The wheel has 38 spaces and the numbers are arranged around it in a balance of odds and evens, reds and blacks, highs and lows. The house numbers, zero and double zero, are diametrically opposite each other. This arrangement ensures that the ball lands in its slot as randomly as possible.

To play, each player at the table is given a set of chips with a different color. This is done because roulette players like to spread their bets around to get the maximum effect and the colors identify each player's bet to the croupier.

The game starts out with the croupier stating "Place your bets, please", and then you may place your colored chips on the board in any arrangement that you wish.

The croupier spins the wheel, and you may continue to place bets until he says and motions "No more bets, please". The ball falls on a number and the croupier pays off the winners.

If you play a number "straight", meaning a single bet in the center of any number, including the zero and double zero, your bet pays 35 to 1.

You can also split numbers by placing the bet on the line between any two numbers. If either of those two numbers wins, your bet pays 17 to 1.

A square bet is made by putting your bet in the intersection of four contiguous numbers. If any of the four numbers wins, the payoff is 8 to 1.

Betting a "street' is done by placing chips on the line at the end of a row of three numbers. If any of the numbers in that row wins, your bet pays I I to 1.

A "line" is a variation of a street bet, with the chips placed on the center end between two streets. If any of the six numbers wins, the bet pays 5 to 1. A line bet that includes the zero and double zero pays 6 to 1.

You can bet on any of the three columns of numbers, or on a "dozen", the first, second and third group of twelve numbers. Both bets pay 2 to 1.

Outside even money bets include "lows", numbers from I to 18, and "highs", numbers from 19 to 36. You can bet on an even or odd number, and bet on something as simple as red or black. All of these bets pay even money.