Roulette is one of the most popular casino games available. It is found at both land-based and online casinos and has several variations. These variations differ in their house edge and betting options. They also have different payouts for winning bets. These bets are divided into two categories: inside and outside bets. Inside bets are those placed on the numbers within the board, while outside bets are those made around the edge of the board.

A roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk, slightly convex in shape and covered with metal frets or separators. Thirty-six of these compartments, painted alternately black and red, are numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. The croupier spins the wheel and when the ball is released it will fall into one of the compartments.

Once the player has chosen their bet they can place it by clicking on a chip in the betting area of the table. A bet is considered to be successful if it covers all the numbers on the betting area of the table. This type of bet is known as an outside bet and has a lower chance of winning but higher payouts.

In order to play the game of roulette it is important to have a strategy and a budget. Players should start with a small amount of money and work their way up. This will help to prevent them from spending more than they can afford to lose.

It is also recommended to choose the European version of the game as this has a much lower house edge than the American version. This is because the American wheel has two green pockets which are marked as 0 and 00, making it more difficult for players to win. If the option is available, French roulette is even better as it has a house edge of just over 1.35%.

Another benefit of the French version is the la partage or en prison rule, which means that players who make an even money bet and the ball hits zero will only have half their stake lost. This can be a huge advantage over other versions of the game as it allows players to maximize their profits and make the most of their bets. This is not always possible with other types of roulette games and is one of the reasons why the French version is so popular. It is worth noting that not all casinos offer the French version of the game, so it is best to look for this when choosing an online casino.