Roullete, which translates to “wheel of fortune,” is one of the most popular casino games. It offers glamour, mystery and excitement to players while also providing a surprising amount of depth for serious betters. Its relatively low house edge, high payout to bet ratio and multiple betting options make it a mainstay in casinos and Monte Carlo.

Roulette is played on a standard table that seats up to seven players. Most of the table is covered with a grid displaying the wheel’s numbers along with other betting options. Each player gets a color of chips to indicate his or her bet. Before the ball is spun, the players place their chips on the betting mat, with the precise location of the chip indicating the bet being made. Bets on six numbers or less are termed “inside bets,” while those on 12 or more are known as outside bets.

Once the game begins, the dealer spins the wheel and the ball. When the ball lands in a number, the dealer announces it and pays out winning bets. The dealer clears the table of losing bets, placing them into the casino’s income, and returns the winning chips to the players.

The history of roulette is a bit muddled, but it is known that the game originated in France around 1790. It gained popularity in illegal gambling dens throughout Europe, and it eventually made its way to the United States. The American version of the game differs from the French, utilizing a double zero instead of a single one.

A Roulette wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex wooden disk with a series of metal partitions that run around its rim. The compartments, painted alternately red and black, are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. On European wheels, a 37th compartment, painted green, carries the sign 0; on American tables, two additional green compartments – numbered 00 – are added to each side of the wheel.