Roulette is one of the most popular casino games and it has been providing glamour, mystery and excitement to casino goers since the 17th Century. The game is relatively easy to play but it does offer a surprising level of depth for serious betters and the right strategy can reap high rewards.
Players bet on the color, number or grouping of numbers they think the ball will land on when the croupier throws the roulette ball into the spinning wheel. Players may also make a bet on whether the ball will hit the zero, which is known as a double zero in American roulette, or any of the other odd-even, red or black symmetries. The roulette wheel itself consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with a metal rim that holds thirty-six compartments painted alternately red and black, and numbered non-consecutively from 1 to 36. A green compartment carries the number 0, while two additional pockets on opposite sides carry the signs for the single and double zero, respectively.
When a ball comes to rest in a pocket, the croupier marks the winning number or betting section on the table, pays out winning bets and clears off the losing chips. If the ball lands in a winning area the player must then place their winning bets in the same way as they would have placed their original bets on the last decision. In most casinos winning bets are returned to the player and any remaining chips are left up for the next round of wagering.
As with any casino game, the croupiers and dealers are highly trained to keep the house edge as low as possible. However, there are a great many systems that are claimed to improve the odds of winning – some simple and others complex. Some of these methods have been banned by casinos, while others are not.
The most important thing to remember when playing roulette is to be aware of the house edge and never be tempted to exceed your bankroll. It is also a good idea to cash out winnings as soon as you have them, rather than continuing to bet with them. The quickest and easiest way to do this is to ask the dealer to “drop the puck” when the game is between decisions. She will then indicate how much each of your winning chips is worth, parcel them out and you can continue betting with the value you had planned on before the win. This will also help ensure that you do not overspend and run out of money before the end of your session.