If asked to name the ultimate casino table game, many players would instantly say “roulette.” Second only to blackjack in the popularity stakes, roulette has remained essentially unchanged since the casinos of Paris, France, first rolled the game out back in the 18th century.
Yet, for all its timeless appeal, roulette has also managed to keep up with the times. In addition to the classic version of the game played at a table with a mechanical wheel operated by a dealer, there are many electronic versions. These include online roulette, which you can play on mobile or desktop devices and electronic roulette games in brick-and-mortar casinos. Since these digital roulette variations function automatically, many players understandably ask whether or not they can be rigged. You need to know how electronic roulette works to understand the answer to this question. Keep on reading to find out.
What Is Electronic Roulette?
Electronic roulette games provide an alternative for players who enjoy visiting brick-and-mortar casinos but prefer not to play at traditional roulette tables. An automated roulette machine typically consists of a roulette wheel under a glass dome. Sometimes, the machine will be surrounded by seats; sometimes, it’ll be one seat per machine. Instead of a roulette table, you’ll use a touch screen with a gaming layout and betting options. These are the same as regular roulette, with the full range of inside and outside bets.
The gameplay is simple. A message on the screen invites you to place your bets, and after a betting window period (typically 90 seconds), the wheel spins automatically, and an air blower propels the ball around the wheel. The wheel starts slowing down, and eventually, the ball lands in a slot. The machine’s sensors pick up the winning number, and winning bets are paid out. You can continue to place bets for as long as you like.
But Is It Rigged?
Electronic roulette appeals to gamers who prefer to play on their own rather than have to interact with a dealer and other players. Think of it as the roulette version of slots. You can play at your own pace and set your bets to lower levels than you’ll find at a traditional table, where the minimum limit is usually around $5.
This begs the million-dollar question: do electronic roulette games cheat? Is online roulette rigged? The short answer in both cases is no. The outcomes of a digital roulette game are determined in the same way as all online casino games — by a Random Number Generator (RNG). This algorithm is programmed to simulate true chance by randomly selecting from an almost infinite pool of possible results. The selected outcome is then transferred onto the wheel by means of patented machinery that can adjust the spin rate by minimal amounts.
Ensuring Fair Play
Electronic roulette is a simulation that looks incredibly real, thanks to the use of a physical wheel and ball. It’s also completely fair. That’s because all RNG machines are highly regulated to conform to industry standards of safety and fair play. A casino simply can’t get a license unless its games are certified by the state gaming commission. As a result, regardless of whether you play on an electronic roulette wheel online or with an automated physical machine, you’re perfectly safe as long as you’re accessing the game at a reputable, licensed casino.
Can Electronic Roulette Wheels Be Beaten?
Another popular question is whether it’s possible to beat roulette consistently. Again, the answer is no, for the same reason. The use of RNGs ensures that the outcomes are random, which means there’s no way of predicting where the ball will land or what the winning number will be. What is predictable is the casino house edge, which is the profit the casino makes over time. The house edge in roulette depends on whether you’re betting on a European wheel with a single zero pocket or an American wheel with two zero pockets. The zero pockets generate the house edge, which is 2.70 percent for European roulette and 5.27 percent for American roulette. The reason is that you lose your bet if the ball lands on zero.
So why play roulette at all? In a word, variance. The house is guaranteed to win on average over time, but there’s a great deal of variance between spins, meaning players can sometimes win big.
As with all casino games, the best approach is to review the odds and payouts of the different betting options and develop a strategy accordingly. Outside bets on red, black, even, odd, and so on have almost even chances of winning and payout 1:1. In contrast, a straight-up bet has a one in 37 chance of succeeding but pays out 17:1. There are many betting options in between, as well as advanced bets that combine different number patterns to spread the risk.
Whatever strategy you adopt, be sure to play responsibly and never bet money you can’t afford to lose.
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