How to Play Roulette

Roulette has brought glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. The game is simple enough for the beginner but also provides a surprising level of depth and reward for serious players. It is not uncommon for people to try out different variations of the game, but we’d recommend sticking to the most popular – American and European Roulette.

Roulette is played on a table that’s set up for the game with a special wheel. This wheel contains thirty-six compartments that are painted alternately red and black, with an additional green pocket labeled 0 on American tables. The wheel is spun by a croupier, and the ball is placed inside a cylinder that’s attached to the spindle. The wheel’s divisions are then spun until the ball comes to rest in one of the compartments.

The first step in roulette is to decide what type of bet you want to make. While there are many options, the best bets to place are those that have a high win-to-stake ratio. The highest of these is a straight-up bet on a single number, which pays 35 times your bet. Other good bets to place include a split bet on two numbers and a corner bet on five numbers.

When you’ve decided what kind of bet you want to make, it’s time to place your chips on the table. You’ll use special roulette chips that are colored differently from standard casino chips to differentiate between your bets. The dealer will then clear the losing chips from the table and pay out winners. The winning chips are then placed back on the table and the process starts over.

When you’re ready to cash out, you simply put your roulette chips on the table in front of the dealer. They’ll indicate how much each chip is worth and then give you normal casino chips in return. Don’t forget that your roulette chips have no value away from the table. You’ll need to cash out your winnings before leaving the table. This will help to avoid the temptation of making more bets with your roulette chips after you’ve won.