Roulette is the French word for "Little Wheel"

There are 38 numbers printed on the rim of the wheel. Eighteen numbers are in red pockets, eighteen are in black pockets and two are in green pockets. What you are betting on is that the white ball being spun around the track will come to rest on a number or color of your choice.

To bet, place your chips directly on the table. (See chart and diagram for more about how to bet.) You can bet or change your mind about what you want to bet until the moment the dealer says "no more bets." There are basically two kinds of bets you can make across the layout: inside and outside.

An inside bet is a bet within the field of 38 numbers corresponding; with numbers on the wheel (1 to 36, plus 0 and 00). An inside bet can be straight up (one number), a split (two numbers), or upwards of six numbers.

An outside bet is placed outside the field. You can bet the winning number will be even, odd, black, red, and any number in the first twelve, second twelve, third twelve, 10-18, or 19-36. You may also bet any combination of these. For instance, you can bet on the even, the black and the first twelve numbers. If the winner is 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10, you will collect three ways. You may also bet on your favorite color red or black. Other options you have are the first column, the second column or the third column.

The chips are purchased in quantities of twenty called "stacks." Before leave the table, you must cash in your roulette chips for value chips because the roulette chips have no value printed on them and cannot be used or exchanged anywhere in the casino except at the table where they were purchased. Roulette chips come in different colors. Each color represents a different player. Each player will play with their own color chips. The dealer knows exactly which color each player has so don't be surprised if you're not allowed to play with your lucky color if it has been assigned.

Payoffs are made directly on the table in front of you with exceptions of outside bets. For instance, if you were to place two yellow chips on the outside area (1-18 – low) and you win, the dealer will simply place two more yellow chips beside your bet. So, be sure to collect all your chips from the table that you want to collect. And be sure when you do place a bet that you've placed it exactly where you want it to be. Even if the dealer – or anybody else – has helped you place it, check to make sure. Your winnings are decided by where the chips are, not where you intended.

The reckoning's simple. If the number, column, section or the color you've bet comes in, you win. If it doesn't, you lose. If the ball comes to rest on the zero or double zero and you've wagered on any of the even-money bets (red, black, odd, even, 1-18, 19-36) the bets lose.