Roulette is a wonderfully flexible game, in that it's as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Some players enjoy nothing more than placing a single bet on a single number. They enjoy the total commitment to a single bet--not to mention the 35 to 1 payout when the ball drops on that number. Of course, the reason the payout for this type of bet is so high is because the odds of it occurring are so low.

In contrast, if you "split" your bet, your payout is 17 to 1, because you're doubling your chances of winning. Players split their bets by placing their chip on the edge between two different numbers. If the ball drops on either number when the roulette wheel stops, the player wins. By betting on a row, he can turn a single chip into three different bets. This bet pays 11 to 1, and entitles the bettor to win if the ball drops on any one of the three numbers in his chosen row.

Corner plays and column bets are variations on this theme; they increase the volume of numbers the bettor is playing with a single bet, while simultaneously decreasing his potential payout. The most extreme version of this online roulette strategy is the 18-number bet. By betting on all the even or all the odd numbers, a gambler creates a 50/50 chance of winning. The payout is commensurate with these odds; it's just one to one.

Bettors can also play all red or all black. Since there are 18 red and 18 black numbers, this bet is statistically like betting all odds or all evens. Many players like to "hedge their bets" by betting combinations of the above. Rather than placing a single bet, they may place one number bet, one corner bet, and one full board bet. To test these strategies for yourself, visit www.VIPcasinos.com today.