Roulette Glossary
More than 118 Roulette terms & expressions
Even if you have not played Roulette yet, you most certainly have heard of this game. You probably also have seen one or two movies where people spin the Roulette wheel and say things like "rien ne va plus". If you don't happen to be french, then these words alone suggest that there must be a whole world of fascinating terms and expressions that come with this game. So why not explore this world with our Roulette glossary. By all means, this list is not exhaustive, but we aim to provide you with a comprehensive reference that explains interesting and colorful Roulette terminology you are likely to encounter while playing this game. Here you'll find much more than what you really need in order to master this game. Enjoy!
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Hard Count
Action of counting coin (hard) currency. This is usually done in a special room under tight security - counting the change from slot machines. -
High Roller
A player that wagers big bets. -
Holding Your Own
Neither winning nor losing, just breaking even. -
House Edge
The 'House Edge' is the casino's inbuilt advantage/profit expressed as a percentage of the player's original bet. It's a statistical calculation of the expected player loss relative to the initial betting amount. A 0.5% House Edge, for example, means the player should expect to lose $0.5 for every $100 bet. It's the wagering advantage of the casino (house) over the player in a particular game, usually gained by paying out less than real odds would require.
Every casino has a certain edge or advantage on different games. As long as the edge is not exaggerated there is nothing wrong with that. This is a legitimate way of ensuring that there is always enough money to facilitate all the games and services. In American Roulette the true odds of winning a bet on number 7, for example, is 37:1 ($37 for every $1 wagerd, also see Payoff Odds). By paying less than the true odds, the casinos ensure itself of a built-in edge.
A payoff odd of 35:1 instead of the true 37:1, for example, creates an edge for the casino. Instead of being paid $37 whenever you win on a $1 bet (true odds), you only get paid $35 every time you win. The casino keeps 2 chips for every 38 wagered on a particular number (in our case number 7), which corrosponds to a casino edge of 5.26%. Simply put, The house edge is the difference between the true odds and the odds that the casino pays you when you win. -
House, the
The establishment where a game is being held.
