Roullete (French for little wheel) is one of the most popular casino games around, a game that offers glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers worldwide. The game is relatively simple to play, but has a surprising depth of strategy for serious betters. If you’re new to Roulette, we’ve got a quick and easy guide to help you understand all the basics of this popular game.
The game is played by spinning a roulette wheel and placing bets on what number or type of bet the ball will land in. There are many different types of bets, each with its own payouts. The highest payouts come from correctly guessing the exact number the ball will land on. The history of the game is a bit of a mystery, but it’s believed that it evolved from the games hoca and portique in 17th century France. The earliest written reference to the game is found in a gambling regulations document published in New France (now Quebec, Canada) in 1758.
The Roulette wheel consists of a solid disk slightly convex in shape, with a series of divisions around its circumference that are painted red and black in an alternate pattern. Thirty-six of these compartments are numbered consecutively from 1 to 36, while an additional green compartment is numbered 0. On European-style wheels the zero and two green numbers are color coded, while on American-style wheels they are marked 00.
Players place their bets by laying down chips on a special betting mat before the dealer spins the wheel. Each bet has its own pay table and odds. Bets on individual numbers are known as “inside bets,” while bets on groups of numbers are called “outside bets.” Depending on the layout of the betting mat, some numbers and groupings have higher or lower odds than others.
To make the most of your bankroll, it’s a good idea to start by placing smaller bets on outside bets. This will stretch your bankroll out and give you the chance to try a few strategies without worrying about running out of money before you get a winner. If you do win, be sure to cash out your winnings as soon as possible. Then, you can continue betting with your predetermined budget and avoid the temptation to dip into your winnings to make future bets.