Roulette is a casino game where the players bet on what number or grouping of numbers the ball will land in when the dealer spins the wheel. The rules are simple enough for beginners to enjoy, yet the game provides a surprising level of depth for serious bettors who use a basic strategy. The game can be found at almost any casino, though it’s most popular in Europe and Asia.

The Roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex with a metal partitioning around its edge. Thirty-six of these compartments, referred to as frets or pockets by roulette croupiers, are painted alternately red and black and numbered from 1 through 36. There is also a single green division, which on European-style wheels carries the number 0. In the United States, there is an additional double green zero, making the American version of the game a worse proposition than the European one.

When playing roulette, players place their chips on a betting mat. Each table carries a placard with the minimum and maximum bets allowed. It’s important to set a budget before starting to play, as this will help avoid gambling beyond your means. In addition, it’s a good idea to choose a bet type that suits your bankroll, as certain bet types have different odds of winning.

Once the players have placed their chips on the betting mat, the dealer will spin the roulette wheel and roll a small ball around it until it comes to rest in one of the compartments. The dealer will then pay out the winners and clear the losing bets from the table. The game is then ready to start again.

Many casinos prohibit the use of cheating devices, and the game itself is designed to eliminate any advantages. However, there are always those who are not concerned with legal nuances and try to improve their chances of winning by using various tricks. These methods can be as simple as watching other players, hoping to pick up on a secret that others don’t know or by taking the opposite of the actions of other players.

The house edge for roulette is 2.7% with the La Partage rule in effect and 1.35% without it. The “La Partage” rule splits all even-money bets in half, keeping half for the house and giving the other half back to the player. This reduces the house edge to 2.70% with the rule and 1.35% without it.