Roulette is a casino game in which a small ball rolls around a revolving wheel and bets are placed on which number or grouping of numbers the ball will land in as it comes to rest. There are many different types of bets, with varying odds and payouts. The house edge is determined by the game’s rules, and no amount of skill or preparation can guarantee a win. While there are some strategies that can help a player improve their chances of winning, they should be used with caution and adapted to the player’s comfort level and style of play.

The Roulette wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex disk with thirty-six compartments alternating red and black and painted with the digits 1 through 36. There is also a single green division numbered 0 on European wheels and two extra green ones on American wheels. The wheel is mounted on a base that has a tilted circular track around the outer edge. The dealer spins the wheel in one direction and then rolls a small ball in the opposite direction around the track until it comes to rest.

Once the ball and wheel come to a stop, the dealer will announce “No More Bets!” This prevents players from placing bets after the wheel has spun and prevents any type of cheating. The table will lock once the dealer has announced this, and players cannot change their bets until the dealer is ready to accept new wagers.

There are many fanciful stories of how the game of roulette was invented, including by the 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal and by Dominican monks. In reality, the game evolved in the 18th century from the older games hoca and portique. The modern version of the game was introduced in Europe by the end of that century. The Roulette wheel and table structure eventually made their way to the United States, where it was heavily modified in order to prevent cheating by both operators and players. In the United States, a double-zero was added to the wheel and an additional betting space was added to the table. This led to the American version of the game that is still played today. In addition to the differences in the Roulette wheel and table, there are different rules for bets and payouts.