There are two types of betting on a roulette table - one is for the inside bets, which in South Africa consists of 37 numbers (0 and 1 to 36) and the other is for the outside bets.
Generally the inside bets are played with specific colour coded chips to help identify each player, though standard casino demonitions are allowed, as long as the table maximums are not exceeded.
The inside bets and payouts are as follows:
Straight-up bet
This is the classic roulette bet. Choose any one or more of the 37 numbers and put your chips down on that/those number/s for the chance to win back at 35 to 1. True odds on this bet are 36 to 1, but roulette rules dictate a 35 to 1 payback, so the casino robs you of one Rand each time you win (that's how they make their money).
Split bet
You can place a single bet on two individual numbers if those numbers are beside each other on the table layout. To do so put your chips down on the line between them. This bet pays 17 to 1 if either of those numbers come up.
Street bet
This is a bet very similiar to the split. It allows you to bet on three different numbers in the same row, with the same bet. You can do this by placing chips on the outside of the row of numbers you want to bet on. So if you want to bet on the numbers 4, 5, and 6 all at once, put your chips down on the line that is the outside edge of the 6. This bet pays 11 to 1.
Corner bet
Another combination wager, the corner bet lets you bet on four adjoining numbers. Placing your chips at the point where four numbers meet will indicate you want a corner bet. This is sometimes referred to as a square bet. If any of the four numbers come up, you're paid 8 to 1.
Call Bet
The call bet lets you call a number on the roulette wheel and the 2 neighbours on each side. To place a call bet you need 5x the minimum inside bet and the dealer places the bet for you. to play the call bet, you can call the number after the dealer has finished paying the last bet and while the ball is spinning and before the dealer has announced 'no more bets'.
Most casinos limit the number of call bets to three to avoid confusion. Payout is 35 to 1 on the winning number
The outside bets and payouts are as follows:
Please note that the minimum bet for an outside bet is generally 10x the inside bet chip.
The outside bet can be played with colour coded chips, but is generally played with standard casino denomination chips.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OUTSIDE BETS IN SOUTH AFRICAN CASINOS ARE LOST IF THE NUMBER "O" COMES UP. SOME CASINOS TAKE HALF YOUR BET, OTHERS TAKE THE FULL AMOUNT. YOU NEED TO CHECK WITH THE TABLE WHERE YOU ARE PLAYING FOR THEIR POLICY.
Red or Black
You can choose to bet on the outcome either being a red or a black number. Place this bet by putting your chips in the area with the words 'red' or 'black' in them, and which are also normaly coloured as well. This is a very common form of roulette betting, as it is easy to understand that you have almost half a chance of winning. This bet is paid even money.
Odd or Even
similar to the red black bet, this even money bet is based on whether the resulting number will be odd or even. Since 0 does not count as either, there are 36 numbers, an even count between odd and even. Place this bet by putting your chips in the middle of the square marked 'even' or the square marked 'odd', which will usually reside on either side of the black / red betting area.
Low or High
this bet lets you predict whether you think the next number to come up will be part of the range from 1 to 18, or part of the range from 19 to 36. This is an even money bet. To place this bet put your chips in the boxes with the associated number range printed in them.
Columns
at the back end of the table are 3 boxes '2 to 1' written in them. Each box is part of a column of 12 numbers (if you extend a line up the body of the inside of the betting area). If a number from within the column you are betting on comes up you win, and you're paid 2 to 1.
Dozens
A bet very similar to the columns bet, dozens lets you place a bet on either the first dozen numbers (1-12), the second dozen (13-24), or the third dozen (25-36). To place this bet find the rectangular areas located in between the first outside bets (red/black, odd/even, etc) and the inside board spread. These will usually be labeled with the words 1st 12, 2nd 12, 3rd 12. The bet pays 2 to 1.
ROULETTE SYSTEMS
There arn't any. Beware of anyone advising you on a roulette system that works, they can't. The casinos have built in measures to prevent any system from working, with the main one being table limits, which prevents you from doubling your initial outside bet each time you lose.
The best system is to have fun, not spend your complete bank roll on one spin, and generally try and hit a couple of numbers in a row that will let you leave the roulette wheel with more than you started with.