Tips for Playing Roulette at a Live Casino

In this article we address tips for playing roulette live in a casino. If you’re new to gambling in casinos the idea of joining a roulette table might seem intimidating at first with all the various betting options and general procedures involved. Here we’ll cover tips starting with buying your chips and then topics such as collecting your winnings, tipping the dealer, and cashing out when you’re finished playing.

Purchasing Roulette Chips

The first thing you’ll need to do when joining a roulette table is purchase chips. Even if others are in the process of placing bets as you approach the table, it is proper etiquette to wait until a full betting round is complete before purchasing chips. A full betting round consists of the dealer making a spin, calling no more bets, the ball coming to a stop and then the dealer paying out all bets. When the dealer finishes paying all winners he’ll remove a marker, called an hour glass, from the winning number. This lets players know it’s okay to collect their winnings and begin placing new bets. At this exact time you’ll purchase your chips by placing cash out in front of you towards the dealer. Do not hand cash to the dealer as this is poor procedure, simply lay it on the table towards the dealer about 2/3 an arm reach away from you. If the dealer looks as you as if to imply a question or asks what you’d like he is looking for you to respond singles, nickels or quarters.

Roulette Chip Denominations

In roulette special chips are used so that it is easier to determine who has bet what. These colored chips are available to bettors just the same as either $1 chips (singles), $5 chips (nickels) or $25 chips (quarters). The chips will look the same no matter which increment you choose, however their value will be different. Generally most betters go with singles, however buying in for $100 it might not be assumed you want singles, perhaps rather than 100 of those you’d rather 20 nickels. This is your choice but unless you’re 100% sure you’re only going to be betting in $5 increments choose singles over nickels. For example even betting $10 per number maybe at some point you’d like to increase that to say $12 per. Using nickels you would not have this option.

Playing and Finishing Your Stay at a Roulette Table

Now that you understand buying chips the rest is rather simple. Here are some tips to follow. Please pay close attention to tip three in order to avoid a costly mistake.

Tip #1: When you win a roulette bet it is a rule you must wait for the dealer to remove the hour glass from the winning number before collecting your chips. This becomes second nature once you get the hang of roulette, but this is a common mistake rookies make, so be careful of this in the beginning.

Tip #2: Dealers rely on tips to make a living. It is good etiquette to tip the dealer after each win. It is your choice how much to tip, but generally 5% for a smaller bettor and a couple percent for a larger bettor is about standard.

Tip #3: Roulette chips have no value outside the roulette wheel. Whatever you do, do not take roulette chips off the table. Once you walk away with them they are no good. When you’re ready to cash out your roulette chips simply push your entire stack slightly towards the dealer and say “color in”. He’ll then exchange your colored roulette chips for standard casino chips which are good at other table games or can be redeemed at the casino cage (cashier).

If you’re like to practice roulette online for real money prior to going to the casino see our guide to the best roulette sites. For other tips relevant to both live and online roulette see our online roulette tips.