Roullete, also known as roulette and sometimes called the little wheel game, is a casino game in which a small ball is released into a rotating wheel. Players place bets concerning which of the red and black numbered compartments the ball will drop into as it comes to rest. The game gained popularity in the gambling dens of Europe during the 1790s, and was introduced to America by French immigrants. A variety of bet types exist, and the game has a high level of sophistication for serious betters.
A standard roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape. Around its rim are metal compartments (called separators or frets by croupiers) which are painted alternately red and black. Thirty-six of these compartments, called a bouloire by the French, are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. A second green compartment on European wheels carries the number 0, while American roulette wheels have two additional green pockets labelled 0 and 00.
The dealer spins the wheel in one direction while a croupier rolls a small ball in the opposite direction on a tilted circular track running around the perimeter of the wheel. When the ball is ready to come to a stop, the dealer announces “no more bets!” This prevents cheating by players who are aware of the house edge and may attempt to place bets just as the wheel is about to slow down and the chips will no longer be in play.
Before placing a bet, players should study the table map and understand the odds for each bet type. Roulette bets are divided into inside and outside bets, and the odds of winning a particular bet depend on the location of the bet, whether it is placed on a single number or on various groupings of numbers. The best bets are the outside bets, which offer lower odds but higher payouts.
The next step is to choose a table within your budget and set a maximum betting amount. Choosing the right table is especially important when playing online, as you can see all of the available betting options on the screen. Some players like to watch the other players at a table, hoping that they can glean some secret information or copy their actions, but this will not improve your odds of beating the house.