Since the 17th century, many versions of roulette have entered the market and stayed. But unfortunately, California was excluded from the fun. As per the laws back then, any game that predicted the game’s outcome using balls or dice was banned in California. Even today, you cannot enjoy the devil’s wheel in the state.
But it was not going to discourage the roulette lovers. The law changed, and the California roulette was born. Here is the complete story for you.
What Is California’s Take On Roulette?
While Roulette is a fun game that is loved by gamblers worldwide, California doesn’t think so. Thus, playing roulette with the traditional roulette wheel is banned in the state. The state banned any game which required a ball or dice to decide the outcome of the game. The reason doesn’t sound logical, but they banned it because it is a game of chance, not a game of skill. The law stated that games like baccarat and poker are games of skills, while roulette is a game of chance played with a ball. It irked roulette-lovers, and the law changed in the year 2004, giving birth to California Roulette.
What Is California Roulette?
The main attraction of roulette is the beautiful spinning wheel. Since the legislation doesn’t allow playing with the ball, the roulette-lovers created another version of the California Roulette game which is played with cards. It may sound different, but the game of California roulette involves 38-numbered cards which bear the colours and suit as in the roulette wheel. The rules are the same, but the way it is played makes all the difference. If you are looking forward to trying another version of your favourite roulette, you can try calling a card.
How Does California Roulette Work?
The rules of the game are no different than a European version or an American table. The difference lies in the fact that there is no wheel or ball; instead, there are cards from numbers 1 to 36. Eight players play against the house and bet on different cards.
The players place their bets in the same way as the traditional roulette. Then the dealer calls out ‘no-more bets”. The dealer works with an automatic shuffler, which shuffles the deck, and the dealer picks a card.
The Odds In California Roulette
The game of California Roulette is based on an American Roulette game. The American wheel features 38 slots. It has numbers from 1 to 36 and two green slots bearing 0 and 00. The odds are 37 to 1. In the same way, a California Roulette shuffler has 38 cards, and two cards bear numbers 0 and 00. The odds are the same. The game’s house edge is 5.26%, same as American Roulette. 2 out of 38 chances brings the house edge to 5.26%.
The European tables have a single zero, thus a house edge of 2.70%. There are California Roulette wheels based on the European Roulette, but they are rare. In most places, you will find a game with 38 cards.
The Best Strategy
There are no special strategies for California Roulette. The basic strategies you follow with traditional games are the ones you can use. The house edge is the same, and the involvement of cards doesn’t change anything. You can use the Martingale system, Fibonacci system, and 666 strategies, but the game of roulette is based on chance and luck to an extent.
The Two Important Rules
While playing California Roulette, you must remember the two rules which apply to the European table. These are La Partage and En Prison.
The La Partage rule states that if the card is zero or double zero, the players will receive half of their losing wager. E.g., you bet $10 on number 8, but the card picked was a zero, then you will get $5 back. It cuts your loss in half and brings down the house edge to 2.63%. It doesn’t cause any loss to the casino as it applies only to the even-money bets.
The En Prison rule signifies that if you are placing an even-odd bet, high-low bet or a red or black bet, you have the option to imprison your wager if you lose the initial even money bet. The dealer marks your wager, and if you get the next round, you will get your money back. If you lose, it will be forfeited.
Can You Play The California Version Online?
Mobile casinos are changing the scenario of casinos. Several online casinos offer games like online blackjack, online poker, online roulette, slots, etc. But you have to wait some time if you wish to play an online version of California Roulette. Live casinos offer thousands of games, and allow California residents to play different versions of the roulette. Thus, the demand for an online version seems like an odd one.
The future of mobile casinos is bright as thousands of games are entering the market monthly. In no time, you will definitely find an online version of the game.
Wrap Up
There is no lack of casino enthusiasts in the world, and the birth of California Roulette proved that. The game is no different than the traditional ones and offers something different to the players who have been disappointed in the past due to the ban on Roulette in the state. You can try the game if you are looking for a different experience.