Roulette is a casino game that involves spinning a wheel to determine the outcome of a bet. Players can choose to bet on a single number, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black, or whether a number is odd or even. Some bets have a higher payout than others, depending on the odds of winning. There are several variations of roulette, including American, European, and French. Each has different rules and odds, so be sure to research the rules and house edge of each before playing.
The game is also known as The Devil’s Game, because when you add up all the numbers on the roulette wheel from 1 to 36, you get 666, which is said to be the number of the beast. It is also called a ‘game of chance’ because the results of each spin are entirely random and there is no strategy that will guarantee victory.
A player places chips on the table according to their desired bets. A dealer then spins the wheel in one direction while rolling a small ball in the opposite direction around the rim of the wheel. When the ball stops, the dealer will place a marker on the winning number. After the loser chips are cleared off of the table, winners are paid and the betting cycle begins again.
Before betting, players should set a budget for their session and stick to it. Each roulette table carries a placard that describes the minimum and maximum bets allowed. It is also important to choose a roulette table that offers the lowest house edge. ‘Inside bets’ (bets on individual numbers) have a much higher house edge than other bets, but they offer the best chances of hitting.
Outside bets (bets on a grouping of numbers) have a lower house edge but have a smaller payout. They include bets on red/black, odd/even, dozens, and columns.
A ‘Dozen Bet’ is a bet that one of the 12 groups of numbers on the roulette wheel will win. These groups correspond to paired numbers on the table layout and pay out at 2:1 odds. A ‘Colonne Bet’ is a bet on two of the three columns of numbers on the table layout and pays out 2 to 1. A ‘Six-Number/Line Bet’ is a bet that one or more of the six numbers grouped together will win. This bet pays out 17 to 1 and is also known as a ‘Cheval’ in French Roulette.