Roulette is a game of chance played on a circular table with a spinning wheel. The wheel has a red and black section and a single zero or double zero (depending on the version), along with other sections that offer various betting opportunities. The ball is dropped into one of the compartments and if it stops in the winning number, then the player receives a payout based on their bet. The expected value of a bet is the same regardless of what you bet on, although spreading your bets out may reduce the variance of outcomes slightly.

The wheel is made of a solid, convex wooden disk with a slightly curved edge. It has a series of metal partitions, called frets or separators by croupiers, around the edge and thirty-six compartments numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. There is also a green compartment, referred to as the “Logo,” and on American wheels two more green pockets with the signs 0 and 00.

There are numerous myths surrounding the origins of the game, with many credited to the 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal or a Dominican monk. What is known is that the game was adapted to its current form in Europe and America and it has been a staple in casino gambling dens ever since.

To play Roulette, you must first buy chips in the desired denomination. These are available in different colors to help distinguish players’ chips from each other, especially when a player has to stack them on top of other bets. You should always separate your roulette chips from other table games’ chips, and it is a good idea to have your spouse play on a separate table.

When a winning bet is placed, the dealer will place a marker on that section of the board. All bets are lost if the ball lands in a green pocket, and the player’s entire bet is lost if it hits the zero or double-zero pocket. Players who lose a bet can reclaim half of their wager by requesting “en prison,” which is to leave the bet in place for the next spin.