Roullete, or roulette, is a gambling game in which a small ball is released into a spinning revolving wheel and players place bets on the number (or color) in which it will fall when the spin stops. The game is popular among casino gamblers and has a long history. Many variations exist. The game has no fixed rules, but the most common bets are on a single number or various groupings of numbers. Other bets are on the color red or black, whether the number is odd or even, and if the numbers are high (19-36) or low (1-18).
In general, the odds of winning a bet depend on the type and size of the bet, but are not affected by any strategy. The house advantage is roughly 5.2%, meaning that, on average, a player will lose more than he or she wins. However, some bets offer a lower house edge than others, and savvy gamblers can use these to their advantage.
Despite its long history, roulette has relatively little popularity in the United States, where it is outpaced by video poker and blackjack. In Europe, however, it continues to draw large crowds. Moreover, it attracts gamblers who want to play at prestigious casinos such as Monte Carlo.
The roulette wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex wooden disk with a segmented surface lined with metal. Thirty-six of the compartments are painted alternately red and black, while a green compartment on European-style wheels, and a double-zero on American-style wheels, carry the signs 0 and 00. A croupier, or dealer, oversees the wheel and makes bets on behalf of players. The dealer will usually announce “No More Bets” to close betting for a particular round and then clear off the table, paying winners and setting up the wheel and table for the next round.