However, on most US tables, English terms and a slightly different style of mat are used. Roulette is a game of French origin and on a traditional table, the French terms on the betting area are still used even in English speaking areas. Prior to rolling the ball, people place bets on what number will come up by laying down chips on a betting mat, the precise location of the chips indicating the bet being made.
On American tables only there is a second extra green division marked 00 and it is largely this that makes the American version of Roulette a worse proposition financially than the European game. Additionally, there is a green division numbered 0. The divisions around the wheel are numbered from 1 to 36 in a seemingly random pattern and alternate red and black.
A ball is spun around the outside of the bowl until eventually ball and wheel come to rest with the ball in one of the divisions. A roulette wheel consists of a spinning disk with divisions around its edge that revolves around the base of a bowl.
