Roullete, or roulette as it’s known in many places around the world, is one of the most iconic casino games. Its simple rules and low house edge make it easy for novices to play, but there is a surprising depth of strategy for the serious player to exploit.

The game is played on a rotating wheel with thirty-six compartments, painted alternately red and black (or green) and numbered non-consecutively from 1 to 36. On European-style wheels, there is also a green zero compartment and on American wheels, two green compartments marked 0 and 00. A metal ball, referred to as the roulinette or dolly, is rolled into the compartments by a croupier, who also spins the wheel and pays out winning bets.

There are numerous betting options in roulette, all with different odds and payouts for each. These are called inside bets, outside bets and announced bets, and you can place these bets on a single number, various groups of numbers or colors. You can even bet on whether the number is high (19-36) or low (1-18).

Besides these traditional bets, you can also bet on individual rows and columns of the table map by placing chips in the corresponding sections. The simplest wager is the column bet, which requires you to place your chip at the end of any of the three ’12’ sections on the table map. If the ball stops at any of these columns, you win.

It’s important to know the different bet types before you start playing, but remember that roulette is mostly a game of chance and you shouldn’t go into it with grandiose strategies. Instead, you should focus on making even bets, which are cheaper and have a better chance of winning than individual digit bets. You should also avoid using complicated or overly complex betting systems, as they will only complicate your gameplay.

Before you head to the casino, set a budget for your bets. Each roulette table carries a placard showing the minimum and maximum bets allowed, so you can choose accordingly. You should also be sure to cash out your winning bets as quickly as possible so you can continue betting within your budget. Finally, don’t be tempted to watch your fellow players, as this will only distract you and won’t improve your odds of winning.