The Flow of the Game of Roulette

One dealer can run a roulette table, but very busy tables usually have two dealers. On a crowded night people press around the table and lean across the layout like they’re playing a grown upBasil Nestor is the author of the new Playboy Complete Guide to Casino Gambling. This wonderful book teaches players how to avoid sucker bets and win more when playing gambling games.  He is also the author of The Smarter Bet Guide series for video poker, slots, craps, and many other books about gambling.  Basil's website is www.smarterbet.com 
Roulette is a social game with lots of action.  game of Twister.

Betting continues (and the pace often quickens) as the dealer spins the ball on the perimeter of the wheel. After a few additional seconds of betting, the dealer waves her hand over the layout to indicate that bets are no longer accepted.

All eyes turn to the wheel and the table goes silent. The ball gradually slows down and plummets into the depths of the wheel like an errant satellite plunging into the ocean. Typically, it hops and skips a bit before finally settling into a particular slot.

Players either gasp or sigh. The dealer puts a plastic token (usually a small upright cylinder) on the layout over the winning number. Losing bets are raked in. Winning bets are paid off starting from the outside of the layout and proceeding inward. When the last straight bet has been paid, the process starts again.