Roulette, or Roullete as it is often referred to in France, is a game of chance that involves spinning a numbered wheel. A croupier sends a small ball into the wheel that spins until it lands on one of the numbers. Depending on which number the ball lands in, the player can win depending on their bet type. Bets can be placed on individual numbers, groups of numbers, the color red or black, whether it is odd or even and more.

The Game

The Roulette wheel is a solid wood disc slightly convex in shape with 37 or 38 pockets, depending on whether you play American or European. The pockets are painted alternately red and black, with the exception of 0 (and 00 on some American tables) which is green. The numbers are arranged in rows and columns on the wheel, but are not numbered consecutively, nor do they appear in groups of three or more.

There are two types of bets in Roulette: inside and outside bets. Inside bets are specific to a single number or group of numbers, while outside bets cover a larger category of numbers and have a higher payout but lower chances of winning.

Inside bets are typically better for new players and include classic bets like Red or Black and Odd or Even. Outside bets are more conservative wagers that pay out when the winning number is in one of the first 18 or last 18 numbers on the table.

Another outside bet is the Dozens Bet, known as douzaine in French. This bet assumes that the winning number is in either the first 12 (the first dozen) or the last 12 (the second or third dozen). The symmetries of the Roulette wheel are interesting because they lead to unique betting possibilites such as this, which offer a payout of 2-1.