Roullete (ruh-LEHT) is a casino game that involves a spinning wheel with various pockets and engraved numbers, a small ball, and a betting table. People wager on which number they think the ball will land on by laying down chips on the table, each bet type having its own payouts and odds of winning. Some bets are based on the color of the numbers, others on odd or even, and still other bets take aim at a particular grouping of numbers.

Roulette is a gambling game that was invented more than 300 years ago, in the 17th century by Blaise Pascal. His intention was to create a perpetual motion machine, but the game eventually gained popularity and was adopted by casinos.

A modern European/Latin American roulette wheel has 38 (or 37 on some American tables) separate divisions marked black or red, plus a 0 and 00. The croupier spins the wheel and rolls a small white ball into one of these slots. The players place their bets by laying down chips on a betting mat, with the precise placement of each bet indicating which number they are placing a bet on.

Before the dealer begins the next round, he or she announces “No More Bets” to signify that bets are closed and to prevent cheating. Then, he or she clears off the losing chips from the betting area and pays out winners. When this process is complete, the dealer will spin the wheel and throw the ball.

Once a bet is placed, the dealer spins the wheel in one direction while rolling a small ball around a tilted circular track that runs around the outside of the wheel. The ball will either drop into one of the numbered slots or into a “No Win” circle. If the ball lands in a No Win circle, the bet is lost; however, if it hits any of the other numbered bets, including the 0 and 00, the bet will win.

The most popular bet types in roulette are called “outside” bets because they’re easier to win and pay higher amounts when you do. They’re located in the outermost portions of the roulette table and are represented by rows or columns of chips. The house edge for these bets is lower than for inside bets, but it’s still higher than the overall probability of winning. Outside bets include bets on individual numbers, a specific range of numbers, or the colors of the numbers (red or black).