Roullete (or Roulette) is a casino game in which the ball rolls around a wheel and people bet on what number it will land on. The game originated in the 17th century and has a long history of variations. Fanciful stories credit the game to the French mathematician Blaise Pascal in his quest to create a perpetual motion machine, but it was probably derived from the older games hoca and portique. In modern casinos the game is played on a table with a special wheel and betting mat. The bets are made by laying chips on the betting mat, and the precise location of the chip indicates the bet being placed. There are many different bets, and the odds of winning are based on the type of bet and the house edge, which we’ll discuss later.
The Roulette wheel is a spinning disk with divisions that are painted alternately red and black, numbered 1 to 36. On European wheels a green compartment, numbered 0, is also present. On American wheels there are two green sections numbered 0 and 00, which gives the game a worse house edge than the European version.
Each time the wheel spins, the ball comes to rest in one of the numbered compartments. Each number has a different probability of landing, and the player places bets on groups of numbers or individual numbers. The bets are grouped into categories, called “inside” and “outside”. Inside bets are placed on the numbered portion of the wheel and have lower odds than outside bets. Outside bets are placed on the border of the wheel, either on all even-money bets (Standard bet), or on a single number or groupings of numbers such as the Dozens or Columns. The odds of winning an outside bet are 2-1, making these bets popular with players.
Before you start playing, set a budget and stick to it. Each roulette table carries a placard showing the minimum and maximum bets allowed, so look for a table that fits your budget. You should also choose a table where the maximum bet is less than your total bankroll, because you will need to cash out your losing bets before placing new ones. Once the ball stops spinning, the dealer pays winners and clears losing bets from the table. Trying to watch other players’ bets is an interesting pastime, but it won’t improve your odds more than chance. The only sure way to beat Roulette is by using a betting system. This can be very difficult and requires much practice to master, but there are a few systems that can improve your odds of winning.