Wheel Chips vs. House Chips (2)
Recently, many European casinos have set up special rooms offering American games. They have adapted many of the American innovations like square-edge chips and a set of differently colored wheel chips for each table. Like the games in North America, these games clip along at a faster pace. As the inefficiencies of the French-style games become more apparent, I believe that the slower French games will give way to the faster and more profitable (to the casino) American style of play.
You must bet the table minimum on each spin (or noth-ing at all). If the table minimum is $5 and the chip minimums are $1 each, then each outside bet that you place must equal $5. The outside bets include the even-money wagers and the 2-to-l wagers found on the outside of the layout. Any bets on an individual number (placed on the inside of the layout) are referred to as inside bets. These only need to total up to the table minimum. So, for our $5 table, you could place one $1 chip on the 1-A line, one on the number 5 straight up, one on the 16-19 split, one on the 10-street and one chip on the 17-21 corner to fulfill the minimum requirement for inside betting. At the same time if you wish to wager on red and the second dozens, for instance, you will have to put down a complete and separate $5 bet on each one. Any additional outside bets will have to be $5 each.
Once the ball settles into one of the numbered pockets, the dealer will mark the winning number. All losing bets are immediately removed from the layout. Winning bets are paid according to the proper odds offered by the casino. Before leaving the table, you must color-up your wheel chips at that table (where you received them). Stack them neatly into piles of 5, 10 or 20 chips each and announce to the dealer, “Color coming in.” Push your stacks carefully over to the dealer. He will recount your chips, check their value, and pay you in regular casino chips.
If the table is not busy, or you only wish to place a few quick bets, then use the regular casino chips. Most dealers won’t mind if nobody else is using them. Just check with the dealer first. Also, if you confine your betting to the outside bets, then the regular house chips are fine. Unlike the inside bets, keep your bet separate from anyone else’s. Stack your bet with the larger denominations on the bottom and the smallest denomination on top. Organizing your wager in this way will make it easier for the dealer to make quicker and more accurate payoffs. Whether seated or standing at the table, conduct yourself with proper comportment. Sure, it’s fine to enjoy yourself, but blowing smoke into people’s faces, bumping or shoving the other patrons or using crude language is obnoxious, though sadly all too common behavior. A little respect for your fellow players will go a long way toward having a more pleasurable experience.