Roullete (pronounced rool-let) is one of the most popular casino table games worldwide. It is relatively easy for beginners to understand and offers a surprising amount of depth and strategy for serious players.
The game is played on a roulette wheel consisting of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with thirty-six metal compartments, called “canoes” by roulette croupiers, painted alternately red and black and numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. A 37th compartment, painted green and carrying the sign 0 on European-style wheels, and two green compartments for 00 on American-style ones are also found on some modern roulette wheels.
After players make their bets, the croupier (dealer) spins the roulette wheel and throws a small ball into it. If the ball lands on a winning number, the winner(s) are paid out according to their betting odds. Then, the losing bets are cleared off the table and the winning ones remain in play. Some players like to dip into their winnings for future bets, but this isn’t likely to improve the odds more than coincidentally. The best way to improve your chances is to start by betting on “outside bets” instead of individual numbers, which tend to have lower payouts.