Roullete is a casino game of chance that’s popular around the world. It’s easy to learn and can be played by players of all skill levels. It also offers a surprising level of strategy for those who are willing to invest the time. But the house edge remains high so you need to be careful with your wagers.

Roulette is a table game with many different types of bets. Each bet pays out a different amount based on the odds of hitting that number. The highest win to stake ratio is for a single number bet, with the payout of up to 35 times your bet. The next best bet is on the red/black split, with a payout of 2-1. Other popular bets include the column, dozens, and straight-up bets.

The game is played on a special table with a roulette wheel in the center. Each player gets a set of colored chips that help to differentiate between bettors. It is recommended that spouses play separately during roulette games. After each round the dealer clears the losing bets off the table and pays out the winners. Then the betting begins again.

There are two major variations of roulette; American and European. The European version is the most popular at both land based and online casinos. The difference between the two is that the American roulette wheel has a double zero pocket which increases the house edge, while the European version has just one zero pocket so the house edge scales down to a coveted 1.35%.

The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with metal separators or frets and compartments, called canoes by the roulette croupiers, surrounding it. Thirty-six of these compartments are numbered and painted alternately red and black with the exception of the 0 slot, which is a single color. A roulette croupier spins the wheel and when the ball stops in a slot, the player is paid out by the dealer.