Roulette is a casino game where players place bets on either a single number or various groupings of numbers. Each type of bet has its own odds and payouts. It is important to understand these bet types before you place your chips on the table.

The game consists of a wheel with divisions that alternate red and black. There is also a green division numbered zero (on American tables, there is an extra green division numbered 00). The dealer spins the wheel in one direction and rolls a ball around the outside edge of the bowl until it comes to rest in one of the divided sections.

Once the ball has come to rest, the dealer clears losing bets from the table and pays winning bettors. Then the table is reset for the next round of play. If you’ve won a round, it’s wise to cash out your winning chips as soon as possible and then continue betting with your predetermined budget. Doing otherwise could cause you to lose your money prematurely.

In addition to the aforementioned rules, there are other factors that can affect your chances of winning. One such factor is the house edge, which is calculated as 2.70% on European wheels and 1.35% on American ones. Another factor is the “La Partage” rule, which reduces the house edge by half when a bet on an even-money proposition (like red, black, or dozens) hits.

Many people develop elaborate systems for playing roulette that they claim will guarantee their success. The truth is that there are no sure-fire strategies for beating the game; only a few techniques that can improve your odds. These include covering every number, covering red and black, covering dozens, and betting on the green numbers.

Another way to increase your chances of winning is to use the tracking board, which records a living history of the last 200 spins and displays trends. For example, it will show whether all red or black numbers have appeared, or if the number of high and low numbers has increased or decreased.

Before the wheel is spun, players place their bets by laying down chips on a betting mat. This mat is usually marked with specific places for different bets, and the terms used are often different depending on the country in which the game is played. For instance, in France, the bets on individual numbers are called “Inside bets” while the bets on groups of 12 numbers are called “Outside bets.” Despite these differences, most of the rules are identical for all variations of the game.