Roullete is a game of chance played by players on a circular table. A small ball is spun in one direction around the wheel and if it lands on a player’s chosen number they win. Bets may be placed on a single number, various groupings of numbers, color red or black or whether the number is high or low. There are also bets on either a high-low or odd-even split of the numbers or on first, second or third dozen groups.
The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape with a metal rim. Thirty-six compartments, painted alternately red and black, surround the rim and are called frets or pockets by croupiers. On European-style wheels a 37th compartment, painted green, carries the sign 0. On American wheels two green compartments on opposite sides of the wheel carry the signs 0 and 00. The wheel is spindle-balanced and its rotation is almost frictionless.
Once the dealer announces ‘no more bets’ the betting process is over. The table is cleared of losing chips and the winners are paid before betting continues.
Some people try to improve their odds by using systems devised either by themselves or others. A quick search on the Internet will yield millions of different roulette strategies, some simple, some complex, some well-described, others not so much. However, mathematicians have found that no betting system can convert a game with a house edge into a profitable enterprise.
As with all games of chance, cheating is rampant. Despite the best efforts of casinos and gamblers alike, there are always a few individuals who will attempt to gain an unfair advantage. The methods used to do this vary, some illegal, some not, but all are based on a basic misunderstanding of probability.
The most common form of roulette cheating involves the use of special wheels and tables that offer higher returns to outside bets than the standard ones. These wheels and tables can be obtained from manufacturers who specialize in such equipment. They are typically very expensive, and they are not available to all casinos. They are also not very practical, as they must be kept in a very clean environment and maintained to ensure their accuracy.