Roulette is a game of chance that offers glamour, mystery and excitement to players. It is one of the most popular casino games worldwide. Its simple rules and easy-to-use table layouts make it an excellent choice for novice players but it also provides a surprising depth of strategy for serious bettors.

The earliest games of roulette were developed in France around the 17th century. It was originally played in gambling dens using a double-zero wheel, but when a single-zero pocket was introduced by French siblings Louis and Francois Blanc in 1843, the game became instantly wildly popular and spread to casinos and gambling houses all over the world.

In a game of Roullete, players place bets on what number they believe the ball will land on by laying chips down on a betting mat, with the precise placement of the chip indicating the type of bet being placed. Then, a croupier spins the wheel and the ball, which has been placed in a small cup on the table, races around the rim until it comes to rest in one of the numbered slots on the wheel.

There are several bets you can place on a Roulette table, but some are more common than others. A good way to get started is by making “outside bets” – these are bets on groups of numbers rather than individual digits and tend to have higher odds of hitting.

Another bet that is quite common is the Column or ‘Dozen’ bet. These are bets that the ball will come to rest in one of the three ’12’ sections on the roulette wheel. This bet pays out 2-1. You should note however that the house edge for this bet is slightly worse than other bets.