Roulette has offered glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century, but this popular game can also be a drain on your wallet. The reason is that unlike most table games, the house edge in roulette is not proportional to the payouts. The house edge is based on the fact that there are 38 numbers (1 to 36, plus 0 and 00) while the number of combinations is limited to 37 or 38. This is why you should understand the odds and payouts of all bet types before you begin playing.
Roulette is a wheel-based game that has been in existence for over 300 years. It has been derived from the older French games hoca and portique. The modern roulette game is played on a wheel with numbered compartments and one or two zeroes, and the bets can be placed on single numbers, various groupings of numbers, red or black, odd or even, or high or low.
To play, a player puts chips on the table, indicating his or her desired bet. The dealer then spins the wheel and rolls a small ball into a section of the wheel. The ball then bounces around the wheel until it settles in one of the compartments containing a number. The player who has bet on that number wins. There are numerous fanciful stories about the origin of roulette, including that it was invented by the 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal and by a Dominican monk.
Once the ball has stopped spinning, the dealer pays the winners and clears the table. Players then place their bets for the next round. Before the ball is spun, the dealer often announces “no more bets!” To prevent late bets, players should wait until they hear this announcement and have the opportunity to move their chips to the correct position.
When it comes to betting, it is recommended that you start with outside bets (groupings of numbers). These have a lower house edge and offer higher payouts. Once you have a feel for the game, you can try inside bets, but they are much more risky and should only be used as an alternative to outside bets.
You don’t use normal casino chips when playing roulette, instead the dealers give you coloured roulette chips that represent your buy-in value. These are a convenient way for the dealer to keep track of your bets and separate your winnings from your losing bets. You can exchange your chips for regular casino chips at any time. If you wish to leave the table between spins, you can do so by placing your money on the table and asking for “colour”. The dealer will then give you chips that have a value equal to your buy-in.
