Roulette, or roullete, is a game of chance in which players wager on which colored numbered compartment a small ball will come to rest in on a spinning wheel. The bets may cover a single number, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black, or whether the number is odd or even, or high or low. The game is played at casinos and gambling houses worldwide, and was likely invented by the 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal.
The Roulette wheel consists of a solid disk with thirty-six separate and distinct metal compartments or pockets, painted alternately red and black and numbered one through 36. There is also a green division marked zero on European-style wheels, and on American roulette wheels there are two additional green compartments labeled 0 and 00.
When a player makes a bet, chips are placed on the appropriate area of the table. When all bets have been made, the dealer will announce that play for the round is closed, clearing and paying winning bets before starting a new game. During this time, the players are encouraged to discuss their strategy with other players and with the dealer.
A bet on a single number costs the player 17 chips and pays out 392 chips if it wins. A bet on the colors costs the player an equal amount, as does a bet on either odd or even. These types of bets are known as Outside bets, and are great for beginners as they offer a wider coverage area of the table with a lower payout.
In a true game of roulette, the player is betting against the house. A winning bet is returned to the player less the casino’s commission, which is usually a small percentage of the total wager. A losing bet, on the other hand, is kept by the casino.
While many people believe there are strategies to increase a player’s chances of winning, it is important to understand that the odds of a particular spin are random and that the game has an inherent house edge. A gambler’s best bet is to play for fun, and always know when to walk away. Using grandiose or complicated strategies is not recommended and will only lead to disappointment.