Roulette is the classic casino game of chance. It’s easy enough for beginners to play and offers plenty of betting options that will keep experienced players happy too. You can find it in any casino that has table games.
The game of roulette consists of a spinning wheel and a small ball. Players make bets on which numbered compartment the ball will fall into as it comes to rest. Bets may be placed on a single number, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black, whether it’s odd or even, and whether the numbers are high (the “second dozen” – 29-7-28-12-35-3-26-0-32) or low (the “first twelve” – 1-18). There is also a green zero on European-style wheels and two green compartments on American wheels, both of which carry the sign “zero“.
After all the chips are in place, the dealer spins the wheel and then rolls the ball in the opposite direction around a tilted circular track that runs around the outside edge of the wheel. Once the ball slows down to a stop, the dealer announces “no more bets!”. This prevents cheating and other unfair advantages, and it also allows players to re-stake any bets they’ve already made.
Regardless of the specific game rules, the basic strategy of roulette remains the same: choose bet types that offer the best odds and limit your exposure to the house edge. You can find many systems claiming to beat the built-in house edge, but be careful of any that require you to make large bets with a low percentage payout. The best strategy is to bet small, consistent amounts and avoid playing on crowded tables.