Roulette is one of the most popular casino games and is found in almost every land based or online gambling establishment. The game is a simple one where players attempt to predict which slot on the roulette wheel the ball will come to rest in, betting on a number or groups of numbers. While the game is purely based on luck, there are several strategies that can be used to maximize your chances of winning.
The Roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with an outer rim that is divided into thirty-six small compartments or pockets, painted alternately red and black. A further two green compartments, marked 0 on European wheels and 00 on American wheels, are located on opposite sides of the central portion. The compartments are separated by metal separators or frets which allow the croupier to place bets on various groupings of numbers, colors and odds/evens.
A ball, normally made from ivory although today they are often made of resin or Teflon, is spun around the wheel track by the croupier and landed in one of the pocket holes. The varying dimensions, weight and material of the ball has an effect on the spin dynamics which in turn affects the probability of hitting a specific pocket.
Before the ball is spun, players place their bets on a specially designated roulette table with French or English terms on the betting mat indicating the type of bet being placed. Bets on six numbers or less are called “Inside bets” while those on 12 numbers or more are referred to as “Outside bets”.
The dealer clears the table of losing bets and pays the winners prior to starting the next round. When playing Roulette it is best to wager on the Outside bets as these are cheaper and have a higher probability of hitting. However, remember that roulette is a game of chance and despite the many theories on how to beat it, there are no systems that can reliably turn a subfair game into a profitable one.
