Roulette is one of the world’s most popular casino games, both online and in physical casinos. While there are only three main variations of the game – American, European, and French – there are still subtle differences between them that every player should be aware of in order to optimize their chances of winning.
Before a spin of the wheel begins, players place bets by placing chips on a betting mat. The dealer then shows players how much their bets will be worth based on the table’s payout odds. Once this has been done, the croupier throws the ball onto the spinning wheel and the game commences.
The wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex disk with thirty-six metal compartments (called frets or pockets by croupiers) that are arranged in a nonconsecutive pattern around its perimeter and alternately painted red and black. A separate green compartment, numbered 0, is found on European-style wheels and two additional green compartments (numbered 0 and 00) are added on American tables.
Roulette was supposedly invented in the 17th century by French mathematician Blaise Pascal, although some theories suggest it may have been invented in ancient China or by Dominican monks. Regardless of its true origins, the game quickly spread across Europe and gained popularity in gambling dens and casino establishments.
The game is played by making bets on the numbers, sections, or colors of the roulette table. Each type of bet carries its own specific odds. Bets placed on the numbered numbers themselves are called “inside bets” while those made on other groups of positions are known as “outside bets.”
Inside bets win more frequently than outside bets and pay out more money for winning combinations. The payout odds for a straight bet are 35 to 1. A street bet wins 5 to 1, and a corner bet pays out 8 to 1. A basket bet, which can only be made in some American casinos, pays out 6 to 1 and is a great alternative to a standard bet when you want to increase your chances of winning big at the casino.
The croupier will then spin the wheel and the ball will come to rest in one of the numbered slots on the roulette table. When a bet is successful, the croupier will place a marker on the winning number and clear the table. If the bet loses, the stake is left on the table and will remain there until a new decision is made. If no bet is made for a certain period of time, the player will be declared bankrupt and all remaining chips are gathered by the croupier for future use. The croupier will then add up the chips and distribute the winnings to players.