Roulette is a casino game that provides glamour, mystery and excitement for casino-goers worldwide. It is a game with surprisingly deep levels of strategy for players who choose to take it seriously.
A croupier spins a wheel in one direction while a ball is rolled around a tilted circular track on the outer edge of the wheel. Players bet on what number the ball will land in by placing chips on a betting mat with specific areas for different types of bets. Bets are made on individual numbers, various groupings of numbers, whether the bet is red or black, odd or even, high or low, and a variety of other factors.
The game of roulette dates back to the 17th century and was invented in France. The game was derived from older games such as hoca and portique, and has evolved over the centuries into the version that is played today. The name is derived from a French phrase meaning “little wheel.”
Its popularity around the world has grown with the advent of online gambling. The game is available on most reputable casino websites. However, there are also rogue operators who operate unauthorized sites and offer fraudulent software. To avoid such problems, you should only play at a site that has been licensed by a legitimate gambling authority in your jurisdiction.
Each roulette table carries a placard with the minimum and maximum bets allowed. In general, minimum bets are much lower than maximums, with inside bets having a higher house edge than outside bets. As such, the optimal strategy in roulette is to set a budget and choose a table within that budget.
Once all bets are placed, the dealer clears the table and announces ‘no more bets!’ This prevents players from trying to place additional bets as the wheel is about to stop and helps to ensure that the rules are followed. Some players try to cheat at roulette by varying the speed of the wheel, or by using other devices to gain an advantage.
To place an outside bet, place a chip on the end of any “street” (row of numbers) on the table map or cover all red, black and 0 or 00 (if applicable). This type of bet pays 1:1 so the odds are slightly better than those for a single number bet but still inferior to those for the Dozens and Columns bets.