The Basics of Roulette
Roulette is a game of chance that requires a large amount of luck. To play it well, you need to know the rules and bet types. It is also important to understand the odds of winning and losing.
A roulette wheel contains compartments numbered 1 through 36 in a nonconsecutive pattern, with alternate red and black numbers and a green zero (or double zero on American wheels). The ball is spun around the edge of the wheel to land in one of the compartments.
Origins
Roulette is one of the oldest casino games, but its origins are shrouded in mystery. The most popular story is that it was invented by a French mathematician, Blaise Pascal, in the 17th century. He was trying to create a perpetual motion machine, and his experiment ended up creating the roulette wheel.
There are also stories that the game originated in ancient Rome or Greece, but there is no evidence to support them. It is more likely that roulette developed from other board games that had a spinning wheel, including the English games Roly Poly and Ace of Hearts, as well as the Italian games Biribi and Hoca.
Historians believe that the modern version of roulette was first played in France in 1796. It was later introduced to America, where it became known as American Roulette.
Variations
There are many different variations of roulette, but the most popular is European Roulette. This game has 38 pockets and a single zero, making it easier to play and has a lower house edge of 2.7%. The other main variation is American Roulette, which has a double zero and is more difficult to win. Other games include Double Ball Roulette, which offers the same rules as European Roulette but uses two balls, and Triple Bonus Spin Roulette, from IGT, which has higher payouts for straight bonus wins.