Roulette is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It has provided glamour, mystery and excitement to casinos since the 17th century. Despite being a simple game, it offers a surprising depth of strategy for serious betters. While it is easy to play and understand, there are certain things you should know before betting your entire bankroll on this exciting table game.
The Rules of Roulette
A roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with 36 compartments, or pockets, painted alternately red and black. On European-style wheels, a 37th pocket is green and carries the number 0. A spin of the wheel determines which number will be the winning one. The odds of the winning number are based on the type of bet placed. Bets can be placed on a single number, various groupings of numbers, odd or even, or whether the number is high or low.
To place a bet, players must place chips on the table for their preferred wager. They can bet a minimum of 1 chip and as many as 10 chips at once. When they are happy with their bets, the player must press a spin button. The wheel is then spun and the winning number is determined within seconds. The croupier then clears the losing bets and pays out winning bets according to the payout table. Winning chips remain on the table and are available to be bet again in subsequent rounds.
In addition to the bets described above, a player may choose to place bets on the Dozens, Odd or Even, or on a combination of two of the dozens. These bets offer even money, or a payout of 1:1. A player can also make a Line or Six-Number Bet, called sixain in French. This bet is similar to the Street Bet, except that the chips are placed on a horizontal line between two rows of numbers. The payout for this bet is 5-1.
It is important to be aware that roulette is a highly addictive game. If you are not careful, it is very easy to spend more than you can afford to lose. To avoid this, players should set their time and money limits before they begin playing. Also, they should never dip into their winnings to place additional bets. This will prevent them from making any costly mistakes and will also ensure that they can continue to have fun with the game for as long as possible.