Roullete Basics

Roullete is a casino game in which players place wagers on a series of numbers on a roulette wheel. Bets are made by placing chips on a special table mat, with the exact placement of each chip indicating the bet being placed. The Roulette ball, which is spun in the opposite direction of the wheel, bounces off the walls and lands in one of the 37 or 38 compartments on the wheel, displaying either red or black or odd or even. Players can also make a bet on several groups of numbers, known as outside bets.

Prior to the wheel spinning, players can choose what type of bet they want to make. Each roulette table has a placard that lists the minimum and maximum bets. Players should always bet within their budget. It is recommended that new players start by making “outside” bets, which cover an entire category of numbers and are generally less costly than inside bets.

Originally, the roulette wheel consisted of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape and surrounded by metal partitions or frets, each painted alternately red and black, and with the exception of a single zero (called a double zero on American wheels) or two green ones (on European wheels). A small ball is spun in the opposite direction of the wheel and lands in one of the thirty-six black and white compartments on the wheel, which carry the numerals 1 through 36.

In the early days of roulette, players could bet on individual digits, but the game later developed a number of groupings of numbers based on their position on the wheel. Some of these are known as “called” bets, while others are fixed and standardized, such as red or black and high (19-36) or low (1-18).

The ball used in roulette games is typically made from ivory. However, today’s professional roulette balls are often made from resin, Teflon or ceramics, with the latter being considered the best material to use since it is lightweight, smooth and provides an even bounce. The weight and material of the ball has a major impact on the game, with a smaller, light ceramic ball jumping more unpredictably than a larger ivorine one. The differences in the materials also affect how fast the ball travels around the track.