Roullete (pronounced roul-LETS) is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It’s a game of chance with a simple set of rules and an ability to offer players a variety of betting options. But don’t let the simple rules fool you, roulette offers a surprising depth of strategy for serious bettors.

The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk, slightly convex in shape with a metal rim and compartments, called frets or pockets by croupiers. Thirty-six of these pockets, painted alternately red and black, are numbered 1-36. On European-style wheels a 37th pocket, painted green, carries the number 0. There are two additional green spaces on American-style wheels, marked with 0 and 00. The croupiers will tell you what the odds are on each type of bet, but the best way to learn is to play the game for real.

Roulette is played on a table that’s surrounded by a large grid displaying the wheel numbers. There are also areas for various groupsings of numbers, the color red or black and whether they’re high (19-36) or low (1-18). The simplest bet is a single number; this costs 1 chip and pays 35 chips. If the ball lands on your number, you’re a winner.

Each player gets a special set of colored roulette chips to distinguish him or her from the other players. This is a good idea, especially in live games, to help the dealer recognize who has won and give them their winnings. The dealer will clear off all losing bets before starting the next round of play. Winning bets are then parceled out to the players, who can then cash them in for normal casino chips.

The game of roulette has a reputation for glamour, mystery and excitement. Its origin is debated, with claims of it being invented by the 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal and by Dominican monks who brought it to France from China. In reality, it’s an old and popular game whose popularity increased with the development of illegal gambling dens in America. Today, the game is widely available online and in land-based casinos.