Roulette is a very popular game worldwide, and like most well-known casino games, it has many misconceptions about it.
Even though roulette is generally a very simple game, one would be surprised at how any misconceptions there are regarding the roulette table. A misconception is often just a myth about the game that has been going on for years.
Here are some popular misconceptions, myths, and superstitions that are often heard around the roulette table.
Common Misconceptions: Red and Black
Most people believe that the chance of hitting a red or black is 50/50. The American roulette wheel has 18 red and 18 black numbers on it. But what many people neglect to realize is that there is also a number 0 and 00. If the ball lands on either the 0 or the 00, all the bets on red or black lose. So the odds of winning a bet based on a black or red bet is actually lower than 50%. It is 47.4%.
Common Misconceptions: Sleeping Numbers
If a number or color has not won in awhile, people often bet on them thinking it is due to come up. Unfortunately, this theory does not apply to roulette because it is a game of pure chance. Each turn is independent from the other. No turn has any effect on the previous or future turn. So a “sleeping” number has the same chance of winning as the last winning number.
Common Misconceptions: House Edge
It is a popular misconception that betting on number 7 has a higher house edge. The fact is that the house edge is the same, 5.26% for all bets, with one exception. On the American wheel, betting 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3 raises the house edge to 7.9%. This is the worst bet you can make in the game of roulette.
Common Misconceptions: Math
One of the the most argued misconceptions of roulette is the belief in a mathematical system. Many think that the game can be beat with a mathematics as in a game such as black jack. What people do not realize is that unlike black jack, roulette is a game based on simple luck. There is no mathematical system that has ever been discovered that will increase your odds of winning.
Common Misconceptions: Dealers
People are often blaming the dealer in casino games and roulette is no exception. The misconception that dealers can make a roulette ball fall wherever they want is false. The way the roulette wheel is designed, the ball spins the opposite of the wheel. When it does this, the ball bounces and has no control. Dealers do not have any control on where the ball will land.
Common Misconceptions: First Glance
People often have the misconception of luck. They think if they choose the first number they look at, that their odds will increase. The truth is that no matter what number you glanced at first, the number you actually choose does not matter to the odds. In roulette, there is no benefit of going with your “gut” decision. If anything, this will only make you feel like you made a mistake in the event that your previous number did win.
Common Misconceptions: Rigged
It is sometimes said that roulette tables can be rigged at casinos. This may have been a true statement in the past when the casinos were not as regulated as they are today. These days a casino license is very valuable and the risk would be too high for the casino to try and defraud its customers.
Common Misconceptions: Random
It is often a misconception that the game of roulette is not a random game. This is probably the biggest misconception of the game. Again, it is impossible for the game to be anything but random. The spin is completely independent of any other turn and therefore is based on 100% pure chance.
Common Misconceptions: Lucky Numbers
Roulette players, as with most casino players, tend to have lucky numbers. People use lucky numbers because they are special to them in some way. The truth is that there is no such thing as a lucky number in roulette. All the numbers have the same odds. The number 17 is the most played number, but that does not effect the odds.
Common Misconceptions: Money
The more money you bet, the higher your odds of winning are. Though it is wishful thinking to hope the more you bet the more you have a chance of winning, it is false. Often, the more money you bet, the more money you will win. This should never confuse people that the more money someone bets, the higher the odds. The odds stay the same. Remember, roulette is based on pure chance.