Roullete is a classic casino game that has been entertaining players since the 17th century. It’s a simple game with few rules, but it offers an unexpected level of depth for serious betters. The best strategy for roulette is to play conservatively, making bets on categories of numbers instead of specific digits.

A roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape, with a revolving spindle and compartments or pockets painted alternately red and black. On European wheels, a single zero is painted green; on American roulette, a double-zero is painted red. A croupier (or dealer) spins the wheel and a ball into one of the compartments. If the ball lands in your chosen number, you win!

To begin, the croupier clears the table and allows players to make their bets. Once all bets have been placed, the croupier throws the ball into a spinning wheel. The ball will eventually land in a pocket that corresponds with a particular number on the roulette layout. The croupier then awards winning bettors their normal casino chips.

There are many theories surrounding the origin of roulette. One popular theory is that it was invented in 17th-century France by a mathematician named Blaise Pascal. Another is that the game was brought to France from Ancient China by Dominican monks. Whichever is true, it’s important to understand how the game works before you play it.

When you place a bet on the outside of the table, you’re wagering that the winning number will be in either the first dozen (12 numbers) or the second (12 numbers). This bet pays out 2-1. You can also bet on the first or last 18 numbers, which pays out 1-1.

When you place a chip on a line bet, it’s called a six-number bet or sixline in French. This bet places your chip(s) to straddle the horizontal line between two rows. If this bet wins, the payout is 5-1.