The Basics of Roulette
Roulette is one of the oldest casino games, and it still offers glamour, mystery, and excitement to gamblers. It is simple enough for newcomers to play, and it can provide a surprising level of depth for serious players who employ the right strategy. Unlike many other casino games, the odds of winning are not dependent on luck and can be controlled by betting strategy.
Roulette originated in 17th century France and is thought to have evolved from two older games: Roly Poly, which involved predicting which numbered ticket would be pulled out of a bag; and Biribi, which had players bet on the outcome of a spinning wheel. The modern roulette wheel is made from a solid, slightly convex wooden disk with a smooth surface, and it contains thirty-six colored compartments (called frets by roulette croupiers) arranged in alternate red and black groups. The number 1 compartment is painted red, while the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are painted black. In addition, there is a green compartment labelled 0 on European-style wheels and an American-style wheel has two green compartments labeled 0 and 00.
There are a variety of roulette bets, but the best bets are outside bets on groups of numbers. These bets are cheaper than individual digits and have a higher likelihood of hitting. A beginner’s tip is to start with small bets, like a single chip on the end of a street (row) of three numbers. This will let you stretch your bankroll and try out various strategies without worrying about running out of money too quickly. It’s also a good idea to set aside a specific amount of money for the game before you begin playing so that you don’t spend it all at once.