Roullete is one of the most popular casino games and offers a great deal of glamour, mystery and excitement. The rules are relatively simple and the game can be enjoyed by both beginners and seasoned gamblers alike. But for serious players, there is a surprising amount of depth to roulette strategy. A proper understanding of how to play the game can lead to a better chance of winning big.

The word ‘roulette’ is French for a little wheel and the game consists of betting on which numbered compartment the small ball will come to rest in when it is spun around a revolving dish-like device called a roulette wheel. The wheel has compartments that are coloured either red or black and some other sections which offer a variety of betting opportunities. Each type of bet has a different odds against the house.

A roulette wheel consists of a solid wood disk slightly convex in shape with metal partitions or frets that are spaced around the rim. These compartments, also known as pockets or canoes, are alternately coloured in black and red. Thirty-six of these pockets are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36, while on European-style wheels a second green pocket carries the number 0. In the United States, there is an extra green zero.

The wheel is turned by a croupier, who is an employee of the casino. When the dealer announces ‘no more bets’, any chips placed on numbers or other groups are cleared off of the table, and any winning bets are paid out according to a payout table. The process then begins again with a new round of betting, spinning the wheel and rolling the ball.

Before you start betting, it is important to set a budget and choose a table within your limits. Each table carries a placard explaining the minimum and maximum bets allowed. In addition, the type of roulette ball used has a significant impact on the game. A small, light ceramic ball makes more revolutions on the wheel track and jumps around more unpredictably than a large, heavy ivory ball.

Before each spin, give the dealer a single chip with a value equal to the table minimum and ask for ‘colour’. The dealer will then provide you with a stack of coloured chips, worth the same as your bet. Bet on the numbers you like to win, but remember that a straight bet on an individual number is the riskiest. Instead, try placing a split bet on two adjacent numbers or a corner bet that covers four numbers.