Roulette is one of the casino games played by thousands of people in casinos worldwide. It is easy to learn, fast-paced and offers many different betting options. Roulette is also a popular game for online gambling and can be found at many casino websites. This article is a guide to the game of Roullete, and offers everything you need to know about playing this classic casino table game.
Roulette consists of a wheel and a table where players place bets. The wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape. Around its rim are metal partitions or frets that divide it into 37 compartments, painted alternately red and black. There is a green division numbered 0 on European-style wheels, and two green ones, numbered 00 on American-style wheels. The ball, dropped into the center of the wheel, rolls around until it comes to rest in one of these compartments.
The table where the game is played carries a placard with the minimum and maximum bets allowed. Usually, the maximum bet is greater for outside bets than for inside bets. The dealer clears the losing bets from the table and then pays the winners. It is important to set a budget before you play and never dip into your winnings for future bets.
During the game, bets are placed by placing chips on a special betting mat. The precise placement of the chips indicates the bet being made. Players can bet on a single number, various groupings of numbers, or the colors red and black. In addition, players can bet on whether a particular number is odd or even or if the first, second or third dozen are chosen.
While there are fanciful stories about the origin of roulette, most historians agree that it is a modern invention, developed in the early 18th century from the older games hoca and portique. It was a popular casino game in France and Europe until the French Revolution, when it was banned. It was later introduced to the United States, where it is still a staple in gambling dens and posh casinos. In the US, the roulette wheel was adapted to prevent cheating, and the table layout simplified. There are also many variants of the game that have evolved in the United States.
