Roullete (French for ‘little wheel’) is a casino game in which players place bets on a series of red and black numbered compartments of a revolving wheel. Whether on a single number, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black, or if the number is odd or even, each bet pays out according to the odds of that outcome occurring. A croupier spins the wheel, and as the wheel slows down, the ball is released into one of the compartments where it will come to rest. Bets are placed until the croupier announces ‘No more bets!’
The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape, around which are mounted metal partitions called frets. Thirty-six of these compartments, painted alternately red and black, are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36; on European-style wheels a 37th compartment, painted green, carries the sign 0. The wheel is spun by a metal shaft in a stationary bowl, supported at its center by a spindle that extends through an opening in the wheelhead. The rim of the wheel has a numbered layout that corresponds with the numbers on the betting table, and the ball track is a raised circular section on the outside of the bowl.
Once all bets have been placed, the dealer spins the wheel and releases a small ball in the opposite direction. The player bets on the numbered pocket that will be the location of the ball when it comes to rest. The croupier will then announce ‘No more bets!’, preventing players from placing chips after the wheel has stopped spinning and preventing cheating or additional advantages.
The first step in gaining a better understanding of roulette is to review the bet types and house edge. Then, decide which type of bets to place based on your goals for the game. If you want to increase your winning chances, opt for the outside bets that offer higher payouts than the inside bets. If you’re just looking to minimize your losses, consider placing two equal outside bets that will limit your exposure to risk without significantly boosting your payout rates.