Roullete – the French word for wheel of fortune – is a casino game in which a ball is dropped onto a spinning revolving wheel with numbered holes, and players bet on what number will land. Various bet types are possible, including bets on individual numbers, various groupings of numbers, color red or black, whether the number is odd or even and if the wheel is high (19-36) or low (1-18).

Roulette became popular in illegal gambling dens across Europe in the early 17th century, and was soon introduced to the American colonies. The modern version of the game was developed in 1843 when Louis and Francois Blanc added a single zero pocket to the wheel, reducing the house edge and massively increasing the popularity of the game.

The wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape, with thirty-six compartments (or pockets) painted alternately red and black. The compartments are separated by metal partitions, called separators or frets, and a croupier, who is responsible for running the game, spins the wheel in a smooth and effortless manner.

The game’s popularity in America has dwindled, being overshadowed by newer casino games like slot machines and video poker, but roulette is still very much a fixture in casinos throughout Europe. Its low house edge and simple betting structure make it easy to play for a wide range of budgets, and it remains the most popular casino game at Monte Carlo. There are many variations of the game, but novices are advised to play European Roulette since it has a lower house edge than its American counterpart.