Roulette is a casino game played on a revolving wheel that has numbered compartments. When the ball comes to rest in one of these compartments, a player wins. The numbers on the wheel alternate between red and black and there is also a green division labelled zero (American tables only). Various bets can be made on which number, or colour and even or odd, will come to rest.
Roulette began in France and became popular throughout Europe during the 18th century. It was then adopted by the United States and other parts of the world. There are a few different types of roulette games but all have the same general rules. The earliest wheels were made of ivory but modern ones are usually made of other materials like resin, ceramic or Teflon. The weight and dimensions of the ball have an effect on how the game plays, with a smaller, lighter ball making more revolutions on the wheel track and jumping more unpredictably before it settles on a number than a large ivorine ball would.
Players place bets on the numbers forming a square on the betting table. Bets are placed by dragging and dropping chips on the desired number or group of numbers. Inside bets have better odds of winning but can also lose more quickly than outside bets. Straight up bets are on an individual number and can be won with a single chip. Split bets are on two adjacent numbers with the chips being placed on the common edge. Corner bets are four adjacent numbers that form a corner on the betting table and must be won with a minimum of three chips.
If you win a round of roulette, the dealer will remove your losing bets and pay out your winnings. Your winnings will be paid in coloured chips, so you may want to cash them out as soon as possible to avoid wasting any of your hard-earned money. However, if you’re on a good streak and don’t mind losing a few rounds, it can be fun to stick with your winnings for longer and try to improve your odds of winning in the future.
If you’re looking for a new way to play online, check out the roulette games at the best casino sites. You’ll find European and American versions of the game as well as variations such as French roulette which offers La Partage, a rule that lowers the house edge on even money bets. You can place bets through a computer or smartphone app but the game is handled in real time by a trained croupier and you can see your bets being placed by the croupiers on the screen. You can then press a spin button to start the wheel spinning. The results will be displayed in a few seconds and payouts are automatic. You can always change the size of your bets after each spin, if you’re not happy with your current selections.