Roullete, also known as roulette, is a casino game comprised of a spinning wheel and betting table. A croupier (dealer) throws a ball into the wheel; if it lands on any number, section or color, its winning players receive their stake back. Betting opportunities range from single numbers, groupings of numbers, colors red or black (odd or even), odd/even or high/low odds; there are even bets placed on first, second or third dozen dozen (if available).
A roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape. Around its rim are metal partitions called frets by roulette croupiers; these comprise thirty-six compartments painted alternately red and black and numbered nonconsecutively from one to 36. On European-style wheels there is one green compartment labeled with “0,” while American wheels include two green compartments marked as such (00 is also noted on American-style wheels).
Roulette’s symmetrical wheel and betting table facilitate a simple mathematical system which offers players an expected return independent of their bet choice. Unfortunately, its popularity in America has diminished over time as more exciting gambling options such as slot machines and video poker take precedence – yet in Europe it remains one of the major attractions.
