Roullete, a French word meaning little wheel, is the name given to a casino game of chance that is played in both online and land-based casinos around the world. It has been around since the 17th century and has gained in popularity over the years because of its surprisingly high payouts and its simplicity.
Whether you are an experienced player or just starting out, roulette is a great way to win big money. But before you can start playing, you need to understand the rules and the different types of bets available.
A roulette table features a wheel, a number grid and betting area, and a dealer who spins the wheel and chooses the numbers to place on it. Players can place chips on the numbers, and the exact location of the chip indicates the type of bet being made.
The betting area on the table is divided into sections that correspond to the numbers on the wheel. These areas are called “inside” and “outside.” The inside section is the numbered section of the table, while the outside section contains other options.
An inside bet is a bet placed on a number that will be rolled, and it has a higher payout than an outside bet. It is also more likely to be successful.
Inside bets can be made on groups of pockets that are grouped according to their position, or they can be bets on single pockets. They can be made on red or black, odd or even, or a combination of these options.
There are two main styles of roulette: American and European. Both games use a wheel with 36 compartments, each of which is painted in alternate colors. The American version has an extra green division numbered 00, and the European version uses a double zero wheel.
In both versions of the game, the wheel is set up to rotate with a small ball that can enter any of the divisions. The divisions are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36 in a random pattern, with the exception of a 37th compartment that is green and carries the 0 sign on American tables.
The wheel consists of a wooden disk slightly convex in shape with metal partitions around it known as separators or frets. These divide the wheel into compartments or canoes, and the croupiers who spin the wheel are responsible for determining which of these divisions will be selected when the ball is dropped onto it.