Roulette is a casino game involving a spinning wheel and a ball that comes to rest in one of the numerous divisions on the wheel. Players place bets on individual numbers, groupings of numbers, colors (red and black) and whether the number is odd or even.

Players bet by placing chips on a special betting mat where they have specific positions. Before the spin of the wheel, players announce their bets and then wait to see what happens. The number that hits determines the winning bets and also a specific amount of money to be paid out.

Each player receives a unique color of chips which helps to identify them from other players and the dealer. The chips do not have any value outside of the roulette table and are only used for placing bets. When a win occurs, the dealer marks the winning number with a marker and then pays out the bets to those who have made them. The losing bets are then cleared off the table and new bets can be placed.

The game of roulette has a long history. It is believed to have been invented in the 17th century by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal and was then adopted by gambling dens and casinos around the world. The game has been a popular pastime for many different people and has been the subject of numerous studies by mathematicians and scientists who have tried to come up with systems that will help to predict the outcome of the game.

In addition to the traditional bets on single numbers, players can also place bets on groups of numbers, colors and other characteristics of the numbers such as their proximity to each other or if they are high or low. There are also special bets called announced bets which are not found in every roulette game. These bets are placed on the racetrack betting area and cover a group of numbers. They can pay out up to 35:1 if they hit.

Roulette is a very simple game to play, although there are many strategies that can be applied to improve the chances of winning. The house edge varies depending on the type of wheel and table being used. American double-zero roulette games have the highest house edge while European single-zero games have the lowest. There are also different rules within each roulette game that can increase or decrease the house edge, such as en prison and la partage. Despite this, the game of roulette remains a simple and fun way to spend time at the casino.