The casino game of roulette has been around since the 17th century, it was believed to have originated somewhere in Paris, France. Its name is appropriately derived from a French derivative meaning "little wheel". It is an exciting game that offers you a number of ways to play, but it can be overwhelming if you are unfamiliar with the various betting options. The large variety of bets that can be placed happens to be one of the most appealing features of the game, once understood it is easily one of the most popular table games on the floor. Since understanding the variety of bets is the key to a successful game, here are the basic types of bets you should know about before playing.

There are two main categories of roulette bets, three including a category that applies exclusively to French Roulette. There are many other subcategories within these major groupings, but the main categories are what you need to be acquainted with first.

Inside Bets
Inside bets are made by placing chips inside the betting grid. They are often the most exhilarating kind of bet because they are very risky. Among the many types of inside bets are the straight, split, and street bets. Straight bets are very simple. You place your chips on one specific number. If the roulette wheel hits that number, you receive a payout of 35 to 1. Split bets are based on two adjacent numbers that must be touching. If the wheel hits one of those numbers, you are paid 17 to 1. Unlike the split bet, street bets involve three numbers. By placing your chips on three horizontal numbers in a row, you have the chance of winning an 11 to 1 payout. Other types of inside bets include corner and basket bets which involve betting on a variety of number combinations.

Outside Bets
The second category of betting, the outside bet, is placed on the area of the table outside the numbers. They are not as risky as inside bets and the 0 and 00 numbers do not apply. A few outside bets include the dozen, color, and even/odd bets. Dozen bets involve placing a bet on either the first, second, or third column of numbers and they win a payout of 2 to 1. Color bets are simply bets based on which color you think the wheel will hit. Place your chips on the areas that are marked "red" or black" and if the wheel hits what you choose, the payout will be 1 to 1. Even or odd bets are a type of bet that you use by deciding whether you think the wheel will hit an even or an odd number. Place your chips on the designated areas and if the wheel hits your selected bet then the payout will be 1 to 1, the same as the color bet. Other outside bets include column bets which use vertical arrangements of numbers, and low and high bets where you place a bet on either the lower 18 numbers or the higher 18 numbers.

The third common category of bets is known as call bets, which is found primarily in French Roulette. They are based on a combination of numbers as well as the position of those numbers on the wheel. These two main kinds of bets touch only the surface of the various kinds you can use in a roulette game. Once you familiarize yourself with these basic categories, understanding the different types will become easier and allow you to enjoy this exciting game.