Choosing red or black to wager on in roulette is still one of the most common decisions players have difficulty making, even though both fall under the same bet category. For many decades, roulette has been one of the players’ favorite games worldwide, both at land-based and online casino sites. The wheel is a colorful and well-designed casino gaming tool or equipment attracting punters. And beyond design, the numerous wagers it allows, from even/odd to color bets, keep players entertained.
Regarding color betting, the red/black wager is one of the common choices of roulette players. However, which is the best bet has remained a common discussion among various casino games players. In this casino news, we will closely examine this wager type, giving you clear points to decide whether to pick black or red in your next gaming session. To begin, we have to explain the roulette wheel color design.
Black or Red: Does It Really Matter in Roulette Strategy?
A roulette wheel has three colors: one primary (red), one neutral (black), and one secondary (green). American roulette has 38 spaces: 18 red, 18 black, and two green pockets. On the other hand, European roulette features only one green pocket since it has only one zero. This same color pattern applies to the roulette table.
Roulette has two major bet types: Inside and outside. The red/black wager falls under the outside bets, and beginners are often advised to place this bet because it is direct, easy, and less risky. The chances of winning when you choose red or black are 48.66% in European roulette and 47.37% in the American version because of the presence of double zero. The only con is that their payout ratio is low – 1:1.
Black or Red: Which is the better Color Bet?
You would wonder why there is a debate when people play roulette online since black and red are outside bets with the same payouts. Well, it’s not that simple. There are some reasons for this.
Belief
We are all different individuals. Some players advocate that red is the best because of their convictions. They believe that red symbolizes love, excitement, passion, and courage. But truthfully, it is just a selective belief. Red signifies danger and can also be interpreted as a stop. Likewise, those who choose black believe it symbolizes power, elegance, and wealth. But again, it is selective. Black also represents darkness, evil, etc. So which would you choose considering your belief? Black or Red.
Medical Factor
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 1 out of every 76 Americans has a color vision defect. Red-green color blindness is one of the most common defects. Some casino players might always place wagers on black because they can’t distinctively see shades of red and green. Black color defects are very rare.
Winnings History
Some players choose either black or red because of past winning results. For example, Chris Boyd, a man who wagered $220,000 on red in a Las Vegas casino, won $440,000. He got this amount because the red payout ratio is 1:1. Some players who have read this story may hope that red will also be their lucky color, so they keep wagering. Likewise, those who followed Mike Ashley’s story, a businessman who wagered on the roulette black color only at Mayfair casino, wagered about $650,000 and won $1.3 million, may also choose black as their luck color.
Experts Opinion
Odds-wise, Both black and red are identical. The chances of getting either are quite close to %50. In terms of payout, they are also the same. Therefore, there is not enough reason aside from belief to prefer one.
Before choosing black or red, you should check your bankroll. If it is enough and you are a high-risk taker, you may ditch both and go for inside bets. If you have a small bankroll, go for either.
However, ensure you avoid falling for Gambler’s fallacy, which is a belief that independent past events can significantly influence the outcome of future events. Like slots, Roulette is a chance-based game. So, every outcome of a current spin cannot affect the next.