Roullete, also known as Roulette is a casino game of chance. It involves a spinning wheel with compartments that alternate red and black, with a single zero (or double zero on American tables). A ball is placed inside the wheel and as it rotates it will fall into one of the compartments. The player makes a bet on which number or grouping of numbers the ball will land in, with various betting combinations offering different odds and payouts.

It is a simple game to learn but understanding the betting table and house edge is vital for any player to maximise their chances of success. Bet types vary from a single number or small groups to more complex bets covering multiple numbers, colours or symmetries. The more numbers a bet covers, the lower the odds but higher the payouts.

The history of roulette dates back more than 300 years to the end of the 17th century, when French mathematician Blaise Pascal invented it as part of his quest to create a perpetual motion machine. The game’s popularity soon grew, and it was adopted in Europe by many casinos and gambling houses.

Players place bets by laying chips on the betting table, the precise location of each chip signifying its bet. They must also agree with the croupier about the amount they wish to bet, which is called a ‘color’. Each table has a placard describing the minimum and maximum bets allowed, and this should be read carefully before placing any chips.

When a bet is made, the croupier places a marker (called a ‘dolly’) on the winning number on the layout, removes losing bets and pays all winners. The croupier may also offer the player the chance to make additional bets, which are called ‘announced bets’. These are special betting combinations that can only be made on certain tables and are not found in all online versions of the game.

Announced bets are most commonly found in French Roulette though they are now often available in online European Roulette variants too. A common bet is ‘5 and the neighbours’, which covers numbers 5, 24, 16, 10, and 23. To place this bet, the player must use the special racetrack betting section and you will find this on most European Roulette games but not all. This type of bet pays out 35 to 1 and has a low house edge. It is therefore a good option for reducing your exposure to the house edge but does not guarantee a win. A bet on ‘0 and the neighbours’ has a much better chance of winning but will cost more to cover, and will have a higher house edge. For this reason, it is not recommended for players who are on a tight budget. This is why it is a good idea to set a budget before playing, and to bet within that limit at all times.