Part of the classic appeal of roulette is that it’s remained essentially unchanged since the mid-19th century. True, the advent of casino software enabled roulette to join the ranks of online casino games, but the gameplay has stayed precisely the same. The wheel spins, the little white ball rolls, leaving players to wait in suspense until the ball drops to reveal the outcome. The house pays out any successful bets and it’s on to the next round.
Now, though, there’s a new way to play roulette without changing any of the rules. Roulette tournaments invite gamers to play against each other, adding a new competitive edge that’s got nothing to do with the house! Because these roulette competitions demand a more strategic approach than player-versus-house roulette, they add a fascinating new dimension to this timeless game. Let’s take a closer look.
The Rise of Classic Roulette
To understand roulette tournaments, you first need a handle on the background of the game. Roulette is the classic casino table game par excellence, inviting players to bet on the outcome of a chance operation – the spin of a roulette wheel. The invention of roulette is a landmark in casino gaming history because it was the first time that the chance operation was determined by a machine.
Instead of throwing dice (for example) to achieve a random result, a dealer spins a slotted wheel (slots being numbered 1 to 35) and sends a little ball spinning in the opposite direction. The numbered slot where the ball comes to rest is the outcome. Successful bets are paid out by the house.
The original version of roulette was invented by Blaise Pascal, a famous French mathematician and scientist. Pascal wasn’t thinking about gambling at the time – he was trying to invent a perpetual motion machine instead – but the application to gambling was obvious. However, the machine largely remained a gimmick reserved for the entertainment of the aristocracy.
Roulette only achieved its popular modern form in 1842. That was when Francois and Louis Blanc added a zero to the wheel. The reason was that King Charles III of Monaco, where they lived, was in financial trouble; the zero pocket offered a way out because it boosted the house edge. The king opened a casino in Monaco and introduced the roulette wheel to the general public. The game’s challenging, entertaining betting possibilities proved a hit and it caught on like wildfire.
Another reason why roulette is popular is that the use of a machine lent confidence that the outcome was truly random (think of Random Number Generators in online slots). Roulette soon spread to the US, where the wheel acquired an extra zero to give the house edge another lift. Roulette has remained ever since.
Introducing Roulette Tournaments
So what are roulette tournaments? The basic concept is derived from poker tournaments, where players buy in to compete for a prize and bragging rights instead of taking cash off each other at the table. Similarly, roulette tournaments offer the chance to play against other roulette enthusiasts instead of betting against the house with every spin. Roulette tournaments are held in land-based casinos, online casinos and live dealer casinos.
Structures vary from one tournament to the next, but the way it typically works is that you pay the buy-in and receive a stack of chips (for example, you might receive $1,000 worth of chips for a $10 buy-in). A seat draw then determines where players sit around the table. The game plays out like regular roulette, with the difference that the goal is not to take money off the house but to accumulate chips.
The tournament then plays out for a certain time period divided into a number of rounds. After a set period (say, every 15 minutes,) the players with the most points will advance to the next round, while the rest are eliminated. Some casinos impose a limit on the number of spins allowed per round, while others allow you to spin as many times as you like within the time allowed.
Tournaments may also have a re-entry period when players who run out of chips can buy themselves back in and avoid being eliminated. Ultimately, the prize goes to the last player standing or the player with the most chips at the end. Runners-up usually also receive prizes.
Tips for Roulette Tournaments
The most important tournament tip is to remember that you’re trying to beat other players, not win against the house. Keep an eye on the leaderboard and adjust your betting strategy accordingly. If you want to pull away from the pack, you might consider placing inside bets, such as line bets, corner bets, street bets and straight-up bets. These wagers have higher payouts (35:1 for a straight-up bet,) but the odds of them coming off are lower. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained! Roulette is a pure gambling game, so there’s always a chance of losing. The thing about roulette tournaments is that you can only lose your buy-in, which is great news for responsible gamers.
A different tactic would be to maximize your chances of winning chips by placing even-money outside bets (red or black, odd or even, high or low). These bets have an almost 50:50 chance of coming off, which gives you the chance to earn points, while players who take more risks potentially crash and burn. This strategy is particularly well suited to tournaments where there is no limit on spins.
Of course, you may want to vary your strategy by mixing in carefully calculated inside bets from time to time, especially if some high-risk maniac is closing in on your lead! It’s advisable to gain a thorough knowledge of roulette bets, odds and payouts before you get started, however.
Limited-spin tournaments are the trickiest. Placing a considerable number of inside bets is generally considered to be the way to go here because you have to make every spin count. At the same time, limited-spin events are great for placing the kind of high-risk bets you wouldn’t ordinarily place because of the potential financial implications!
You might even experiment with a betting system like the Reverse Martingale. Say you’re 150 points behind the leader with two minutes to go. With the Reverse Martingale, you take advantage of winning streaks by doubling down on winning bets (but not more than three bets in a row). If it works out, you could well streak ahead and win the tournament!
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