The Basics of Roulette

Roulette is a casino game that offers glamour, mystery and excitement to players. The basic rules are simple, and even beginners can enjoy the game. The game can also be very complex for the more serious player, with many different betting options and variations. But if you want to win at roulette, you need to know the basics first.

The name of the game derives from its French translation: little wheel. It has long been a popular casino game, and its popularity worldwide is due to the fact that it’s an easy-to-play game with very high rewards. In order to play, you must place a bet on the number or type of numbers you think will come up when the croupier spins the wheel. A specialized table is used, with various sections affording the players a variety of betting opportunities.

In the center of the table is a revolving, dishlike device (the roulette wheel) into which a small ball is spun to come to rest finally in one of the 37 or 38 compartments that mark the different numbers on the wheel. The rim of the wheel is divided into several dozen compartments, painted alternately red and black, with one or two green compartments (on American-style wheels, these are labeled 0 and 00). Between each of these sections are metal separators, called frets or dividers by roulette croupiers.

Once you’ve placed your bets, the croupier will spin the wheel and throw the ball into one of the pockets that indicate a particular number or type of number. When the ball stops, if your bet was correct, you will win money. The game is based purely on chance, so you must learn to accept that you might lose some bets.

The Announced Bets

The announced bets are special betting combinations that you can place on the roulette table, and they are mostly found in French roulette games. These bets have French names, and you must understand them in order to use them properly. The first bet is the Dozens Bet, or Douzaine in French. This bet covers the first, second or third dozens on the layout and pays 2-1. Another bet is the Odd or Even Bet, which covers all of the odd numbers or all of the even numbers, excluding the 0 and 00. This bet pays out 1:1. Finally, the Split Bet or A cheval in French, places your chip(s) to straddle a line between two adjacent numbers on the layout and pays 17-1.