Roullete, which means little wheel in French, is a casino game in which players bet on the color or number of a numbered compartment of a rotating roulette wheel. The game has a long history and many different bets can be placed, with varying odds for winning. Unlike many casino games, Roulette is fast paced and easy to learn, making it a great option for beginners. However, Roulette has enough betting options that experienced gamblers can enjoy it too.
The game is played on a table that features a curved racetrack for the ball to travel around and a layout of numbers, reds, and blacks, as well as several groups of numbers (the Dozens, the Columns, the Sixes). The Roulette wheel itself consists of a solid wooden disk, slightly convex in shape, with thirty-six colored and numbered compartments, painted alternately red and black, and two green ones on European-style wheels that carry the 0 and 00 symbols. The croupier, who is in charge of the game, spins the wheel while bettors place their chips on the table.
After the croupier releases the ball, winners are awarded according to their bets. The house edge for each bet varies according to the type of wheel and the bet. The house edge for straight-up bets is the highest and the payouts are the smallest, as are those on numbers within the first or second dozen.
Roulette has the smallest following of all table games in America, a far cry from its popularity in Europe, where it is one of the mainstays of Monte Carlo and other casinos. It is in danger of being passed by newer games such as video poker, blackjack and even baccarat. A quick search of the internet will reveal millions of systems for playing and supposedly winning at roulette, but the fact is that no betting system can overcome the built-in house edge in this game of pure chance. However, a player can limit his exposure to the house edge by avoiding the worst bets and playing at less crowded tables.