Roulette is one of the gambling industry’s most popular games, and for good reason. This simple game pits the player against a numbered wheel of fortune and relies entirely on luck to determine which slot the ball will fall into when the dealer spins it around the edge of the table. It’s easy enough for beginners to learn, yet has plenty of betting options to attract veteran players too.

The game is played on a special table with a roulette wheel that is tilted slightly to the side. The dealer spins the wheel in one direction and then rolls a small ball in the opposite direction around a tilted circular track that runs around the outside of the wheel. The player’s job is to bet on the number or section that they think the ball will land in, and if they win they are paid according to their odds.

A roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk that is slightly convex in shape, with a metal separator rim containing thirty-six compartments or pockets painted alternately red and black. On European wheels, a 37th compartment carries the sign of 0, while American ones have two green pockets for the numbers 1 and 6. A croupier is responsible for spinning the wheel and launching the ball into one of the compartments.

When a number hits, the croupier announces ’no more bets!’ and the chips that were placed on that bet are collected. The dealer then divides any even-money bets in half, keeping half for the house and giving the other half back to the player, a rule known as ‘La Partage’. This lowers the house edge by a significant amount.

Roulette is a very easy casino game to play, but it’s important to know your bet types and the odds of each before placing any chips. The most common bets are the inside and outside, which include the single number bets, various groupings of numbers, and whether they’re odd or even or high (1-18) or low (19-36). Inside bets have a higher house edge but pay out much more often, while outside bets have a lower payout but a better chance of winning.