The Roulette Game: How to Play Roulette, Roulette Wheel Layout

Roulette, from the French word that translates to 'small wheel', is a gambling game that makes use of a ball and a spinning wheel with numbers on it. Players bet on what number on the wheel the ball will land.

The game of roulette requires a roulette wheel made up of 37 or 38 colored and numbered pockets. The 36 pockets alternating between the colors red and black are numbered from 1 through 36. In addition, there is one pocket colored green and numbered 0 (zero) in European Roulette, or one green pocket numbered zero plus a second green pocket numbered 00 (double zero) in American Roulette.

Note that the numbers do not come in a numerical or chronological order around the roulette wheel. Learn the critical differences between European Roulette (Single Zero Roulette) and American Roulette (Double Zero Roulette) on American, European Roulette.

The croupier sets the roulette game in motion by spinning the roulette wheel in one direction, and then spinning the ball in the opposite direction on a tilted surface around the wheel until the ball falls into one of the pockets.

Object of the game: To wager on the outcome of the ball being spun around the roulette wheel. There are various choices of outcomes on which to wager, such as on what specific numbered pocket the ball will land, or within what range of numbers the ball will land based on the numbers' positions on the roulette wheel. These outcomes are grouped into roulette betting types, read more about them on Roulette Game Rules.

Roulette is a gambling game of chance. The outcome of the ball landing into a numbered pocket on the roulette wheel is completely random. How to play roulette is as easy as picking a random number on which the ball may land, but betting on the wheel numbers requires more skill and quick-mindedness if you wish to maximize your casino roulette payouts.