Roullete (French for wheel) is a casino game that involves spinning a ball on a rotating disc and guessing the number or type of number it will land on. The game offers a surprising level of depth and sophistication for serious players who use the right strategy to maximize their winnings.
To understand how the game works, consider that a roulette wheel consists of a flat disk slightly convex in shape with metal partitions or frets around its edge. These compartments are painted alternately red and black and numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. There are also one or two green compartments numbered 0, depending on the version of the game played.
The Roulette Ball
A small, lightweight ceramic ball rotates on the roulette wheel track and jumps unpredictably before it lands in a number pocket. Its dimensions and material differ from traditional ivory balls, making it even harder to predict where the ball will land. The ball is also a factor in how fast the game plays, since it spins faster than other types of balls used by professional casinos.
The Numbers
There are two types of bets in the game of roulette: inside and outside. Inside bets are made on specific numbers or groups of numbers and are generally higher paying. They include straight bets (on a single number), split bets (two adjacent numbers), and corner bets (three numbers on a square). Outside bets are placed on a range of groupings of numbers, the color red or black, or whether they are odd or even.
Bets are made by placing chips on the roulette table map according to your preferred bet. Once you’ve placed your bets, the croupier will spin the roulette wheel and a ball is rolled onto it. The croupier will then clear the losing bets from the table and pay out winners according to the payout chart.
The Wheel and the Numbers
A standard European roulette wheel has 38 numbered pockets, 18 red and 18 black, plus one or two green pockets. The American version of the game has a second green pocket numbered 00 and this additional pocket gives the house an extra edge over European roulette. It is advisable to play European roulette where possible, given that it has a lower house edge.