Roulette is a popular casino game that has offered glamour, mystery, and excitement to gamblers since the 17th century. It is one of the most popular games in European casinos, but it has a much smaller following in American casinos.

The game is played on a wheel whose spindle is balanced so that it spins smoothly and consistently. It contains pockets that house numbers alternating between red and black, and even and odd.

When the wheel starts spinning, the croupier throws a ball into it. The ball then bounces around the wheel, and eventually settles into a pocket marked with a particular number. If the player made a bet on that number, they win.

There are two types of bets on the roulette table: inside and outside bets. In the first, you place a bet on a group of numbers that you think will come up in the next spin. In the second, you make a bet on a group of number positions on the board.

Choosing the right bet is not always easy. There are many different kinds of bets, and each type has its own payout odds.

Dozens Bet: Also known as douzaine in French, this bet involves placing a chip on one of the dozen numbers on the layout (the first 12 numbers or the last 12). The payout is 2-1.

Odd or Even Bet: This bet requires placing a chip on any of the 18 odd numbers or any of the 18 even numbers, with the exception of 0 and 00. If the ball lands on these numbers, you win, and your chips are matched.

Split Bet: This bet involves placing a chip on the line between two numbers. The payout is 17-1 if either number comes up.

Street Bet: This bet is similar to a three-number bet, except that it is placed on the border of two adjacent streets on the layout. It costs 392 chips to complete, and if the chosen number wins, the payout is a whopping 392,000.