Roulette is a game of chance that has offered glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th Century. While the rules of the game are relatively simple, it has a surprising depth of strategy that can be employed by serious betters to reap high rewards.

Players place bets on a single number, various groupings of numbers, red or black, odd or even, high or low on a numbered wheel that spins in the center of a roulette table. A small ball is thrown onto the revolving roulette wheel and as it spirals around, it comes to rest in one of the compartments that are marked on the wheel with alternating red and black and a green zero (on American tables there are two extra green divisions numbered 0).

Once all bets are placed and the dealer clears away winning chips from the table, play begins. The first thing to do is choose a betting area on the table map. Each roulette table carries a placard that describes the minimum and maximum bets allowed. The table maps have specific areas for inside and outside bets. Inside bets have a lower minimum but higher maximum than the outside bets, which pay out 2-1 and have much less of a probability of hitting.

To make a bet, players give the dealer money by placing it on the table and asking for “colour.” The dealer gives back coloured roulette chips equal in value to the amount given. The player then places these chips on the betting table in the appropriate spots. Between spins, the dealer removes all losing bets from the table and pays the winners. If the player’s chosen number wins, they are then left with their wagered 40 chips to possibly win again on the next spin of the wheel.