Roullete is a casino game in which players place bets on individual numbers, groups of numbers or the color red or black. It is played on a spinning wheel and has a variety of betting options. It is one of the oldest and most popular casino games, especially in Europe.
In its current form, roulette dates to the late 1790s, when it emerged in gambling dens throughout France and then spread to America. The game has a wide range of bets and a house edge that can vary widely depending on the specific rules, wheel and table layout.
A croupier spins a solid wood disk slightly convex in shape with metal compartments, called frets or canoes, around the circumference. Thirty-six of the compartments are painted alternately red and black, while a tenth is green and carries the number 0. A 0 and a double-zero are placed on opposite sides of the wheel.
The dealer then places a small ball in the opposite direction of the spindle on a tilted circular track that runs around the outside of the wheel. If the ball lands in a compartment, winning bets are paid out according to their odds of success. Inside bets are generally more profitable than outside bets, but they have a higher house edge.
A seasoned player can lower the house edge by making smart bets and avoiding risky ones. The best way to do that is to know your bet types and their odds. If you are not familiar with them, review the bets and odds before laying your chips down.