A game of chance played on a circular table marked off in sections with numbers from 1 to 36, including one or two zeros and various other bets and having in the center a revolving dishlike device called a roulette wheel into which a ball is spun to come to rest finally in one of the compartments. It is played by one or more players, each placing a bet on a number, groups of numbers, colors, etc. It is a game of skill and chance, and there is no strategy which can guarantee to win.
The game of roulette is a favorite of gamblers and it is often seen in casino floors and gambling dens. While there are many fanciful stories about its origin, the game is believed to be descended from the older games hoca and portique, invented in the 17th century by French mathematician Blaise Pascal in his quest for a perpetual motion machine. Some historians believe it dates back further to ancient China, where a similar game was played with 37 animal figurines.
There are several different types of roulette bets and it is important to understand which ones offer the best odds. For instance, if you bet on inside bets (bets that cover a smaller group of numbers) your chances of winning are much higher than outside bets. But it is also a good idea to spread your bets out, as this will reduce the variance of the outcomes.
Another important thing to remember is that you cannot place any bets if the dealer has announced “no more bets!” This prevents cheating by preventing players from betting on numbers which are about to come up, as the wheels are locked after this announcement.
Before you start playing, it is important to familiarize yourself with the table map and rules of the game. It is also a good idea to know the procedure for how a round of roulette works so that you can optimize your time to bet. After the dealer clears the table and pays the winners, play begins. The dealer will spin the wheel and throw a ball into one of the compartments. If it lands in the green section, all even-money bets will lose, and vice versa. The house edge is about 2.70% with this rule in effect, and 1.35% without it.