Roulette is a classic casino game that brings glamour, mystery, and excitement to players. It is a simple game to understand, but it also offers a surprising level of depth for serious betters. In this article, we’ll break down the basics of the game so that you can make informed decisions when placing your bets. We’ll cover the rules of the game, the table layout, and the bet types that sit in each area. You’ll also learn how the game is played in a live casino environment and how to handle your winnings.
Roulette is played on a green felt table with a wheel in the center. There are numbered pockets around the perimeter of the wheel and an area for bets in the center. There are 37 or 38 numbered pockets in either European or American roulette (depending on whether the wheel has a single or double zero).
The game is simple to understand, but you must be careful where you place your chips. You have until the croupier (dealer) says, “No more bets,” to get your chips where you want them on the table. Then the dealer spins the wheel and drops a ball into one of the numbered pockets. You must correctly guess what number or type of bet it will land on to win.
There are two main categories of bets in Roulette: Inside Bets and Outside Bets. Inside bets are placed on a specific number or small group of numbers within the main grid of numbers (1 to 36). These bets have lower odds of winning but higher payouts. The most common inside bets are Straight Up, Split, Street, Corner, and Six-Line.
Outside bets are placed on large groups of numbers (red, black, odd, or even) or the high/low, dozens, and columns. These bets have higher odds of winning but lower payouts.
While there are many fanciful stories of the origin of the game, its true history is more straightforward. It is derived from earlier games such as hoca and portique, with some historians tracing its roots back to ancient China.
When you play Roulette, you’ll use special roulette chips to represent your bets. These are a different color than normal casino chips, so you can differentiate your bets from those of other players. The value of a roulette chip is determined by the total buy-in divided by the number of chips received. Unlike poker chips, roulette chips do not have a denomination printed on them.