Roullete is one of the most popular casino games in the world and offers glamour, mystery, and excitement to casino-goers. Although it may seem simple on the surface, the game has a surprising level of depth for serious betters and with the right strategy can reap high rewards.
The game is played on a roulette wheel which consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with 36 separate compartments, alternately painted red and black and numbered 1-36. A single green division carries the number 0 on European wheels, and two of these compartments are labelled 00 on American wheels. The wheel is spun around and the ball is dropped into a slot. If the ball lands in your wagerred number, you win.
Roulette has been in use at casinos and gambling dens since the 17th century, and its popularity is due to its simplicity and high winning probabilities. Many variants of the game have been developed, including multi-wheel and live dealer variations. The most popular variation is European roulette, which has a single zero and lower house edge than its American counterpart.
Before each round begins, the dealer clears the table of any losing bets and then allows players to place their chips on the desired numbers. The chips have no value away from the roulette table and are used exclusively for betting, so it is recommended that players separate their winning bets from their other ones. When a winning bet is made, the dealer will place a marker on the winning number and remove the losing bets from the table. In the case of a straight-up bet, the player’s wagered 40 chips are paid out in full, and in the absence of any request to the contrary, the remaining stake is left up for another chance on the next spin.
The house edge for even chip bets is low in the European version of the game, and it is lower still if you play the French variation, which features the en prison and la partage rules. These laws allow players to recover half of their lost even chip bets if the ball lands in zero, and they significantly reduce the house’s edge.