Roulette is a classic casino game that has offered glamour, mystery, and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. Although its rules are simple, it provides a surprising level of depth for serious bettors. It is easy to play and can offer high rewards for players who correctly guess where the ball will land when it spins the wheel.
The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with 36 compartments painted alternately red and black and carrying the numbers 1 through 36. On European-style wheels, one of the compartments carries a green 0; on American-style wheels, there are two green 0s. The wheel, its spindle perfectly balanced, rotates smoothly with almost frictionless action.
As the wheel spins, the dealer rolls a small ball into one of the compartments. When the ball lands in a number, the player who placed a bet on that number wins. The odds of winning vary depending on the type of bet made.
In the United States, roulette has one of the smallest followings among table games, attracting only about the same number of players as the much older baccarat, and less than slot machines or video poker. But in Europe, it draws huge crowds.
There are many fanciful theories about the origin of roulette, including that it was invented by the 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal. In reality, it is an old game that combines elements of other gambling games such as hoca and portique.
Before betting, check the layout on a roulette table to see what kind of bets are allowed and their minimum and maximum limits. Then choose a table that allows you to bet within your budget. When you win, be sure to cash out your chips as soon as possible (preferably before the dealers clear the table) to prevent other players from dipping into your winnings for future bets.