Roullete (pronounced ‘roy-lay’) is a casino game that involves placing bets on individual numbers, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black, whether they are odd or even, and whether the numbers are high (19–36) or low (1–18). The game was likely developed in France from older games such as hoca and portique. Roulette is one of the most popular casino games in both physical and online casinos. It has been attributed to 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal and by a Dominican monk, but it is unlikely either of these claims are true.
Roulette has become a casino staple because of its simple rules and high winning probabilities. A number of variations of the game exist, but we recommend beginners stick with European roulette which features a single zero pocket and therefore lower house edge. The en prison and la partage rules within this variation also magnify the player’s chances of winning.
The game is played on a circular table with a betting layout and in the center a revolving dishlike device called a roulette wheel. A croupier spins the wheel and when it comes to a stop, a small ball will rest in one of 37 or 38 compartments around the perimeter, each labeled red or black or numbered 1 to 36. A green compartment on an American-style wheel carries the number 0; two additional green pockets on a European-style wheel carry the numbers 1 and 2.
The croupier places the chips you have wagered on the layout and tells you their value. If you win, the dealer will place a marker on the number of your bet and remove the rest. The table is then clear for the next bets.