Roulette is a fun and thrilling game of chance beloved by casino players around the world thanks to its low stakes and endless possibilities to win big. From the excitement and simplicity of the game to the social atmosphere, roulette is the perfect pastime for experienced and novice players alike.
However, while it may be a fairly simple game to play, there are dozens of different words and phrases that you may not be familiar with, which could leave you confused. Our advice is that before searching for the best sites for roulette in Australia, you need to learn the game’s terminology.
Discover our list of the most common terms used in roulette to help you improve your strategy and enhance your overall gaming experience.
Biased Wheel
The term is used to refer to a wheel that is not perfectly balanced or symmetrical, causing certain numbers or sections to have a higher chance of securing a win on a given spin. A biased wheel can occur due to a manufacturing fault or as a result of wear and tear over time. However, they are fairly uncommon, as most casinos today conduct regular checks to ensure the game is fair.
Bottom Track
Bottom Track is the name of the grooved, inner area of the roulette wheel. This is a crucial component of the roulette wheel, as it helps keep the ball in motion before it stops in the pocket.
Croupier
A croupier is a casino employee who has been appointed to oversee the roulette table and assist in the conduct of the game, especially when it comes to the distribution of bets and payouts. They may also be referred to as the dealer; however, croupier is considered to be the more formal term. All croupiers are given the appropriate training to ensure they have an in-depth and acute understanding of the table games.
Chopping Game
A chopping game is where the outcomes of a game are varied and unpredictable, with the ball appearing to land on random numbers, revealing no discernible pattern. As such, this type of game is more challenging for players, as it makes it harder for them to predict the outcome of each spin.
En Prison
En Prison is a rule that applies to some even-money bets in European Roulette. It provides players with a second chance to win their bet back if it was lost due to the ball landing on the zero pocket. With the “en prison” rule, players have the option to either take back half their bet or have it imprisoned for the next spin and attempt to win it all back.
If the ball lands on the player’s chosen colour or number, they will get back their original wager in full. However, if the ball lands on the opposite colour or number, then the player will lose their bet entirely.
The Devil’s Wheel
Both the 0 and 00 versions of the roulette wheel are sometimes called the “Devil’s Wheel”. This is because if you add all the numbers from 1 to 36, you will get 666, which is the “number of the beast” according to the Bible.
Orphelins (orphans)
Orphelins, the French word for “orphans,”, is used to describe a type of block bet on a specific group of numbers that are located close to each other on the wheel but are still split apart on the table layout. These types of bets are usually popular among roulette players due to their higher payout. However, that also comes with added risk, as they cover fewer numbers on the wheel.
Wheel-Clocking
Wheel-clocking is a type of strategy that involves trying to identify patterns or biases in the wheel by assessing the outcomes of previous spins. The goal is to see whether the wheel is “biased” towards specific numbers or sections of the wheel to determine which are the safest bets to place for the best possible outcomes.
To use the strategy successfully, players must watch the wheel for a period of time, taking note of the results of each spin using an electronic device or piece of paper, and then analyse the results to determine if there is a pattern present.