How to Play Roulette

Roulette is a casino game in which players wager on the outcome of a spinning wheel. Bets can be placed on a single number, various groupings of numbers, whether the number is odd or even, and color red or black. Players place their chips on a betting table before the wheel is spun. If the ball falls into one of the pockets containing winning bets, the players are paid according to a predetermined payout schedule.

While online roulette games can be fun, they can also become addictive. The best way to prevent a gambling addiction is to set time and money limits before playing, and to leave the game when you’ve reached these limits. Also, don’t play roulette for more than a few hours at a time, and never make the same bet more than once.

The game of roulette is played using a small wheel with 37 or 38 (depending on the version) colored and numbered compartments. Players place bets by laying down chips on the table, with the exact placement of the chip indicating the bet being made. The dealer then spins the wheel in one direction while rolling a small ball around the rim of the wheel in the opposite direction. The ball will come to rest in one of the compartments that have been numbered.

Before the wheel is spun, players place their bets on the table by placing a color-coded chip in the desired position. Typically, a player’s total bet should not exceed the maximum limit posted on the table. During this time, the dealer will also clear the table of the previous round and pay out the winners.

After the winning bet is determined, the dealer will pause for a moment to allow players to place their next bets. Then, the dealer will spin the wheel and throw the ball into one of the numbered compartments. Once the ball has settled into a pocket, the dealer will mark the winning bets on the table and pay the winners.

When you are ready to leave a roulette table, simply give the dealer your remaining coloured chips and ask for “color”. They will exchange these for normal casino chips. They will not be able to be cashed out for cash away from the roulette table. For this reason, you should only use these for roulette and not on other games. To avoid confusion, you should keep a separate set of chips for each game.