Roulette is an iconic casino game, instantly recognizable by its spinning wheel and the small white ball that determines players' fortunes. Its name means "little wheel" in French, and the game is one of pure chance, making it accessible and exciting for beginners and veterans alike.

The Basics: Wheel Layout and Objective
The game centers on a wheel featuring 37 or casino 38 numbered slots. There are two main variations of the wheel:

Single-Zero Roulette: The European version contains 37 pockets in total, with one of them being a green 0. This is the preferred version for players as its house edge is lower. Double-Zero Roulette: This wheel has 38 pockets, including the numbers 1-36, a single "0", and an additional "00" pocket, also green. Players face worse odds in this version because of the "00".

The objective is to predict which numbered pocket the ball will land casino in after the wheel stops spinning.

Types of Bets in Roulette
Roulette offers a wide variety of betting options, which can be divided into two main categories: Inside Bets and Outside Bets.

Inside Bets
These are bets placed on specific numbers or small groups of numbers on the inside of the betting layout. They have higher payouts but lower odds of winning.

Straight Up: A single-number bet that pays 35:1. Split: A two-number bet that pays 17:1. Street: A three-number bet that pays 11:1. Corner: A bet on a group of four numbers. Payout is 8 to 1.

Outside Bets
Outside bets cover large sections of the wheel. They are easier to win but offer smaller payouts.

Red/Black: Betting on the color of the winning number. Odd/Even: An even-money bet on the number's property. High/Low: Betting on the number falling in the 1-18 or 19-36 group. Dozens/Columns: These bets cover a third of the numbers (excluding 0) and pay 2:1.

Is There a Winning Roulette Strategy?
Because roulette is a game of pure chance, there is no strategy that can guarantee a win or overcome the house edge in the long run. Systems like the Martingale (doubling your bet after a loss) are extremely risky and can lead to catastrophic losses very quickly. The smartest approach is to play responsibly, set a budget, and stick to the European version of the game.