Roulette has offered glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. Though its rules are fairly simple, the game offers a surprising amount of depth for serious betters and the right strategy can reap high rewards.

Roulette, a French word meaning little wheel, is played on a green felt table with a wheel in the center and betting areas around it. Players place their chips on the table, indicating which numbers or groupings they want to bet on. Before each spin, the dealer gives players time to place their bets. Then the wheel is spun and the ball is dropped. The winning bets are then paid and the losing bets removed from the table.

There are a variety of betting options in roulette, but they generally fall into two categories: Inside Bets and Outside Bets. Inside bets are placed directly on specific numbers or small number combinations within the main grid (1-36) and pay out higher amounts, but have lower odds of winning. Outside bets are placed on red/black, odd/even, or a single number, and have smaller payouts but better odds at winning. All bets lose if the ball lands in the 0 or 00 pocket.

While the earliest references to the game are fanciful, it’s believed that it was invented in the 17th century by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal as part of his quest to create a perpetual motion machine. But the game didn’t become a household name until the late 18th century, when it began to be played in casinos and gambling dens across Europe.

The roulette wheel contains 37 pockets, all of them black or red except for the single green zero. The order of the numbers on the wheel is alternating odd and even, so that most adjacent pockets have the same number. Some experts believe that the distribution of numbers on the wheel was carefully arranged to make the game as fair as possible.

When you play roulette online, the rules are straightforward. You place your chips on the betting board, which is a grid with numbers 1 through 36 and the 0, 00 and Logo pockets. Each bet type has different odds, so make sure you know the house edge for the game you’re playing before placing your bets.

While the odds of winning at roulette are low, it’s still a fun and exciting game to play. But remember to always play responsibly, and never spend more money than you can afford to lose. If you find yourself losing more than you’re winning, consider changing your bet size or switching to another game. And if you think your gaming habits are becoming unhealthy, reach out for help and support.