The best ways to bet in roulette & break bad news

A beginner's guide to betting on Roulette, followed by some tips for breaking bad news...just in case.

• In roulette, you bet against the "House" by guessing which of 37 or 38 slots on a wheel a ball will land in when the croupier spins it.
• To bet, place chips on a table layout of red and black boxes that represent the numbers on the wheel.
• You can also place bets on the outer boxes, which represent various combinations of numbers.

• Straight up: A bet on a single number. Pays 35 to 1.
• Six-line: A bet on six numbers arranged in two rows of three. Pays five to one.
• Odd or even: A bet in the outer boxes. Doubles your money.
• High or low: Put money on either the higher ahlf of numbers or the lower half. Doubles your money.
• Red or black: This bet corresponds to the colours rather than the numbers. Be aware the 0 is green. Doubles your money.
• Split: Bet on two numbers. Pays 17 to 1.
• Street bet: Covers three numbers in a row. Pays 11 to 1.
• Runs of 12: Bets made by laying chips on the outside boxes, 1 to 12, 13 to 24, 25 to 36. Pays two to one.
• Column: Lay chips at the bottom end of the table layout, on one of the three boxes reading two to one. This covers 12 numbers in that column. Pays two to one.
• Corner: A bet made by laying chips at the cross between four numbers. Pays eight to one.

It's never easy to deal a verbal body blow, but sensitivity helps.

• Choose somewhere quiet and private.
• Sit eye-to-eye with a person and give them a gentle warning to brace them, like "I'm sorry to have to tell you..."
• Empathize with their reaction.
• Let them cry if they want, let them say what they want, and listen to them.
• Offer any help you're willing to give — and deliver on your promise, if it's accepted.

Roulette can be a lot of fun, but giving bad news isn't. In both cases, be cautious and know your limits.