Have you always wanted to try roulette but feel intimidated by the game? You stand to win a lot at it if you can learn how to read the table, the other players, and that infamous spinning wheel.

Here are some basic tips that will take the edge off and help you get started playing roulette:

Learning the Wheel

Surprisingly there is more than one type of roulette table, however we will focus on the American roulette wheel setup since this is the type you will most likely encounter. To start, you will notice that there is a double zero. At one end will be the wheel with the numbers that are laid out clockwise like this – 0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2. The layout of the numbers is important because it will help you with your betting strategy.

Inside Bets

One way to conquer the wheel is to look and sound like you know what you are doing. This means getting to know the roulette lingo. When placing a single bet – which pros refer to as “straight,” simply place your chip directly on the number square you want. You can also place a “split” bet which means you place your chip between the numbers on the line – vertical or horizontal. This implies that you are placing a bet on two adjoining numbers.

If you want to get even fancier try a “street” bet. This means you select three numbers that are on a single horizontal line by placing your chip on the edge of the line of a number at the end of the line you plan to bet on. Next is the “corner” bet which means you are betting on a square of four numbers. To accomplish the corner bet, place your chips at the vertical and horizontal intersection of the lines in between the four numbers. The last one to know is the “six line” or a bet on two adjoining streets. Set your chip on the intersection of these numbers. Inside bets can be fun and are one of many great ways to make money as they typically give a larger payout than the outside bets.

Outside Bets

Experts say to always try to bet on outside chances – either Red/Black, High/Low, Odd/Even, Dozens or Columns. Red and black means you are placing a bet on either color, not a number. Instead you could also bet on all even or odd numbers or a number that is higher than 19 or lower, numbers 1-18. A “dozen bet” is broken up into 3 groups. This type of bet means you choose one of the three sets of twelve numbers, so either 1-12, 13-24 and 25-36. Now you have the ins and outs of inside bets. The returns are minimal but are vital in winning the game.

Previous Rounds

The next key to dominating the game of roulette is to pay attention to what happened in previous rounds so that you can try to make predictions. So, for example, if you notice a series of 8 black figures have been spun, you would be wise to bet on black. Some say this tip is the best way to consistently win at roulette.

Remember that any new skill takes time to master. Practice makes perfect, right? This also applies to the game of roulette. The more you play, the more confident you will become. So are you ready to start taking your chances to win some money at roulette?