Roullete is a game of chance, where players bet on which number a small ball will land when it drops into a revolving wheel. The game emerged in the 18th century and quickly became popular in casinos across Europe. Players place bets against the house by placing chips on a betting table map that corresponds with the compartments of a revolving wheel. A small ball is released in the opposite direction of the wheel, and bets are made on which red or black numbered compartment it will fall into as it comes to rest.
A revolving wheel, typically in the shape of a circle, contains thirty-six compartments painted alternately red and black and numbered one to 36 nonconsecutively. On European roulette wheels there is also a green division marked 0 and on American roulette wheels two additional green compartments, both numbered 00. The roulette wheel and table are surrounded by a metal frame called the “canoe” or “fret”, which prevents players from cheating by hiding devices under the table or inside the wheel.
In the modern game of roulette, a dealer spins the wheel and a small ball is dropped in a random direction. Bets are placed on the number that the ball will land in by laying chips down on the betting mat, and a marker signals that a bet has been placed. After the spin of the wheel, all losing bets are removed and winning wagers are paid out. In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is best to wait until the dealer announces “no more bets” to place any wagers.
The odds of winning a bet are determined by the type and location of the chip, as well as its value. Bets on individual numbers, known as “inside bets”, are more expensive and have a lower probability of winning than outside bets, which cover groups of numbers.
A player’s chances of winning are further increased if they use the La Partage rule, which applies to French roulette only and allows the dealer to split a loser’s even money bet in half, keeping half for themselves and giving the other to the player. This dramatically reduces the house edge on even money bets, from 2.70% without it to just 1.35% with it. The house edge on other bets, such as straight up, is higher at 5.26%.
