Roullete – the name means “little wheel” in French – is one of the most popular casino games. Its popularity stems from its simplicity and reliance on luck, which makes it both easy to learn and extremely exciting to play. This simple game has spawned a number of theories, methods and systems designed to improve a player’s odds of winning. However, while some may work to a certain extent, the only real way to beat Roulette is to know when to stop betting and walk away.
The Roulette wheel is a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with thirty-six compartments painted alternately red and black. A single zero is painted green on European wheels; the American version has two green compartments marked 0 and 1. The wheel spins in a smooth, frictionless manner on a bearing or ball track.
Roulette players bet against the house, placing chips on a table that correspond with the compartments on the wheel. When the wheel slows down and the ball is about to drop into a compartment, players make their final bets. Each bet is paid off at different odds based on the type of bet and where it is placed on the table.
Prior to the actual spinning of the ball, players place their bets by laying them down on a betting mat, with precise locations for each bet. Each bet has specific payouts; bets on six numbers or less are called Inside bets while those on 12 or more are known as Outside bets. Each table usually has a placard that explains the minimum and maximum bets.
In the past, roulette tables were covered to prevent cheating. However, this practice eventually fell out of favor in Europe due to the widespread use of mechanical devices to influence the outcome of the spins. In the United States, the game was adapted in gambling dens and casinos to eliminate the cover and develop a simpler betting pattern.
When playing roulette, it is important to set a budget before starting to bet. This is not only to avoid losing your money, but also to help you keep the game in perspective and remember that it is a game of chance. A good idea is to choose a table within your budget and start with the outside bets since they are generally cheaper and have a higher likelihood of winning.
The Roulette ball used to be made of ivory, but now it is manufactured using resin or Teflon. The difference in dimensions and weight between the original and modern ball have a noticeable effect on how the game plays. The smaller, lighter ball makes more revolutions on the wheel and jumps around more unpredictably before it lands on a number than a bigger, heavier ivorine ball.
