Roullete, also known as Roulette, is a gambling game in which a small ball is dropped into a rotating wheel and various numbers or groups of numbers pay off at different odds. The game is based entirely on luck and has become a popular casino game at online and land casinos throughout the world. Players place their bets on a table, which is marked to correspond with compartments on the revolving wheel.

Fanciful stories about the origin of the game include claims that it was invented by 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal, by a Dominican monk, or by a Chinese monk brought to France in the 14th century. It is more likely that the game was derived in the 18th century from older games such as hoca and portique, with some of the modern characteristics of the game introduced by François-Pierre Lalande in 1718.

In America, roulette has the smallest following of any casino game, drawing nowhere near the crowds that baccarat draws. In Europe, however, it is a staple at Monte Carlo and other high-class gaming establishments.

While there are a number of different strategies for playing roulette, the best way to maximize your chances of winning is to start out by wagering on “outside” bets (groups of numbers rather than individual digits). These bets are generally cheaper and have a higher likelihood of hitting. Next, choose a size of betting unit based on your bankroll and stick with it. This way, you can avoid getting caught up in the thrill of the game and stay focused on what is really important – the strategy.

A good roulette strategy includes a basic understanding of the game’s rules and procedures. After the dealer clears the table and pays the winners, players can begin placing their bets for the next round. The dealer will pause for a moment, allowing everyone to finish placing their bets before spinning the wheel.

The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape, with thirty-six metal partitions, or frets, around its rim, each painted alternately red and black. Between the frets, a 37th compartment, painted green, carries the sign 0, while on American wheels two additional green compartments on opposite sides carry the signs 0 and 00.