Roulette has brought glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. It’s an easy game for beginners to learn and has enough depth for serious players to play with strategies that can lead to high rewards. This article will break down all the basics so that you’re ready to place your bets when you get to the table.
A roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with metal partitions, or frets, around its rim. Thirty-six of these compartments, painted alternately red and black, are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. A 37th compartment, on European-style wheels, is painted green and carries the sign 0. On American-style wheels, there are two green compartments on opposite sides of the wheel that carry the signs 0 and 00. A metal spindle, perfectly balanced, fits into the center of the wheel and is driven by a small revolving crank.
There are three types of roulette bets: inside, outside, and announced bets. Each type offers different odds for winning and varying payouts when a winning bet is placed. There are also different ways to win at roulette depending on whether you choose a single number, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black, odd or even, or high or low.
During the course of a game, a dealer will place the ball on a numbered slot and the wheel will then spin. When the wheel comes to a stop, the dealer will then place a marker on the winning number (or chips). This allows the dealers to quickly track winning bets. Losing bets are then removed and the table is cleared.
When a player places a bet they are telling the dealer what their bet will be worth. The dealer will then indicate the amount on her roulette chips and then parcel them out to the player. Winning bets are then collected by the dealer and paid out. Typically, the winnings are paid out immediately but some casinos will hold the winnings until the end of the session.
Roulette is one of the least popular casino games in America, drawing only a fraction of the players who visit baccarat pits and video poker stations or take their chances at slot machines and blackjack tables. However, roulette has a loyal following in Europe and remains one of the mainstays at Monte Carlo’s famous casinos.