Roulette is a casino game that has many betting options and a simple enough rule structure that it is available in just about every gambling establishment. It is an exciting game that can be a great way to pass the time or, when played correctly, one that can be quite profitable.

Whether you’re playing online or in a real casino, you should know how the game is played before you place your bets. The first thing to do is learn how roulette rounds work. When a round is complete, the dealer will pause for a bit and then announce “no more bets!” This prevents players from placing their chips while the wheel is spinning and also helps to eliminate cheating by preventing croupiers from adding extra numbers to their wager.

The wheel itself is a solid wooden disk that is slightly convex. Around its rim are metal compartments, known as frets by roulette croupiers, that are painted alternately red and black. There is also a compartment that is green and carries the number zero, and on some American wheels there are two green compartments for the double-zero. The wheel spins smoothly, and the croupier, who is in charge of running the game, rolls a small ball into a special track that runs around the edge of the wheel.

Once the ball lands in one of the numbered compartments, the croupier will pay winners who bet on that particular number, section or color according to their betting odds. Outside bets, which are wagers on various propositions, such as high-low, odd-even, red-black and the first, second or third dozen, are paid out at higher odds than those on individual numbers.

While the exact origin of roulette is unknown, fanciful theories include that it was invented by 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal as part of his attempts to create a device that could demonstrate perpetual motion. In reality, it likely evolved from the older games hoca and portique and was brought to France by Dominican monks.