a ‘signature’ spin of the roulette ball leading to a chance for players to figure out a future winning bet.

Single Number Bet: Betting on only one number. Also called a “Straight Up” Bet. Winning bets pay 35 to 1.

Single-Zero Wheel: Also called a European roulette wheel. This wheel has only a single zero (0) and a number sequence as follows, clockwise starting with 0: 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26.

Single-Zero Roulette: Also called European roulette.

Six Number Bet: Betting on six numbers in two rows (or ‘streets’) on the table layout. Winning bets pay 5 to 1. See Line Bet.

Sixaine: French term for a Line Bet (betting on six numbers in two rows or ‘streets’). See Six Number bet

Spin: A roulette play, it starts when the dealer spins the ball around the table and ends after all bets are placed.

Split Bet: Betting on two numbers at one time. Winning bets pay 17 to 1.

Square Bets: Betting on four numbers at one time. Winning bets pay 8 to 1. Also known as a Corner Bet or a Quarter Bet.

Stack: A group of twenty roulette chips. Stacks help casino employees and dealers with counting chips in roulette play.

Straight Bet: A bet on only one number. Winning bets pays 35-1. Also known as a Single Number Bet or a Straight Up Bet.

Straight Up Bet: Betting on a single number. Winning bets pay 35 to 1. Also known as a Single Number Bet or a Straight Bet.

Street Bet: Betting on three numbers in a row (or “street”) on the table grid. Winning bets pay 11 to 1. Also called Row Bet or Three Number Bet.

Surrender rule: See En prison rule.

Three Number Bet: Betting on three numbers in a row (or “street”) on the table grid. Winning bets pay 11 to 1. Also called Row Bet or Street Bet.

Tiers Du Cylinder- French term for “third of cylinder”. This rule is commonly seen in European roulette. This bet encompasses the numbers which sit on the opposite side of the wheel from the zero. This roulette bet includes all numbers between and inclusive of 27 and 33. Winning bets pay 2 to 1.

Transversale Simple or Triple: See Three Number Bet.

Twelve Number Bet: See Column Bet.

Two Number Bet: See Split Bet

Visual Wheel Tracking: A scheme that tries to figure out where the roulette ball will fall.

Voisins Du Zero: French term for “neighbors of zero”. This bet encompasses all the numbers between and inclusive of 22 and 25 and covers almost half of the possibilities. Players can request this bet in French roulette from the croupier.

Wheel: See Roulette Wheel.

Wheel Chips: See Roulette Chips.

Wheel Head: Part of the wheel that holds the numbered pockets.

Wheel Roller: The casino employee that spins the wheel and the ball. Also called Croupier or Dealer.

Wheel Clocking: A player uses this technique to keep watch of the outcome of the spins and find out patterns in addition to probabilities and biases. A different means of tracking this is to use electronic or mechanical devices with the idea of forecasting where the ball will fall. Such devices are considered illegal and could result in eviction and/or prosecution.

Wheel strategies: See Roulette strategy.

Zero: The green number on the roulette table layout. European wheels have one zero. The wheels in American roulette have a zero (0) and a double zero (00).

ROULETTE BET TYPE

ROULETTE PAYOUTS

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