Roulette is one of the most popular casino games worldwide, offering a thrilling way to win real money. It was first played in the late 1700s in Paris and by the 20th century had spread throughout the world.

The game consists of a wheel containing a series of pockets that are divided by metal partitions, called separators or frets. The player places chips on the layout to place a bet before the dealer rolls the wheel. The croupier then spins the wheel and drops the ball into the pocket corresponding with the number placed on the chip.

There are several different bets available to players, including inside and outside bets. Inside bets are made on a specific grouping of numbers, while outside bets are made on various positional groups of pockets.

If you are unsure which bets to make, it’s a good idea to learn about the different types of bets before making a wager. Some of the more common bets include:

High or Low Bet (also known as passe et manque in French)

The high or low bet is a bet on any of the first 18 numbers (1-18) or any of the last 18 (19-36). This bet offers even money, and has a payout of 1-1.

Odd or Even bets are also available, and these involve wagering on whether the winning number is odd or even. This bet has a payout of 2-1, and can be made on either the first or the last 18 numbers.

Split bets are another type of roulette bet, and they are also known as cheval in French. These bets involve placing a single chip to straddle the line between two numbers on the layout.

Street bets are similar to the straddle bet, but instead of a single chip, they involve placing multiple chips on a row of three consecutive numbers. These bets are sometimes referred to as the three-number bet, side bet, or transversal.

There are also bets on colors, and these involve wagering that the ball will land in a particular color. The color red is most commonly seen on roulette tables, but black is a common alternative.

In addition to traditional European and American-style roulette wheels, there are many new variations of the game being introduced by online casinos. These variations offer a variety of options for bettors, and often have a lower house edge than traditional versions.

Before you can play the game, you need to have a set of roulette chips on hand. Each player receives a unique color of chip to help differentiate them from other bettors. Once you have your chips, you can then place them on the table, and let the croupier know how much you want to bet before the dealer spins the wheel.

Once the ball lands on a number, the dealer will place a marker on that number. Afterwards, the losing bets will be cleared off the table and the winners will be paid out.