Roullete (French for small wheel) is a casino game that combines chance with strategy and a little bit of luck. The game is played on a circular table with numbered compartments that alternate between red and black, with one green number marked 0. Bets are made by placing chips on the betting mat. Players wager against the house, and each bet can win at different odds depending on whether the winning number is a single one, various groupings of numbers or colors, or the fact that a number is high (19-36) or low (1-18).

In the early 1800s, French mathematician Blaise Pascal designed a spinning disk called a rotator, which was supposed to create an infinite series of numbers. His invention, however, did not work as he had intended and ended up producing a random number sequence that was far from perfect. To avoid cheating, a wheel with a single red and black section, as well as the addition of a second green zero for American tables, made it more difficult to manipulate the game and its outcome.

Before each round begins, the dealer places a marker on the losing bets and clears the table. Then, the croupier spins the wheel and a ball is rolled around it. Once the ball comes to rest in a pocket, the croupier removes all of the losing chips from the table and pays out winning bets according to the payout table. Winning bets are then placed in the appropriate positions on the table map, and play resumes with the croupier placing a new marker on the winning number.

The game is very simple to learn, and there are many strategies that can be employed by experienced players. However, novices are urged to avoid making grandiose or complicated bets and instead focus on the simplest, most likely-to-hit bets, such as outside bets. In addition, novices are advised to start with a budget and to never use their winnings for future bets.

There are two main types of roulette bets: inside and outside. The former consists of bets on individual numbers, which must be made by placing chips directly on the appropriate numbers on the roulette table. Outside bets cover groups of numbers, such as the Dozens or Columns, and offer lower payouts but a higher chance of winning.

Players can also choose to place bets on the color of the winning number – either red or black. This bet pays out even money, and is the ideal bet for a beginner. Players can also make a more complicated bet, such as the Dozens or Corner bet, which are both a type of outside bet. The Dozens bet covers the first 12 numbers and the Corner bet covers the four numbers that form a square on the roulette table. Both these bets are a good way to increase the chances of winning but will require a greater investment than other outside bets. In general, outside bets pay out more often than inside bets.