The game of roulette is based partly on illusion. People think that it's an exclusive game that only the rich and famous can play - that's wrong. People think it's a complicated game with a myriad of bets that are almost impossible to figure out - that's partially right.

In reality, roulette is a simple game of chance in which, more than anything else, you need luck to win. The game isn't difficult, but there is a wide assortment of bets. It helps to figure out these bets before you put real money on the table (virtual or otherwise).

Roulette bets are divided into two categories: inside bets and outside bets (based on their location on the betting area of the table). In a land-based casino (and in some online casinos that take themselves seriously), you buy special chips when you sit down to play at the roulette table and, to avoid disputes, each player uses a different color chip. Every roulette table has a minimum and maximum bet and you can't combine your inside and outside bets to meet the table minimum.

Here are some common inside bets:

Straight Up bet is on a single number (including zero or double zero).
It pays 35 to 1.

Split Bet is on two numbers
which pays 17 to 1. You make this bet by placing your chip so it sits on the line between any two numbers.

Street bets or line bets pay 11 to 1. You make this bet by placing your chip on the outer boundary of the betting area, allowing you to bet on the row of 3 corresponding numbers.

Corner bet or Quad bet pays 8 to 1. You make this bet by placing a chip so it is touching the corners of the 4 numbers you are betting (on the cross where the numbers intersect).

Basket bet is a 5-number bet on 0, 00, and numbers 1, 2, and 3, which pays 6:1. You place your chips on the outer right line of the roulette table between 00 and 3. (On the double zero wheel, this bet has a house edge of 7.89%, making it the worst bet in roulette.)

The outside bets are any of the bets made in the boxes on the outer edge of the table layout:

Red, Black, Odd, and Even bets are all even-money bets. You place your chips in the appropriate boxes on the layout.

Dozens bets are made on 12 consecutive numbers. You place your chips in the boxes marked 1-12 (or "1st 12"), 13-24 (or "2nd 12") or 25-36 (or "3rd 12"). These bets pay 2 to 1. If the zero or double zero comes up you lose.

Column bets are also 12-number bets. Instead of 12 consecutive numbers they consist of the numbers in one of the three vertical columns and are made in the boxes at the bottom of the layout. These bets pay 2 to 1, as well.

Line bet pays 5:1 and is the same as two Street bets. You place your chip on the line separating the outside and inside area as you do for the street bet but let it also straddle the row above or below.