The Basics of Roulette

Roulette is one of the most popular casino games around. It is simple and based entirely on chance, but it offers a surprising level of depth for those who play. It is also a game that can be played for a low cost and can have high payouts.

A standard roulette table can hold up to seven players, with two groups playing simultaneously on double tables. The roulette wheel is a static disc with compartments that mark the numbers from 1 to 36. These compartments are painted alternately red and black. There are also a number of green pockets that carry the signs 0 and 00.

When the player is ready to place a bet, he or she puts their chips on the table. There are several types of bets, with the most common being “outside” bets (groupings of numbers rather than individual digits). Outside bets tend to have lower odds but also offer higher payouts.

Each player gets a color of chips to differentiate them from other players at the table. Once a decision is made the dealer clears the losing bets and places a marker on the winning number. When the ball lands on that number, the dealer announces the winner and pays out the winning bets. The dealer will then cash out the remaining chips, giving each player normal casino chips.

There are 10 different types of bets in roulette, with the payout varying by type of bet and the house edge. The highest win to stake ratio is for a single number bet, which has a payout of 35 times the amount wagered. Other common bets include the Dozens Bet (also known as a douzaine in French) and the Odd or Even Bet, which is also called impair et pair in French. These bets wager on either the first 12 numbers on the layout or one of the last 18 numbers. If the ball lands on a 0 or 00, all bets lose.