Roulette is a popular casino game that has been played since the 17th century. Although the rules of the game are relatively simple, it has a surprising level of depth for serious betters and the right strategy can reap high rewards.

The name “roulette” comes from the French word roulet, which means little wheel. The game is also known as a “wheel of fortune” or an “odds and evens” game.

In the game of roulette, a dealer spins a wheel and places the ball in one of the pockets. The winning number is indicated by a marker or chip on the table and the losing bets are cleared off the table before new betting begins.

A Roulette Wheel

The wheel in a roulette game is a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with metal partitions around the outside called separators. Its divisions are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36 and alternate red and black, with a green compartment marked 0.

American and European wheels have different numbers of pockets, but both have the same layout: three rows of six pockets with the first row containing eight numbers and the second row containing seven. The third row has four pockets with five numbers, and the fourth row carries three pocket pairs with four numbers each.

There are many types of bets in roulette, but they are usually made on groups of numbers rather than individual digits. These bets tend to be less expensive and have a higher probability of winning.

Inside Bets

A bet on a single number is called an “Inside Bet.” The payoff is a fixed percentage, while an outside bet pays in proportion to the number of chips placed. The best way to win is by betting on the highest-paying group of numbers.

Outside Bets

A number of different bets can be placed on the outside of a roulette table, including the corners (four-number squares) and the intersections of two lines. These bets are often more profitable than those made on a single number, and they are easier to place with the same amount of chips.

The most common form of roulette is the American version, but there are also several variations of this game. One of the most popular is the European variant, which has a single zero and an overall lower house edge than the American variety. This version of the game is the preferred choice of players both in physical casinos and on online platforms, as it has a much higher likelihood of winning.