Roullete (french for “small wheel”) is a classic casino game that provides excitement and glamour to gamblers. It’s simple enough for beginners to learn, and offers a surprising depth of strategy for those who want to try their hand at winning. It’s found at casinos worldwide, and is a must-have for any serious table game collection.
During the course of the game, the player places chips on a betting table according to their desired wagers. Once all bets are in place, the croupier throws a small ball into a spinning wheel. As the ball bounces around the wheel, it will eventually settle into one of the numbered compartments. If the chip(s) a player placed on a specific number wins, that person receives a payout equal to the amount wagered.
A standard roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with a rim and 36 metal “pockets,” painted alternately black and red, and numbered nonconsecutively from 1 through 36. A 37th compartment, painted green and carrying the sign 0 (or 00 on American wheels), is reserved for the house.
The game’s rules and betting options are straightforward enough for anyone to understand, but a successful roulette strategy requires more than luck. Those who are willing to work at it can minimize the house’s edge and make their bets more profitable over time.
Some gamblers believe that certain numbers on the wheel are more likely to win than others. They may also bet on certain groups of numbers, color combinations, or odds and evens. The most common bet is on the number 17 or 36, which pay out at 1:1. Other bets, known as “Split Bet” and the “Line Bet,” are more conservative but offer higher payouts if they win.
Before each spin, a player gives the dealer cash and asks for colored roulette chips equal to the table’s minimum bet. The dealer will then give the player a series of bets that span the entire layout and cover multiple numbers or groups of numbers.