The game of Roullete (pronounced rou-let) has offered glamour and mystery to casino-goers since the 17th century. Although a simple game to learn, it offers a surprising amount of depth and the right strategy can reap high rewards.
The game involves betting on what number a small ball will land in when a croupier spins the wheel and rolls it around a tilted circular track. The player chooses from a variety of wagers, including single numbers, various groupings of numbers, the colors red and black and whether the number is odd or even. The table layout is easy to understand and the betting process is quick.
Before the dealer spins the wheel, players place their bets on a table map that describes the minimum and maximum bets allowed. It is recommended that players start with outside bets (groupings of numbers instead of individual digits) because these bets are cheaper and offer a higher chance of winning. It is also a good idea to set a budget before you play. It is advisable to avoid using your winnings for future bets as this will affect your odds of winning in the long run.
A roulette wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex wooden disk with a metal band around its perimeter. The disk has 36 compartments, painted alternately red and black and numbered non-consecutively from 1 to 36. A green compartment carries the sign 0 on European-style wheels and a double zero on American-style ones.
In a standard game of roulette, the croupier spins the wheel and drops a small ball into one of the numbered slots. If the ball lands on a number that a player has bet on, they win a payout according to the table’s odds. The croupier then clears the losing chips from the table and starts a new round.
Unlike other games of chance, the house edge of roulette is not as varied or unpredictable as in craps. It is generally accepted that the European version of the game has a lower house edge than its American counterpart, but some professional gamblers have found ways to beat the system by seeking out rigged wheels and betting opposite the largest bets.