Roulette is a game of chance in which players place chips on a spinning wheel with numbered slots. When the wheel stops, if your bet is correct you win. If you don’t, your chips will be lost. A basic strategy can help you maximize your winnings and minimize your losses.
Before playing, it’s important to establish a budget based on your available bankroll. Then, choose a unit size for your bets. This will prevent you from losing too much money and will ensure that your unit size doesn’t grow too large as you increase the size of your bets.
Start by placing bets on outside bets (groupings of numbers instead of individual digits). These bets are less risky and will make your bankroll last longer. This way you can try different strategies without worrying about running out of funds.
When you’re ready to play, press the spin button in the bottom right corner of the screen. The ball will then be spun around the wheel and will land in one of the numbered slots on the table. If your bet was successful, the payout will be determined automatically.
Before the croupier throws a ball into the roulette wheel, players can continue making bets until he announces “no more bets.” Then, the wheel is spun and the ball bounces around until it settles in a pocket marked with a number. If your bet was correct, you’ll receive a payout according to the betting odds.
A European roulette wheel has 37 compartments that alternate between red and black, while a standard American roulette wheel has an extra green division labelled 00. This additional compartment increases the house’s edge and makes it harder to win straight bets.
The High or Low Bet: This bet is called passe et manque in French, and you’re wagering that the winning number will be either of the first 18 (1-18) or the last 18 (19-36) numbers on the layout. The 0 and 00 aren’t counted, so if the ball lands on one of these, you lose. This bet pays out 2-1.
Dozens Bet: Also known as douzaine in French, this bet consists of placing your chips on the first, second or third dozen. The dozens are the groupings of 12 consecutive numbers on the layout, and each offers a higher payout than an individual number.
Odd or Even Bet: This bet is called impair et pair in French and involves wagering that the winning number will be either odd or even. If the number is neither, you lose. This bet pays out 1:1.
You can place this bet by placing your chips on the dividing line between the zero row and the number rows featuring 1, 2 and 3. This bet does not lose if the winning number is a zero but still has lower odds than any other bet in the game. In addition, some casinos offer the option of a basket bet that allows players to place their chips in a square covering a range of numbers from 1 – 36. This bet does not have the same payout as a straight bet, but it is easier to place.