Roulette is a casino game played with a rotating wheel that has numbers on it. Players place bets on single numbers, various groupings of numbers, whether the number is odd or even, and if it is high or low. In addition, some bets are based on color, and others are if the number is red or black. The game originated in France, and it became popular throughout Europe. It has since become a staple in many gambling establishments and is now also found online.

The house edge for a bet is calculated by multiplying the probability of hitting a specific number by the number of possible outcomes on the wheel. This is a simple calculation, but the results can be confusing for beginners. The probabilities for a particular bet depend on the type of roulette being played, as there are different variations of the game with slightly differing house edges. The American version of the game has a higher edge than the European one, as it has two green pockets instead of a single zero.

Before the dealer spins the wheel and throws the ball, he or she will usually pause for a bit to let everyone make their bets. They will then announce “no more bets!” to close the betting for that round. After winning bets are cleared off the table, the winners will get paid and play will begin for the next round.

When playing Roulette, you should understand that the odds of losing are much greater than the chances of winning. The best way to minimize your losses is to choose outside bets, which have lower house edges than inside bets. If you want to increase your chances of winning, it is advisable to choose bets that are spread over the entire table.

Another important factor to keep in mind is the number of chips required to cover a particular bet. For example, a bet on the Dozens will cost you 36 chips and pay out 392 chips if it wins. This bet pays 2-1, which is the highest payout for any outside bet in roulette.

The wheel used in a roulette game is called a roulette wheel and consists of a solid wooden disk that is slightly convex in shape. Around its rim are metal compartments, called separators or frets by croupiers, that contain a total of thirty-six colored and numbered balls. Two green compartments, painted 0 and 00, are located on the outermost part of the wheel.