Roulette is one of the most popular casino games in the world, and for good reason! This simple, enjoyable game allows players to bet on where a ball will land on a rapidly spinning wheel. Learning the basics of the roulette game rules will enable you to place bets with confidence and retain as much advantage as possible against the casino. This article covers the rules for European and American versions of roulette, as well as some basic information regarding betting strategies and odds on the table. With this info and some good luck, you can make a fortune!

A round of roulette takes place in two stages: first, the betting, where players place bets on various outcomes of the spin, and second, the spin itself, where the ball chooses a winner and winning bets are paid off at varying odds. Players bet by placing their chips on different spaces on the table's layout. The layout includes numbers from one to thirty-six, with one or two green "0" spaces, depending on the type of game. The simplest bet in roulette is the single-number bet: the player places his or her money on a number, and if that number comes up, the player wins at 35-1. Players may cover two or four spaces with an individual chip for a corresponding drop in payout odds.

Many of roulette's bets take place away from the individual numbers, however. In order to understand the roulette game rules, it is important to consider these options. Off bets include Even vs. Odd, Red vs. Black, and First Half vs. Last Half. These pay off at 2-1, as the likelihood of a red number, for example, is just under fifty percent, as is the likelihood of an odd number or a first-half number, and so on. The "0" spaces do not count as red, black, even, odd, or either half, giving the casino a slight edge. Other options include betting on which third of the table the ball will hit, or which column of numbers the winner will come from. Nearly every bet on the roulette table holds an identical house advantage (with the exception of "top row," covering 0, 00, 1, 2, and 3, which is slightly worse,) meaning players should pick the bet they like and stick with it, as they will not be doing themselves any harm.

The secret to a successful roulette career is enjoying the game! Now that you understand the simple roulette game rules, start placing some bets! Remember, the wheel has no memory, so don't worry about trying to keep track of trends. As player decisions have no impact on the outcome, the only strategy is simply playing to have fun and hopefully make money! Experiment with a variety of the available bets and see which you think is the most fun to play. Good luck!