Roulette is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It is a game of chance and requires no skill to play, as all bets are made on the result of where the ball will land when the wheel stops spinning. It is an exciting, fast-paced game that is easy to learn and has become a staple at online and land casinos worldwide.

Players bet on what number they think the ball will land in by laying chips down on a betting mat before the croupier throws the ball into the rotating roulette wheel. Once the wheel stops, players have the chance to win if their bets were on the correct numbers, sections or colors. The different bets in the game are categorized as Inside bets and Outside bets, each with different odds and payouts.

The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with a metal outer rim that is divided into thirty-six compartments, which are colored alternately red and black. A single compartment carries a number 1 while two green pockets – called canoes by roulette croupiers – carry the numbers 0 and 00, respectively. The roulette wheel is spun by a croupier with a special padded ball bearing that allows it to spin smoothly and without causing friction.

Before the spin, players place their bets by placing a small amount of money on the table and asking for “colour”. The dealer will then give them coloured roulette chips of equal value to the sum they have placed on the table. In addition, they will be given a betting chart which displays the various roulette bets and their odds for winning.

Roulette is a simple game to play, but there are many different types of bets available and each has its own set of odds and payouts. In general, the more numbers a player bets on, the greater the chances are for winning and the lower the payouts. The most common bets are inside bets, outside bets and announced bets.

Announced bets are special betting combinations which can only be placed in certain Roulette games and have French names. For example, the 5 and the neighbours’ bet covers 5 adjacent numbers on the Roulette table whereas Voisins du Zero only covers 12 numbers. It is important for roulette players to understand the difference between these bets as they can significantly impact a player’s winnings and losses. The James Bond strategy, for instance, uses announced bets and combines them to maximise the player’s chances of winning, although it does require a significant bankroll to be successful.