Roulette is a casino game of chance that involves betting on the outcome of a spinning wheel. Bets can be placed on a single number, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black, whether a number is odd or even, and more. The croupier then spins the wheel and the ball is dropped into one of the compartments. The winner is determined in a few seconds, and payouts are granted automatically.
Roulette, which means “little wheel,” was likely developed from the Italian game Biribi. It has a long history in casinos and is still played today, both online and in brick-and-mortar establishments around the world.
Before starting the game, players must establish a betting unit based on their available bankroll. This is important because it is the amount that they will be able to lose before losing all of their money. Players should never place more than their betting units on a single spin, so they can minimize the risk of a bad result.
There are two main types of roulette wheels: European and American. The European wheel has 36 pockets, while the American version has 38, including a double zero. Having the extra green pocket increases the house edge and makes the game less fair for outside bets. It is therefore best to play the European variant when possible.
Once all the bets have been placed, the dealer will announce that the table is closed. At this point, the winning bets will be paid out and the losers will see their chips removed from the table. It is not recommended to touch the table at this stage.
During the spin, the dealer will then place a marker on the winning number. The croupier will then throw the ball into the wheel, and all bets will come to rest. The croupier will then declare that the wheel has stopped and will clear any losing wagers before announcing the winning number. This is when players can begin placing their bets for the next round.