The Mysterious Origins of Roulette

Roulette is a game of chance, but there are some ways to maximize your chances of winning. One way is to use the Martingale system. Another is the Labouchere system, which involves wagering only even chip bets.

Players place bets by laying down chips on the betting mat. These bets range in odds and payouts.

Origins

Fanciful stories about the origins of roulette abound. It is believed that it was derived in its current form from the older games Roly Poly and Even Odd, as well as Biribi, an Italian game that involved guessing which numbered ticket would be pulled out of a bag. It is first mentioned under the name of ‘roulette’ in a 17th century document on gambling regulations for New France (now Quebec, Canada) that included it among a list of banned games. Its true origin may be even more mysterious, with a number of ancient civilizations believed to have played versions of the game.