Roullete (pronounced: roo-LAH) is one of the most popular gambling games in both brick and mortar casinos as well as online. The game combines luck with skill, and players can bet on a single number or various groupings of numbers. Bets are placed against the house, and once a ball slows down enough to drop from the spinning wheel into a numbered compartment, winners receive the payout indicated on the table.
A roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape, around which are metal partitions called frets or compartments. Thirty-six of these compartments, painted alternately red and black, are numbered 1 through 36 in nonconsecutive order. A 37th compartment, painted green, carries the number 0 on European wheels; in addition, American roulette wheels have two extra green pockets, numbered 00. The two additional green pockets largely account for the higher house edge in American roulette as compared to its European counterpart.
Whether in a land-based or online casino, the game is played by placing chips on a betting mat. The precise placement of the chips determines the bet. Prior to the spin of the wheel, the dealer announces, “No more bets!” This is done to prevent players from attempting to gain an unfair advantage by placing bets while the ball is still on the track and about to come to rest.
The wheel is spun by a croupier, and as it spins, the balls are launched in all directions. Once the ball comes to a stop, the dealers call out the winning number, and the table is cleared of losing bets. The winner’s chips are then paid, and the next round begins.
Roulette is a game of chance, and there are many myths about how the game was invented. Some fanciful stories involve the 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal, and others claim that it was developed in China by Dominican monks. Whatever its origins, the game grew in popularity in Europe during the 18th century, and it quickly became a popular fixture in casinos and gambling houses.
There are several variations of the game, but the basic rules remain the same. A small ball is released into a spinning wheel, and players place bets on which red or black numbered compartment it will come to rest in. Each bet pays off at different odds based on the number of adjacent numbers it covers.
The best way to play is to know your limits. Each roulette table carries a placard with the minimum and maximum bets allowed. Choose a table within your budget and stick to it. In addition, always play with the “La Partage” rule – the dealer splits even-money bets in half, keeping half for the house and giving the other to you if it happens to land on zero. This reduces the house edge from 2.70% to 1.35%.