We all believe that roulette is a game of luck. But does it really is? Well, it’s kind of true, since nobody can guess at what number the ball will stop. No matter how intelligent and skilled a gambler is, they still need to have some skills and tactics to play roulette and even win some money.
As a beginner first you need to know the options you can bet on, like betting on a single number with a small odd but big payout or betting on outside bets that are more likely to win with a smaller payout.
Before we get into explaining if roulette is a game of chance or a game of skill, we must understand how it’s played.
How We Play Roulette?
Players need to bet on which number the small ball will land after spinning in the roulette wheel. So, they put some money on their bet.
In European Roulette, there are 36 fields in the wheel with the numbers 1 to 36, and another field that is 0. In American Roulette style, there are numbers 1 to 36, one field with 0, and one field with 00. This is why American Roulette and European roulette are different games from the start, with different odds in favor of the player.
So, you can bet on different outcomes, for example, that a number will fall from the first half, from the second, that it will be in one of the thirds, red color, black color, even or odd number, and even try to guess on which number the ball will fall in the roulette wheel.
As you can see, you need some luck to figure this out, but you surely need some knowledge, skills, and even intelligence (or maybe some math) to play roulette precisely.
If you aren’t into mental exercises and complex calculations, you can always play some slots, since you are holding onto probability and randomness. By the way, we have a great suggestion for exceptional slot games at https://nationalcasino.com/en_nz/casino/slots.
And for those who still prefer roulette, we have a few reasons why it’s more a game of skill, instead of a game of chance.
1. You have to do some serious math
You may think, what could go wrong with a wheel split in half, with all those 1-36 numbers coming in red and black. Maybe you are right, and chances are almost 50:50. But, do you remember those zero spots on the wheel? As we said, in the European variation there is only one zero, but the American wheel comes with 0 and 00 spots on it.
So, math immediately becomes really complicated. So yes, you have equal chances to bet on red or black, or odd or even numbers, or in thirds and halves. But, what happens when the small ball stops on the 0 fields?
You need to include that odd in your math. Surely it’s only one spot, or two, depending on where you are playing it. But we all know statistics and probability sometimes go against traditional math, so you have to keep an eye on the wheel all the time.
2. Chaos theory
Roulette is a game that we cannot predict. Already 10 years ago there was an attempt to predict the outcome of the game with the help of complex computer programs. What gives an advantage is that we know the initial conditions and all the possible outcomes because there are a limited number of possibilities.
Even the material the ball is made of, whether the wheel is wooden or plastic, how much friction there is between them, whether it makes a sound, how loud the sound is, and at what point the ball falls into one of the fields of the wheel can be taken into account.
All these parameters are measurable in theory. Practically, at the very moment when the ball falls into the wheel, things become really chaotic, because the speed of the wheel, the weather conditions, the heat in the room, and how many people are near the table come into play as parameters.
That’s why we said, many smart people have tried to make a 100% accurate prediction. But when they succeeded in it, it was all a result of chance.
It can be said that intelligence is a significant input in the whole equation, but that it is not crucial to predict the final outcome of the game.
3. Having fun should be a priority
Many people have a completely wrong approach when it comes to gambling. They think they are obligated to win some money at any price. So, one of the reasons why roulette is a game of skill and intelligence is the individual ability of every player to stop on time, before they lose all their money.
We can say that there is no greater skill and sign of intelligence than to give up when things get too messy. And we all know gambling can be such a mess. People tend to believe they will win the next round, but that becomes very difficult, especially if they don’t have enough luck that day.
At this point, intelligent people decide to move on and get off the table. And those who think they can fight against a pre-programmed machine, are not as intelligent as they seem. So yes, intelligent people have fun while playing roulette and know when to give up. That’s such a skill, and we shouldn’t underestimate it.
Conclusion
As you can see, it’s possible to calculate the outcome of your roulette game, no matter if you prefer the European or American version. On the other hand, you must be aware that all casino games, both online and offline, are games of chance. No matter how intelligent you are, you can’t beat the pre-calculated odds. You can at least try it, have some fun, and prevent losing money.
Now, that you know the three basic aspects of how to play roulette, we hope that next time you will have more realistic expectations of it.
