The advancement of technology has brought about staggering diversity in the gambling industry, and the abundance of unique online roulette variations serves as proof. One such variation is the bespoke Double Ball Roulette, which is played in the same way as the traditional version of the game with one significant difference – two balls are used instead of one. The two balls are launched onto the wheel via a special remote-control mechanism operated by the players.
To prevent the two balls from colliding, compressed air is used to shoot them out of a tube almost simultaneously. Curiously enough, the two balls spin at the same speed, yet the second ball always lands in a pocket after the first one. Following its great success in brick-and-mortar casinos, Double Ball Roulette quickly made its way into the portfolios of several online casino operators, allowing fans to enjoy it from the comfort of their homes.
How to Play Double Ball Roulette
Double Ball Roulette is available in both single-zero and double-zero variations. Let us use the American double-zero variant as an example to explain how the game works. Double Ball Roulette can be played on a standard double-zero wheel consisting of 38 pockets. Black and red pockets alternate as usual and carry the numbers 1 through 36. There are two zero pockets coloured green, marked 0 and 00 respectively.
For the most part, the table layout is the same as that of conventional roulette games. Casino enthusiasts who have some experience with roulette will immediately notice that the betting layout features three rows, each of which contains 12 numbers. If the chosen variation allows for call bets, gambling enthusiasts will see that the racetrack is positioned right above the numbered grid.
Yet one of the distinctive traits of this roulette variation is that, right between the fields reserved for wagers on Black and Red, there is a field that combines both colours.
Since two balls are in play, the odds are modified to reflect this. The player has twice the chance of winning with an inside bet, but the payout will be smaller than in standard roulette games. Inside Straight Up bets on individual numbers win if either of the two balls lands in the slot of the chosen number.
Players are permitted to place two individual-number bets. For example, gambling enthusiasts can bet on single 14 and single 30. If both numbers come up, the players will win both wagers. The reason why Double Ball Roulette enjoys such tremendous popularity among roulette fans is that the chances of winning with inside bets are twice as high. Yet players should not forget that the payouts will be reduced.
Things are a bit different when one places an outside bet, though. Both balls should win the bet in order for the player to collect a payout. For instance, if gambling aficionados bet on black, the wager will be successful only if both balls land in black pockets. Since this rule diminishes players’ chances of success with outside bets, the payout for such wagers is higher. It is also possible to bet on both red and black.
There is also the option to bet on both balls landing on the same individual number. If such a bet is successful, the player will collect the substantial Double Ball jackpot.
Last but not least, it is important to mention that in land-based venues the dealers do not launch the two balls into the wheel. Instead, players are provided with special remote controls that enable them to trigger the compressed-air gun which shoots the balls onto the wheel.
Types of Bets in Double Ball Roulette
As becomes evident, in Double Ball Roulette it is possible to place different types of inside and outside bets. Because two balls are used in the game, the payouts for each type of bet are adjusted accordingly. Read on to learn more about the types of bets you can place in Double Ball Roulette and their corresponding payouts.
Double Action Roulette
Double Ball Roulette
3D Roulette
Progressive Jackpot Roulette
Roulette Betting Progressions
Inside Bets
There is the option to place a Straight Up bet on an individual number, including 0 and 00. In this case, the chips are placed within the betting box containing the preferred number. If either ball lands on your number of choice, your payout will be 17 to 1. If both balls land on your chosen number, you will be paid out at a rate of 34 to 1.
Placing a Split bet on two adjacent numbers is also an option. The chips in this case are positioned on the line separating the two numbers. Winning Split bets in Double Ball Roulette pay out at a rate of 8 to 1 when only one of the balls lands on a winning number. If both balls end up in the same pocket, the payout will be 16 to 1.
Another alternative is to make a Street bet, which covers three numbers in any given row, in which case you should place your casino chips on the line at the row’s end. Winning Street bets have a payout of 5 to 1, but if both balls land on one of the winning numbers, you will be paid out at a rate of 10 to 1.
Then again, there is the option to make a Corner Bet, also known as a Square bet, which encompasses four numbers sharing a common corner. The chips for this type of wager are positioned on the common corner the four numbers share. If either ball lands on one of the four numbers you have selected, your payout will be 3 to 1. However, if luck is on your side and both balls land on one of your numbers, the payout will be 6 to 1.
The Five-number bet is exclusive to American roulette and involves five numbers – 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. The chips for this bet are positioned on the line separating 0 and 1. If either ball lands on one of the five numbers, the payout will be 5 to 2. If both balls end up on one of the winning numbers, the payout rate will be 5 to 1.
Finally, there is the option to make a Six-Line bet, which encompasses two rows consisting of three numbers each. The chips are placed at the end of the line separating the two rows. It pays out 2 to 1, but if you are lucky enough and both balls end up on one of your numbers, the payout will be 4 to 1.
Outside Bets
It is more difficult to win with outside bets because both balls must land in winning pockets. Bets on Red/Black, Odd/Even and High/Low pay out 3 to 1 if the two balls end up in one of the 18 winning pockets.
It is also possible to make Dozen bets that cover twelve numbers. You will win in the event that both balls settle on one of the numbers you have chosen. Your payout will be 8 to 1.
Placing a Column bet is yet another option, in which case you cover a column of twelve numbers with a single bet. The bet is successful if the two balls end up on one of your winning numbers. The payout is the same as that for Dozen bets, namely 8 to 1.
Additional Bets in Double Ball Roulette
There are three additional bets in Double Ball Roulette. For example, players are allowed to bet on both Black and Red. If one ball settles in a red pocket and the second ball ends up in a black pocket, the bet will pay 1 to 1, or even money.
Finally, there is the option to place the so-called Double Ball Jackpot bet on an individual number, including 0 and 00. You win if both balls land on the number you have chosen. The payout for this type of bet is quite impressive as it stands at 1,200 to 1.
Another special wager gambling enthusiasts might be permitted to place while playing Double Ball Roulette is the Any Seven Number. In essence, this wager bears a great resemblance to the Double Ball Jackpot bet because such wagers win provided that both balls end up in the same pocket. Yet, what is specific about this wager type is that players are not required to specify the number on which the balls will come to rest. If such wagers are successful, gambling enthusiasts will receive a payout of 35:1.
Call Bets
In the event that the chosen Double Ball Roulette game is a European-style one, gambling enthusiasts will also be permitted to place French or announced bets. What is worth mentioning about these wagers is that they cover specific sections of the wheel, instead of covering a set of numbers or just one number.
While playing Double Ball Roulette, players can make a Neighbour bet that provides a payoff of 18:1 and requires at least five chips.
Voisins du Zero is one more announced bet that is laid on 17 numbers at the same time. If such bets are resolved as winning ones, roulette mavens can get a payoff of up to 8:1, but the exact rate at which they will be paid out depends exclusively on the winning number.
Placing Tiers du Cylindre is also an option players can take advantage of while revelling in this roulette variant. Such wagers comprise one half of the numbers featured on the roulette wheel, and should the winning number be part of that section, gambling enthusiasts will receive a payoff of 8:1.
Double Ball Roulette games allow players to bet on the remaining section of the racetrack that includes 8 numbers by opting for the so-called Orphelins bet. If you are lucky enough to have your Orphelins bet resolved as a winning one, you will be paid out at the rate of 17:1 or 8:1 depending on the winning number.
What is important to note about the above-mentioned wager types is that they will be unavailable if the Double Ball Roulette game you have chosen features a double-zero pocket.
Double Ball Roulette Probabilities
There is no denying that Double Ball Roulette is one of the most enthralling variations of the traditional chance-based game available. Yet, before gambling enthusiasts start playing, they should acquaint themselves with the probability of their wagers winning.
Players should be aware that the following analysis refers to American-style Double Ball Roulette. Let’s first focus on the outside bets, and more specifically on wagers placed on red, black, odd, even, low and high numbers. The probability of such wagers winning is 0.2243, while the probability of losing is 0.7756.
For all 12-number outside bets that include wagers placed on the first, second and third columns, and the first, second and third dozens, the probability of winning is 0.0997, whereas the chances of losing are 0.9002.
When betting that one ball will land in a red pocket and the other in a black pocket, the probability of winning is 0.4487; the probability of losing is 0.5512.
When inside bets are considered, one ball landing in the pocket that corresponds to the number you have wagered on is sufficient for the bet to pay. Should both balls land on the same number, the pay-offs are doubled.
With one-number inside bets, the probability of both balls landing on the same number is 0.0006, while the chances of just one ball ending up on the number you have staked on are 0.0512. The chances of losing are 0.9480.
For split bets, the chances of winning are 0.0027 and 0.0997 respectively, while the chances of losing are 0.8975.
With three-number bets, the probability of winning is 0.0062 and 0.1454 for both balls to land on a winning number and just one ball to end up on a winning number, respectively. The chances of placing a losing three-number bet are 0.8483.
The chances of placing a winning corner bet are 0.0110 and 0.1883 respectively. While playing Double Ball Roulette, the chances of placing a losing corner bet are 0.8005.
When the Five-number bet is concerned, the probability of winning will be 0.0173 and 0.2285 respectively. The chances of losing with Five-number bets are 0.7541.
Finally, when it comes to 6-number bets or Double Street bets, the probability of winning will be 0.0249 and 0.2659. With that roulette variant, the chances of placing a losing 6-number bet are 0.7091.