Roullete, or Roulette, is one of the world’s most famous casino games. It’s played at land-based and online casinos across the globe and relies on chance to determine the outcome. The game’s popularity has seen a number of variants, each with its own set of rules and odds.

While the game’s origins are shrouded in mystery, it is believed to have been invented by 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal. It later gained popularity in illegal gambling dens and then spread to Europe’s legal casinos. From there it made its way to the United States and then around the world.

The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk, slightly convex in shape, with metal partitions, called frets or separators, that separate the thirty-six red and black compartments from a single green zero compartment on European-style wheels, and two green zero compartments on American-style wheels. The wheel spins on a metal spindle that’s perfectly balanced and the ball drops into one of the compartments when the wheel comes to a stop.

Roulette has a wide range of betting options, including the popular column and dozens bets. It also offers a variety of side bets, which can add up to a huge payout if successful. However, players should be cautious as these bets are generally very risky.

The house edge of roulette bets varies depending on the type of bet and the table. The best option is to play European roulette, which has a lower house edge than the American version and can magnify your winning probabilities.

If you’re a new player, it’s recommended that you start with an outside bet. Outside bets are placed on options found on the outer section of the board and have a lower probability of winning but higher payouts. These include the street bet, which pays 35 to 1, and the corner bet, which pays 8 to 1. There’s also the en prison rule that allows you to get half of your even money bet back if the ball lands on zero.