Roullete, or roulette, is a classic casino game that offers glamour, mystery and excitement to players. This fast-paced table game is easy enough for newcomers to learn but also offers a surprising level of depth and strategy for more experienced gamblers.

The simplest way to play roulette is to place bets on numbers or groupings of numbers. Alternatively, you can bet on colors (red and black) or whether the number is odd or even. Then, you wait for the dealer to spin the wheel and let the ball fall into one of the numbered slots. The odds are calculated according to the number of possible outcomes and the payouts for different bets.

Each roulette wheel has 37 compartments – alternately painted red and black – numbered from 1 to 36. A single green division on European wheels carries the number 0. On American tables, there is an additional 00 division.

The modern professional roulette ball is a small, lightweight ceramic disc that resembles ivory in appearance and feel. The material used to make the ball has a significant effect on its performance. The smaller and lighter ball makes more revolutions on the wheel, jumps more unpredictably and has more momentum than a bigger ivorine ball.

Before the roulette wheel spins, the player gives the dealer money and asks for “colour”. The dealer then hands out coloured chips valued at the minimum bet amount. After the first spin, winning bets are paid and losing ones cleared from the table. To maximize your chances of winning, start by wagering on outside bets rather than individual digits. It’s also important to set a budget before you start playing and to stick to it.