Roulette is a casino game in which players bet on the outcome of a spin of a wheel containing numbers. There are many different betting combinations in the game that bring different odds of winning and payouts when a bet is successful. These betting combinations can be placed in various groups of numbers and are known as Inside, Outside, and Special bets.
The game originated in France and is widely played at casinos worldwide. Its name derived from a French word meaning little wheel and is believed to have been invented by 17th century mathematician Blaise Pascal. Its present table and wheel layout was developed in the 18th century. It has become a popular game in online casinos.
There are numerous theories about how the game works, but it is ultimately a matter of luck. Players place their chips on a betting mat and the precise placement of the chips indicates the bet being made. The game is of French origin and most tables use a betting mat with French terms, but in the US there are tables that use English language terms and a slightly different style of mat. Bets on six or less numbers are referred to as “Inside bets” and those on 12 numbers or more are called “Outside bets”.
The wheel is composed of thirty-six compartments, painted alternately red and black and numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. A croupier, who is also called a steward, spins the wheel and a ball into motion around its edge. When the ball comes to rest, it will appear in one of the compartments. On European-style wheels, there is a single zero compartment and on American games there are two green zero compartments.
Each player is given a specific color of chips to differentiate their bets from others, and this can be helpful in separating spouses. All losing bets are cleared off the table before new rounds of play begin. When a winning bet is placed, the dealer places a marker on it and pays out the winner.
Some gamblers claim to have a system for beating the game of roulette, but there is no evidence that any gambling strategy can overcome the house edge. Some systems involve a series of bets that are designed to make the game more profitable, but this can quickly devolve into unprofitable speculation.