Roulette is a gambling game where a small ball rolls around a wheel and people bet on what number it will land on. Before the wheel spins, players place bets by laying down chips on a betting mat. The precise placement of the chip indicates what bet is being made. The bets are divided into two categories: outside bets and inside bets. Outside bets cover a larger area of the table and have a higher chance of winning, but also come with a lower payout. Inside bets, on the other hand, are more specific and require more skill to make.

Roulette was first developed in a primitive form in the 17th century by Frenchman Blaise Pascal. He was a physicist, philosopher and inventor who wanted to create a perpetual motion machine and used the roulette wheel as part of his experiment. It gained popularity a few centuries later and is now a favorite casino game.

The roulette wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex disk with thirty-six metal compartments or frets around its perimeter. They are alternately painted red and black and numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. A single green division carries the number 0. On American tables there are also two additional green compartments, 0 and 00. The ball is rolled around the wheel and lands in one of the compartments, which then indicate the winning number.

Before the wheel starts spinning, the dealer clears the table of previous bets. After this, the player places his bets on the table map. The bets can be placed in a variety of ways, including straight-up bets, split bets and corner bets. A straight-up bet is a wager on a specific number, while a split bet picks two numbers. A corner bet consists of four numbers forming a square on the betting board and pays out at 2-1 odds.

There are also a number of other types of bets called “Called bets.” These bets have different payoffs depending on where the numbers fall on the wheel. They are popular with beginners because they allow for a more rounded betting strategy and can have a higher chance of winning.

Before you start playing, set a budget and choose a table within your limits. Each roulette table carries a placard describing the minimum and maximum bets. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rules and payouts of each type of bet. In addition, you should be aware that roulette is a game of chance and it is unlikely that you’ll beat the maths. For this reason, avoid grandiose strategies and always remember that you’re playing for fun, not for money.