Roullete is a casino game in which you place chips on a table to try to predict where a ball will land. You can make bets on specific numbers, groups of numbers, whether the number is odd or even, and colors red and black. A croupier spins the wheel and a ball is dropped into one of the pockets marked with a number. If you correctly guess the number, you win. This is a simple, fast-paced game based solely on luck.
Roulette has many variants, but most share the same basic rules. A croupier, or dealer, announces “no more bets” to close betting for the current round, then the wheel is spun and the ball bounces around until it settles into one of the compartments, or pockets, that contain a specific number. If you made a bet on that number, you win!
The Dozens Bet: Also known as douzaine in French. With this bet, you’re wagering that the winning number will be in either the first or last dozen on the layout (1-18 or 19-36). This is another even money bet, with a payout of 2-1.
Street Bet/Three Number Bet/Side Bet: You can bet on a row of three consecutive numbers by placing your chips on the outside border. This is a more conservative play, though it has a higher house edge than other bets. If you win, the payout is 11-1.
Odd or Even Bet: You’re wagering that the winning number will appear in either the first or last 18 numbers on the layout. This is a more conservative bet, though it has a higher house edge of 1-1.
The house edge is 2.70% with the “La Partage” rule in effect, which divides all even-money bets (including bets on zero) in half. Without this rule, the house edge is 1.35%. The game was invented in the 17th century and was popularized by the French, who adopted it for their casinos and gambling dens. It made its way up the Mississippi River and westward, where it evolved into the American version. A standardized roulette wheel and betting layout were developed to prevent cheating by both operators and gamblers, and the game became widely played in the United States.