What is Roulette?

Roulette is a casino game played with a ball on a rotating wheel. Players can choose to place bets on a single number, various groups of numbers, the color red or black, and whether the number is odd or even.

The table is arranged into two sections: the inside and outside areas. The inside area has numbered squares that are either red or black, while the outside areas have boxes covering a broader range of numbers – like odd and even.

After the player has placed their bets, the dealer spins the wheel in one direction and then rolls a small ball in the opposite direction around a tilted circular track that runs around the edge of the wheel. Once the ball has come to a stop, the dealer announces, ‘No more bets!’ This prevents players from placing bets as the wheel is about to stop and helps to avoid cheating or additional advantages. If the ball lands in a pocket that is marked with a number, then the player wins.

Until recently, roulette balls were made of real ivory. However, they are now often made from resin, Teflon or ceramic. These materials are lighter and have a slightly different shape than ivory, which means the ball makes more revolutions on the wheel before it settles. Those extra revolutions can cause the ball to jump more unpredictably, making it harder to predict where it will land.

As a result, the house edge in roulette is lower than it was when the game first emerged. It is still higher than in other casino games, such as blackjack, but much lower than in keno and video poker.

A player’s best bet is to place an inside bet, which is a wager on a specific number or grouping of numbers. These bets have a much lower house edge than outside bets, and offer a more predictable outcome. The payouts for inside bets are also higher than for other bets, which helps offset the higher house edge. Another way to decrease the house edge is by utilizing the La Partage rule, which splits even-money bets in half.