Roullete is a casino game played by placing bets on the outcome of a spin of a numbered wheel. A small ball is spun around the wheel and when it stops in a numbered slot, the player wins. Players may bet on a single number, various groups of numbers, the colour red or black, whether the number is odd or even, and so forth. It is a simple game with surprisingly sophisticated depth and can offer substantial rewards for serious betters.

The roulette wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex disk with metal partitions – called frets or separators by croupiers – which create thirty-six compartments numbered 1 to 36, alternately in red and black. The outer rim of the wheel contains two green compartments labeled 0 and 00 on European-style wheels, and a single extra green compartment on American wheels. The wheel is spindled by a central hub with the same precision as a fine watch, and it is carefully balanced to produce a perfectly smooth rotation.

Before the wheel is spun, players place their bets by laying down chips on the table. The precise location of each chip indicates the bet being made. Bets on six or less numbers are known as “Inside bets”, while those on 12 or more are called “Outside bets”.

Before the start of a game, it is good to set a budget and choose a table within your limits. It is also important to understand the different types of bets and their respective odds. In particular, you should never bet on a zero or double zero as they pay out at 6 to 1, and this reduces your odds of winning. After a round has finished, the dealer will clear all losing bets off the table and then pay the winners. It is a good idea to cash out your winnings as quickly as possible and not to dip into them for future bets.