Roulette is a casino game in which players place bets on the outcome of a spinning wheel. The wheel has different sections, including one or more zeros and various groupings of numbers that allow for a variety of betting options. A player can choose to bet on a single number or several numbers within a grouping, the color of the number (red or black), whether the number is odd or even, and more.

The name is derived from the French word for “little wheel.” There are many theories on its origin, including 17th-century mathematician Blaise Pascal and a Dominican monk. It became a popular casino game in Europe during the 18th century and is now played at casinos around the world.

Online roulette games are available for both real money and play money. Players can use play money to try out the game and practice before wagering with actual money. Some online casinos also offer live dealer roulette, where players can interact with a human dealer while playing the game in real time.

To play roulette, a player places chips on a betting mat in the area of the table where they want their bets to go. There are typically two types of bets: inside and outside bets. Inside bets include straight, split, and corner bets. Outside bets include street, oval, and basket bets.

Each number on a roulette wheel is separated by metal partitions called separators or frets. These compartments are painted alternately red and black, with the numbers 1 through 36 arranged in nonconsecutive order on one side of the wheel and zero and 00 on the other. A single number bet pays 35 chips if it wins. The house edge for American roulette is higher than that of European roulette because of the addition of a green pocket for 0 and 00.

If you’re interested in playing roulette, you should make sure to play European or French roulette rather than the American version at an online casino. These versions have a lower house edge than the American version, but the differences are small. Some casinos also offer a rule known as “la partage,” in which any bet that loses to a zero is returned half-way, lowering the house edge on even-money bets to just 1.35%.

While there are many systems of playing roulette that claim to increase a player’s chances of winning, the truth is that no betting system can overcome the fact that the game is a simple game of chance and depends on luck. However, some people are able to consistently win money from roulette by seeking out rigged wheels and placing bets against the largest bets placed in the same section of the wheel.