Roulette is a game based on chance.  It is popular in casinos and gets the name Roulette from the French word meaning “small wheel”.  The game is fairly easy to play with few rules.  Roulette as we now know it first gained popularity in 18th century Europe.  The U.S. game consists of a small wheel with 38 numbers on it, while the European version has 37 numbers.  It has since spread around the world and a Roulette wheel can be found in almost every gaming site.

To play, gamers place bets on an odd or even number, a specific number, a range of numbers, or a color of either red or black.  The American Roulette wheel contains numbers 1-36 in alternating red and black.  There are also two green spaces, on containing a 0 and the other a 00.  Gamblers place a marker on the game board the number or numbers they want to bet on, for example red 22 or black 11.

Bets can be placed according to the corresponding game board.  There are a number of ways to bet.  A straight-up bet is a bet placed on a single number.  A split is a bet placed on two numbers that are side-by-side on the game board.  A street is a bet placed on three numbers in a horizontal line on the board, while a corner is a bet placed on four numbers in a square pattern.  A bet placed on two adjoining streets is called a six line.  Lastly, a trio is the bet placed on the intersection of a 0, 1 and 2 or the 00, 2 and 3.

To determine the winner, a person referred to as a croupier, spins the wheel in one direction and a small ball in the opposite direction on a slanted track the runs the entire circumference of the wheel.  The ball eventually stops on one of the grooves within a number, and a winner is identified.  The bets that have been placed now belong to whoever chose the correct number.