It goes without saying that Roulette is one of the most popular casino games in the world. Also, it’s one of the oldest casino games. If you take a look at the history of Live Roulette, you’ll find that the origins of the game are shrouded in mystery. The most widely accepted concept is that the first version of Roulette was created by Physicist Blaise Pascal somewhere in the 17th century when he was trying to create a perpetual motion machine.
While the game of Roulette has evolved over time, the basic premise behind the game and roulette terminologies largely remains the same. When playing the game of Roulette, all you have to do is guess in which numbered segment the ball will come to rest.
Despite the fact that Roulette is a fairly simple game to play, there are dozens of different terms that are used in Roulette that you may not be familiar with. So, here is a glossary of Roulette terms you’ll ever need to play the game in an online casino.
Action
The amount of money you wager over a given period.
American wheel
This Roulette wheel has 38 pockets. These pockets consist of numbers 1-36, along with zero and double zero pockets.
Backtrack
The outer rim of the Roulette wheel where the ball is spun.
Bet on the layout
A bet which is placed anywhere on the numbers part of the table.
Biased numbers
When playing the game in a live casino, biased numbers refer to the numbers on the Roulette wheel which have statistically been proven to hit more often than others based on long-term analysis.
Black bet
This term is used to refer to a wager that the next number will be black.
Bottom track
The bottom track is the slanted, inner area of the wheel which remains immobile when the wheel is spun.
Carre
Carre is the French term for the Corner Bet (a bet that four numbers in the given segment of the layout will win.
Cheval
Cheval is one of the French roulette terms used to refer to a Split Bet (a single bet that one of the two particular numbers will hit on the next spin).
Colonne
The French term for a Column Bet or a bet on the column of 12 numbers on the layout.
Combination Bet
Any bet that has one or more chips on two or more numbers.
Corner Bet
A bet that four numbers in a given segment on the layout will win.
Dozen Bet
A bet on the sequence of 12 numbers on the layout.
Derniere
Derniere is a French term for last and it refers to the last group of 12 numbers in the Dozen bet.
En Plein
The French term for a Straight Up Bet or a bet which is made on a single number.
En Prison
This French term translates to mean “in prison” and is a rule that is applied to even-money bets only.
Even Money
Refers to any bet that pays 1 to 1.
Five Number Bet
A bet that can only be made on the American Roulette Wheel and is a single wager that 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3 will hit next.
High Bet
A wager that the next spin will hit between numbers of 19 and 36.
Inside Bet
A bet made on the numbered, inside area of the table layout. When playing online roulette games, these bets cover only individual numbers and small groups of numbers are payout relatively high.
La Partage
Similar to the en prison, but in this case the player loses half the bet and doesn’t have the option to leave the bet “in prison” for a later spin.
Line Bet
A wager that one of the six numbers of the three rows of three columns will win.
Low Bet
A wager that one of the low numbers (1-18) will win.
Marker
The marker is the apparatus used by the croupier to clearly mark the winning numbers after every spin.
On the square
A Roulette game that is honest.
Parlay
This term refers to the doubling of a bet after a win.
Positive progression
Any system of betting where you increase your bets after a win.
Premiere
This is a French term for first and refers to the first group of 12 numbers in the Dozens Bet.
Red Bet
A Red Bet refers to an outside bet that pays 2-1 where the player wagers that the next spin will hit red.
Six Line
Refers to a wager that covers two adjacent rows of numbers on the Roulette layout.
Split
This term refers to a bet which covers two adjacent rows of numbers on the roulette table.
Surrender
The option whereby the casino only takes half a player’s losing wager on the even-money bets when the 0 and 00 hits.