Roulette, a casino game that’s as famous for its glamour as it is for its simplicity, has offered mystery, intrigue and excitement to gamblers since the 17th century. But this game of chance has a deeper level of strategy for serious betters, and the right bet can reap high rewards.

The roulette wheel consists of 37 or 38 numbered pockets — known as “compartments” by croupiers — alternating between red and black, with a single zero (or double zero on American wheels). A ball is spun into the wheel and comes to rest in one of the compartments. The table layout reflects this arrangement, with bettors placing chips on numbers or groups of numbers.

A croupier will then spin the roulette wheel, sending a small white ball spinning until it lands in one of the pockets. The table includes a grid that shows all the numbers arranged in groups of three, along with other symmetrical groupings such as odd/even and high/low. The table also displays the odds of winning each bet type.

There are two main categories of bets in roulette: inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets are placed on a specific number or small group of numbers and have lower winning odds but higher payouts. These bets include the straight-up, split, street, corner, and six-line bets. Outside bets are placed on a larger area of the table and have higher winning odds but lower payouts. These bets include the red/black, odd/even, high/low, and dozens bets.

When you place your bets on the roulette table, you’ll receive special casino chips that are different from the regular gambling chips that you use to play other games. The casino will provide you with a color to help distinguish your roulette chips from other bettors’ chips, so you don’t get confused as to which chip is which when it comes time to cash out your winnings. You can always ask the dealer to exchange your roulette chips for normal gambling chips.

While many people believe that there are certain systems of bet placement that can beat the house edge, there is no evidence of this beyond a very small number of well-documented cases. One of the most notable exploits took place in the 1970s when a team of physics graduate students called the Eudaemons used theoretical insights and a rudimentary computer concealed in a shoe to win at roulette in Nevada, but they did not reveal their methodology to the public.

Despite this, roulette remains a popular casino game worldwide, and there are many different betting strategies. A quick Google search will return millions of websites with tips and tricks for playing and winning at roulette. Some of these are easy to understand and others are complicated, but the truth is that there is no definitive system for beating roulette. The best strategy is to have fun and remember that luck is always a factor in the game of roulette.