Roullete — the French diminutive for little wheel — is a casino game that may seem simple and straightforward, but offers surprisingly deep strategy for those who are willing to take the time. The game has offered glamour, mystery, and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century, and remains one of the most popular games in the world today.
The Roulette wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex wooden disk with metal partitions or frets around its rim. Thirty-six of the compartments, painted alternately red and black, are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. On European wheels, a 37th compartment, painted green, carries the number 0. A spin of the wheel begins with the dealer removing chips from the table and placing them on the outer perimeter of the betting grid, called the “table map.” Then, the dealer rotates the roulette wheel and drops the ball into one of the pockets.
Once the ball stops, the winner is declared and the losing bets are removed from the table. The dealer then pays the winners and clears the table for the next round. Many players like to watch the other players, hoping that they can spot a pattern or predict when and where the ball will land. The truth is, observing other players does not improve your odds of winning by more than coincidence.
Before you begin to play, set a budget and choose a table within your limits. Each roulette table carries a placard describing the minimum and maximum bets allowed. The best tables offer $5 minimum inside bets and $1,000 maximum outside bets. You can also find a chart on the casino’s website that will show the payouts for different types of bets. Choosing the right bets will keep your bankroll intact and allow you to play as long as possible without running out of money.