Roulette is a casino game in which players place chips on the table to bet on a number, various groupings of numbers or the color red or black. The game spread expeditiously from its birthplace in the late 1700s in Paris, France and is now found in virtually every land-based and online casino. There are three main roulette variations – American, European and French. Each has subtle differences that players need to be aware of when playing the game.
The game is played on a large tabletop with a circular wheel and betting grid. A standard roulette wheel contains thirty-six compartments, painted alternately red and black and numbered non-consecutively from 1 to 36. A green section, labelled 0 on European-style wheels and 00 on American ones, is also present. A croupier, usually dressed in red, spins the wheel while the audience watches.
In addition to the numbered sections of the wheel, roulette tables contain other betting options as well. These include outside and inside bets. Outside bets are those placed on the options located around the edge of the table and typically have a lower probability of winning than inside bets. Inside bets are those placed on the numbered areas of the grid and pay out at higher odds. The most common of these bets are straight, split, corner and basket bets.
A roulette game may be daunting to new players due to its French terminology and rules. However, it is worth persevering to learn the game since it offers a higher chance of winning than its American counterpart. Specifically, it has a single zero pocket which dramatically reduces the house edge to an insanely low 1.35% (vive la France!) In addition to this, there are two rules within the game that make it even more lucrative; la partage and en prison.