Roullete, or the game of roulette, is a casino game where players place bets on which number (or groups of numbers) on a revolving wheel will come to rest when it comes to an end. The game is famous for its glamour and mystery, and a well-developed betting strategy can reap high rewards.
Founded more than 300 years ago by Frenchman Blaise Pascal, the invention of a rotating disk with numbered compartments revolutionized gambling. The roulette wheel has become a popular pastime throughout the world, in part due to its simplicity. However, the game also offers a surprising depth for serious betters.
To play, a player places chips on the table map, which shows where each bet can be placed. The croupier then spins the wheel and throws a ball into it. If the ball lands on a bet, the winnings are paid out according to the odds.
There are two types of bets in roulette: outside and inside bets. Outside bets cover a larger category of numbers and are typically cheaper, while inside bets focus on specific numbers. Outside bets include red or black, odd or even, and first, second or third dozen. Inside bets are more specific, and the odds of winning are much higher.
The revolving wheel has thirty-six compartments, painted alternately red and black and numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. There is a green section on European wheels that carries the number 0 and on American wheels, two green sections that carry the numbers 00 and 0.
Once the wheel stops, the ball will drop into one of the compartments. If the player has placed a bet on the number, its color, whether it is odd or even, or on one of the value ranges, they win.
While the odds of a specific number hitting are fixed, there are symmetries between the different parts of the wheel that can be exploited. For example, all the low red and high black numbers are on one side of the zero, while all the first twelve numbers are in a corresponding group on the other side (the second dozen). This means that it is possible to beat the maths by placing a bet on these groups.