Roullete is a casino game that originated in France and has been played in casinos for hundreds of years. The game is credited to 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal and has since become one of the most popular games in the world.

A roulette wheel consists of a solid disk, slightly convex in shape, with thirty-six metal compartments (called frets or pockets by roulette croupiers) that are alternately painted red and black and numbered 1 through 36. On European wheels, there is a green division numbered 0, and on American tables, two additional green compartments numbered 0 and 00. A ball is spun around the wheel and, if the ball lands in any of these numbers, the player wins a prize.

While a bet on a single number is called a Straight-up, players can also place a Split, Corner or Street bet. Each of these bets consists of multiple numbers, and the odds on each are different. Straight bets pay out 1:1, split bets pay 2:1 and street bets pay 3:1. While the latter bets have higher payouts, they are more risky and have a higher house edge.

Before the ball is spun, bets are placed by laying chips on the table’s betting mat, with the precise placement of the chip indicating which number the player has chosen to wager on. The roulette table also has special terms for each of the various bets, and there are specific rules on how the numbers must line up in order to win.

When the ball is spun, the roulette dealer places it on a small metal disk known as a “puck” that sits on top of the spinning wheel. When the puck stops moving, the roulette dealer then announces that the next number is to be rolled and the betting begins.

Roulette has been a favorite among gamblers for centuries because of its simplicity and speed of play. It’s a fast-paced, exciting game that requires skill, luck and an understanding of probability. Those who bet on the winning number and follow a strategy that works for them can increase their chances of success and gain the best online roulette experience.