A Glossary of Roulette Terms
Alenbert System – See D’Alenbert System.
American Wheel – A roulette wheel that has a total of 38 numbers ( 0 and 00 and numbers 1-36).
Ball – A small plastic ball, spun in the opposite direction of the wheel’s spin. The roulette ball determines the payoffs for each spin each time it lands in one of the number pockets.
Cancellation System – See D’Alenbert System.
Carré – French for Corner Bet.
Colonne – French for Column Bet.
Column Bet – The roulette table layout is divided into three columns. Bets on a combination of twelve numbers at the same time. Pays 2-1.
Combination Bet – Using one or more chips in the same position to wager on more than one number at a time.
Corner Bet – One wager that bets four numbers at the same time. An inside bet. Pays off at 8-1.
Croupier – An employee of a European casino. Operates the roulette table with other croupiers.
D’Alenbert System – A progressive betting system. Two numbers are cancelled every time a previous bet is won, and one number, the total of two end numbers, is added whenever a previous bet is lost.
Dozen Bet – A wager on twelve numbers on the roulette layout at the same time. Numbers 1-12, 13-24, or 25-36.
Double-zero – See Zero
En Prison Rule – The player has a choice of either surrendering half of the bet or allowing the bet to be imprisoned for another spin, in which case, the entire wager will be returned if won.
European Wheel – See French Wheel
Even-Odd Bet – Pays 1-1 if the winning number is Even or Odd. This is an 18 number wager on the outside.
Five Number Bet – The bet which gives the casino a 7.89% edge over the player. Bets numbers 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 at the same time.
French wheel – A wheel containing just one zero. Mainly found in the European casinos.
Grand Martingale System – See Martingale System. The player tries to get an additional chip profit after each loss.
High-Low Bet – Pays 1-1. Bets 18 numbers at the same time (1-18 or 19-36).
Inside Bet – A wager placed on any individual number on the roulette table layout including 0 or 00, or any combination of the numbers.
Martingale System – A well-known roulette system which dates back over a hundred years. A player doubles his bet after each loss until he wins (or runs out of money).
Outside Bet – Red, Black, Odd, Even, High, Low
Red-Black Bet – An 18 number wager which pays off at 1-1.
Six-Number Bet – An inside combination bet at six numbers at the same time.
Split Bet – An inside combination bet of two numbers at the same time.
Straight Bet – A single wager on a single number or combination bet.
Straight Up Bet – Pays 35-1. Bets just one number (0, 00, 1-36).
Trio Bet – A combination bet on three numbers at the same time. An inside wager.
Wheel – See American or French Wheel.
Zero, Double-zero – Green in color. Can be wagered the same way as numbers 1-3