Roulette is one of the oldest casino games and has offered glamour, mystery and excitement to players since the 17th century. The game’s simplicity makes it easy to learn but its rules have a surprising level of depth that can reap high rewards for serious bettors.

The game consists of a wheel that has numbered pockets with a single ‘zero’ (and double ‘zero’ on American tables) and red and black divisions. When the dealer spins the wheel, a small ivory ball will land in one of the pockets and this is where you bet. You can place bets on single numbers, groups of numbers, colors, or on whether the number will be odd or even.

Before the wheel is spun, players can change their bets or retract them if they wish to. However, once the croupier announces that “No more bets, please,” betting is closed and the dealer will spin the wheel. The ball will fall into one of the pockets and if it stops at your bet, you win.

A winning bet pays out up to 35 times your initial stake. There are 10 types of bet in European roulette and the most popular is a bet on a single number. Other popular bets are columns and dozens, which have the lowest house edge but a lower winning ratio.

There are also symmetries in the game, with low red numbers and high black ones. These are called “symbols” and they help players spot the best betting opportunities. The symmetries in the game make it possible to predict where the ball will land with reasonable accuracy but, as with any casino game, the ultimate result of the bet is a matter of luck.

The game is played with special roulette chips, which are different in color from the normal casino chips. This helps to avoid confusion and helps the croupier identify which bets are winners. Losing bets are collected in the casino’s income and winning bets paid out in cash. The dealers will exchange your roulette chips for regular casino chips after the game is over. When you’re ready to leave the table, simply put all your roulette chips on the table and tell the dealer that you would like to cash out.