Double Action Roulette is an exciting and quite unique variation of the traditional single-zero European roulette. It was first introduced in land-based casinos, but soon it became available at online casinos and today it is one of the most interesting and challenging live casino games you can find online. What truly makes it a one-of-a-kind game is the two sets of numbers on the wheel and the opportunity to bet on two numbers at the same time.
Developed in 2011 by TCSJOHNHUXLEY, Double Action Roulette was introduced in Las Vegas the next year. It became available as a live roulette game in web-based casinos via Novomatic’s NovoLine system and was also adapted to a virtual game in partnership with Mazooma Interactive Games. The virtual version was discontinued; however, the live version can now be played at only a limited number of casinos.
Double Action Roulette is played on TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s Mark VII Roulette Wheel, a stylish wheel that shows the craftsmanship and experience of the company. TCSJOHNHUXLEY, also known as TCS John Huxley, is one of the world’s leading producers of top-quality and innovative casino gaming equipment. For more than 45 years it has managed to expand to various regions around the world, and today its Mark VII and Saturn wheels are among the most preferred by gambling operators.
The developer’s Double Action Roulette is not just unique and innovative. The two sets of numbers, i.e., the inner and outer rings, result in two winning numbers after each spin. For casino players, this means high risk, but it also comes with the potential for gigantic rewards of up to 1,200 times the original bet. Those who prefer to play in a traditional, less risky manner can simply bet on only one ring instead.
Basic Rules in Double Action Roulette
As mentioned above, Double Action Roulette is based on the European version of roulette, where the wheel has 37 pockets: an equal number of red and black pockets for numbers 1 through 36, plus a green pocket for 0. However, some land-based versions of the game come with an additional 00 pocket, which significantly changes the odds and the chances to win. Since this variation is very rare, we will focus on the single-zero type of the game, its rules, types of bets, and payouts.
The first thing you would notice in TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s Double Action Roulette is the double-ring wheel and then the layout, which actually consists of two betting sections corresponding to the two sets of numbers on the wheel. The different layout changes how players place their bets for each spin, as well as the types of bets themselves. The overall design of the betting table and the layout makes the game even more exciting. Once the ball stops moving and the croupier announces the winning numbers, their corresponding fields on the layout are illuminated. This helps both players and gaming staff spot the highlighted numbers immediately.
Last but not least, the payouts also reflect the two rings on the wheel, especially when you play on both of them. Betting limits are determined by the casino offering the game.
The Wheel
The wheel in Double Action Roulette is its most distinctive feature and is fundamental to the rules, the style of play, and the potential for winning in this game. Unlike the standard roulette wheel, it comes with two sets of numbers, divided by the pockets where the ball falls once its movement stops.
These two sets of numbers represent two rings that spin separately in opposite directions. Each displays the red and black numbers from 1 to 36, as well as the green 0, but the numbers are arranged in opposite directions.
The developers have done an excellent job balancing the wheel. Every red number is followed by a black one, and most low numbers are followed by high ones. When it comes to even and odd numbers, however, this balancing does not apply to every instance. Still, the wheel is more fair and symmetrical than most.
The Layout
The standard version of roulette features a three-column grid where the numbers are placed consecutively, alternating between red and black, while the zero stands on top of this main grid in a green field. The layout in Double Action Roulette, however, is much more interesting and has several separate sections.
To allow players to place bets on both rings if they wish, the layout consists of two identical 6 by 6 grids. On the roulette table, the wheel is positioned on the left side of the screen, followed by the betting section corresponding to the outer ring, and next to it, the inner-ring betting section is placed. The numbers are arranged consecutively once again, and there are three red and three black numbers in each row. The zeros have their dedicated green fields on top of each betting section. Of course, there are also betting fields for the so-called outside bets: high and low numbers, red and black, even and odd, and dozens.
In addition, a racetrack betting layout is available for placing call bets, also known as announced bets. These bets, namely Voisins du Zero, Tiers du Cylindre, and Orphelins, cover specific sections of the wheel, and the numbers on this type of layout are arranged in the same order as they are on the wheel. The American-style roulette game featuring two zero pockets does not have the racetrack.
Types of Bets and Payouts
Those who decide to play Double Action Roulette should know that they can bet on the inner ring, the outer ring, or both of them. Although betting on a single ring resembles traditional betting in classic European and American games, there are several differences players should consider. Some bets, for instance, are not available, while entirely new options appear in this innovative version.
One crucial thing to remember is that outside bets can be placed only when betting on the two rings simultaneously. Inside bets, on the other hand, are available to everyone, whether they bet on only one set of numbers or try their luck on both rings. As you can imagine, double-ring bets are associated with higher risk and are therefore recommended for more experienced players. At the same time, the payouts are also higher.
Single-Ring Bets
Single-ring bets are wagers that can be placed when playing on only one ring. They should be familiar to all roulette players. Unfortunately, no outside bets are allowed here, so those who typically place their chips on red or black would have to place double-ring bets.
- Straight: A bet on any single number that pays 35 to 1 (35:1).
- Split: A bet on any two adjacent numbers that pays 17 to 1.
- Corner: This bet covers four numbers. The chip is placed in the middle of the four numbers, forming a square, and it pays 8 to 1.
- Street: This bet covers all six numbers on any one row and pays 5 to 1.
- Line: The line bet consists of two street bets, which means it covers any 12 consecutive numbers and pays 2 to 1.
- Bet on 0-6: A bet on the first seven numbers on the betting layout, i.e., from 0 through 6, which pays 4 to 1.
Double-Ring Bets
Double-ring bets are wagers that give players the opportunity to win incredibly large amounts, which is why they are so exciting. However, when you place a double-ring bet, both outcomes of the spin must match your wager. For instance, if you place your chips on black, you bet that both winning numbers, in the inner and outer rings, will be black.
These are mostly outside bets, but their payouts are higher than in a traditional game of roulette. Players should be aware that they are riskier and much harder to predict correctly. While in classic roulette the chance for the ball to land on either black or red is nearly 50%, it is significantly lower in Double Action Roulette.
- Two identical numbers: With this bet, players place a chip on the same number in each betting section (35 black, for example). If the ball lands on this number in both the inner and outer rings, the bet pays 1,200 to 1.
- First 7 numbers: This bet covers the first seven numbers (0-6) in both sections and pays 25 to 1.
- Dozens/Columns: Players can bet on the first (1-12), second (13-24), or third (25-36) dozen of numbers, or on any of the three columns on the numbered grid. The bet must be identical for both sections, and if it wins, the payout is 8 to 1.
- Two red/black, even/odd, low/high numbers: Both winning numbers must be in the same group: red or black, even or odd, low (1-18) or high (19-36). The payout is 3 to 1.
Odds and House Edge
When choosing a good casino game to bet on, players should always take its house edge into consideration. The house edge is simply the advantage the casino has over its patrons. It is built into the rules of each game: how probable any outcome is and how much the casino pays if you win. When playing roulette in particular, one of the most fundamental things to know is that it is a game purely based on chance and that the probability for every possible outcome can be calculated mathematically.
Single-Ring Betting
This calculation is rather simple, but let us start with single-ring betting in Double Action Roulette. A straight bet is a wager on a single number, which means that there is only one winning combination out of 37, as there are a total of 37 numbers on the wheel. The probability is then 0.027027 (1/37) or, expressed as a percentage, 2.7%. In fact, the probability for all bets in the game can be calculated in the same way. Take a split bet, for example. It covers two numbers, which means there are two winning combinations out of 37, and the probability is 0.054 (2/37) or 5.4%.
Once we have the probability for every bet, we can estimate the built-in advantage by comparing the probability with the payout. We arrive at a house edge of 2.7%. Interestingly, the house edge remains the same for all single-ring bets available in the game. This means that if you place bets totaling $100, you can expect to lose $2.70 over time. This number is, of course, based only on theoretical figures. In real life, you could lose $80 out of your $100 wagers or win an additional $50 if luck is on your side. Still, the house edge is indicative of whether the game is worth playing.
Double-Ring Betting
We have calculated the house edge of the game when the player bets on only one set of numbers. The house advantage is the same as in traditional European roulette at 2.7%. However, when it comes to betting on both rings, the house edge increases significantly, which ultimately means that the player is expected to lose a larger percentage of his or her wagers.
The reason for this is very simple: since the player’s bet must correspond to the outcomes in the two different rings on the wheel, a correct prediction is much harder to make. The probability of each bet winning is much lower than its probability in standard European roulette. Let us place our chips on red, for example. In the standard variation, there are 18 red and 18 black numbers and one green number; the probability for a red number is exactly 0.48648648648 (18/37) or 48.65%.
When we bet that both winning numbers will be red, we need to take into consideration all possible combinations and how many of them are winning. There are a total of 1,369 combinations (37×37) and only 324 of them are winning (18×18). Dividing the winning combinations by the total, we get 0.23666910153 or 23.66%. This is the probability for two winning red numbers after each spin. The house edge here is 0.053324 or 5.33%, which is almost twice as much as in the standard game of roulette (2.7%).
Taking all bets into account, we reach an overall house edge of 5.87% for double-ring betting. Moreover, the signature 1,200 to 1 Double Action straight bet has a tiny probability of only 0.073% and a huge house edge of 12.27%.
| Bets | Number of Ways to Win | Payout | Probability of Winning | Expected Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight | 1 | 35 to 1 | 2.70% | -0.027027 |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.4% | -0.027027 |
| Split | 2 | 17 to 1 | 5.40% | -0.027027 |
| Corner | 4 | 8 to 1 | 10.81% | -0.027027 |
| Street | 3 | 5 to 1 | 8.11% | -0.027027 |
| Line | 12 | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 | -0.027027 |
| Bet on 0-6 | 7 | 4 to 1 | 18.90% | -0.054054 |
How to Play Double Action Roulette?
As with most roulette games, the object here is to predict correctly which numbered pocket the ball will fall into after the wheel stops spinning. Players need to place their bets by putting chips on the corresponding fields on the betting layout, and if they win, they receive a payout. While this is the standard way to play roulette, it is just one of the opportunities available when playing Double Action Roulette. Still, there are no complicated rules, as we have already pointed out.
Players who decide to place only single-ring bets will find the game extremely simple and straightforward, as the bets and payouts are similar to those in a standard roulette variation. Moreover, the house edge is the same. The more attractive payouts, however, are offered on double-ring bets. The payout for two identical numbers, in particular, is quite tempting at 1,200 to 1. In fact, the game pays great amounts of money to those who decide to bet on both rings simultaneously and manage to win.
Of course, these big rewards come with big risk. As we have shown above, double-ring bets have a low probability, so they are less likely to win. In other words, it is extremely difficult to correctly predict the two outcomes after a spin of the wheel. This is why a good strategy for Double Action Roulette would focus on single-ring bets, which are less profitable but more likely to win.
Double-ring bets, on the other hand, should be placed with caution and for entertainment only. You are more likely to lose them, after all, but if you win, the huge payouts will probably cover your previous losses and you could leave the table richer.