Roullete (pronounced rou-let) is a casino game of chance and skill. Players wager on a number, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black, whether it is odd or even, and more. A dealer spins a numbered wheel and, after the ball settles, the player’s bets are paid out accordingly. Roulette is one of the most popular games in casinos, and for good reason: it offers plenty of excitement and glamour, and can yield high payouts for those who correctly guess where the ball will land.
The Roulette table is a large, rectangular piece of felt on which players place their chips. It is often painted with French terms, although in the United States English terms and a different style of betting mat are used. Prior to a spin, players lay their chips down on the table map and wait for play to start. Bets are made on the number slots, with those placed on six numbers or less referred to as “inside bets” and those on more than 12 referred to as “outside bets.”
A roulette wheel is a solid, slightly convex disk that spins in a perfectly frictionless manner on a metal rod. Around the rim are compartments, or pockets, numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36 in alternating red and black colors. A second green compartment on American wheels carries the number 0.
The croupier spins the wheel and the ball. When the ball hits a pocket, the dealer marks the winning number on the table map and pays out the bets accordingly. After all losing bets are cleared off the table, winning bets become the new base for future bets. If you win a bet, cash out your winnings as quickly as possible so that you can continue betting within your predetermined budget. Otherwise, you may risk losing your edge by betting the same amount over and over again.