Double Ball Roulette: Roulette Fun Squared

Double Ball Roulette: Roulette Fun Squared

If something is good on its own, then common logic would suggest that adding an identical element to the mix will make it twice as nice. A double scoop of ice cream, a pair of diamond earrings or maybe an extra shot of your favourite alcoholic drink; whatever it is that you like, a second helping is usually the best way to enhance your overall experience.

So, when someone floated the idea of adding an extra ball to the game of roulette, the natural reaction from pit bosses and players alike in Las Vegas was "sure, why not?"

Ever since probability expert Blaise Pascal helped shape the format of modern roulette back in the 17th century, the game has undergone a number of changes. From a double zero to a single zero, single wheels to multiple wheels and from 36 numbers to 12, the game has evolved and diversified numerous times over the past few centuries.

Double Ball Roulette is just one of those innovations and, thanks to willing pit bosses in Las Vegas, players in venues such as the Tropicana have been able to experience what Wrigley's have been trying to tell use for decades ("when you double your pleasure, you double your fun").

How to Play Double Ball Roulette

The rules of the game are relatively simple. You place bets on a numbered board (numbers run from 0 to 36) and wins are determined by the place where the balls stops on a spinning wheel. As with traditional roulette, it's possible to be as specific or as general as you wish with your bets.

This means you can bet on simple 50/50 options such as red/black, or you can choose to bet on a more specific option such as a group of 12 numbers or a line of three. Finally, if you want to be really specific, you can choose to bet on individual numbers and play for the biggest returns possible.

The rules of play for Double Ball Roulette are exactly the same as traditional versions of the game; however, instead of using one ball it uses two. For inside bets -straight numbers and splits- it's possible to win if just win if just one of the balls lands on a chosen number. However, if to earn a return on an outside bet you need both balls to land on your chosen option.

Naturally, if both balls land on a chosen bet or even in the same number, you'll receive an even bigger payout (we'll explain this later) and that's one of the main reasons Double Ball Roulette has become a firm favourite with players live and online.

Subtle Tweaks Open Up New Possibilities

Naturally, like all casino games, such as craps, new variants throw up new problems and possibilities. For example, when Bob Stupak came up with the idea of crapless craps in the nineties, thousands of seasoned gamblers flocked to the Stratosphere to test the new variant.

Essentially the main difference between the late Stupak's invention and the traditional rules of craps is that you can't crap out (rolling a 2, 3 or 12) on the come out roll if you place a pass line bet.  In some respects the alteration of the rules works in favour of the player, in other ways in increases the house edge (in a crapless game the house has a 5.4% edge on your pass line bet as opposed to a 1.4% edge in traditional craps).

However, what this demonstrates is that a small alteration to the game can impact the odds and, therefore, make it a more engaging challenge for players.

This is also true of Double Ball Roulette. A good player is all about strategy, and studying the odds is a wise move if you’re considering playing it, let alone when making complicated bets. They are slightly different from a standard game, as inside bets double their payout if both balls end up on the chosen number, while outside bets also differ. After calculating all the odds, the return to player in Double Ball Roulette is estimated at 94.67%.

For example, if a single ball lands on a number in Double Ball Roulette you'll earn a return of 17:1. Moreover, if both balls land on a chosen number, you'll receive a 34:1 payout i.e. if the balls land on 18 and 27 and you've chosen those numbers you'll receive a 34:1 payout on the sum of those two bets.

In contrast, traditional European roulette pays out at 35:1 if you hit a single chosen number.

Double the Chances

What you'll certainly notice is that having an extra ball in play means the number of inside wins you can achieve is greater in a Double Ball game than it would be with a single ball in play. Moreover, to add some extra spice to proceedings, Double Ball Roulette online also offers a jackpot payout worth 1,300:1 on your money.

Unlocked when both balls land in the same numbered square, this jackpot is one of the main draws for casual players and a reason seasoned spinners appreciate the potential of the game. Although some dynamics mean you're taking slightly lower odds than normal, this discrepancy is cancelled by the presence of a bumper jackpot.

In fact, this dynamic is common in live and online slot games. For example, step into any Vegas casino and you'll find slots with progressive jackpots worth many millions that have led to some huge wins. Although Double Ball Roulette can't offer you quite the same returns, the fact this game has similar potential is enough to make it a popular choice for players of all persuasions.

Double Ball Roulette Strategy

So how do you improve your Double Ball Roulette expectation? In broad terms, the theoretical return to play (RTP) in a game of Double Ball Roulette is 94.7%. However, there are certainly better bets than others.

Indeed, just as "betting the don't" can help your expectation in craps, betting on inside numbers can do the same in Double Ball Roulette. Because two balls means double the amount of inside numbers rolling in per spin, it makes sense that this increases your chances of making a correct call by a factor of two.

Moreover, when you look at the house edge for inside betting in Double Ball Roulette, a one number bet return is equal to -0.027 which, when expressed another way, is a house edge of 2.7%. In comparison to other bets, this house edge is low and is, therefore, a wise option to take.

However, away from the maths, the overall expectation and the potential returns you can make, Double Ball Roulette is simply great fun. Adding an extra ball not only makes the game more visually stimulating and dramatic, but it generates more action and that, as they say, is what makes it twice as nice.