Roullete (French for ‘wheel’) is a casino game in which players make wagers on the outcome of a spin of a roulette wheel. Bets may be placed on a single number, various groupings of numbers, the color red or black, whether the number is odd or even, or if the numbers are high (19-36) or low (1-18). The game emerged in Europe during the 18th century from the older games hoca and portique and gained great popularity among gamblers.

The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk, slightly convex in shape with metal partitions, called frets, around its rim. Thirty-six of these compartments, painted alternately red and black, are numbered 1 to 36, and on European wheels a single green compartment is labelled 0. On American tables there are two additional green compartments marked 0 and 00.

There are several theories of the origins of roulette, including the claim that it was invented by the 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal while working on perpetual motion machines. The game’s current layout and wheel structure were developed in the late 18th century.

Before a bet is placed, the dealer spins the wheel in one direction and then rolls a small ball in the opposite direction around a tilted circular track that runs around the outer edge of the bowl-shaped wheel. The wheel and track come to a stop when the ball enters one of the compartments. The dealer then repositions the betting table and announces ‘No More Bets!’ to prevent cheating by anticipating where the ball will land.

Inside bets are placed on the numbered portion of the roulette table and pay out at higher odds than outside bets. They also have a lower house edge than outside bets.

The best way to win at roulette is to use the James Bond strategy, which combines bets to give you the best odds of winning. The only disadvantage is that it requires a large bankroll, as you are required to bet the same amount each time, regardless of how many places you win or lose.