What Is Roulette?

Roulette is a casino game in which players place bets on a number or grouping of numbers. They do this by laying chips on a betting mat, which specifies the bet’s amount and location.

Most online casinos offer both American and European roulette games. It is best to play European roulette since it has a lower house edge than the American version.

Origin

The origins of roulette are a mystery. Various theories exist, including that it was invented by 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal or that it originated in China and was transmitted to France by Dominican monks. Others suggest that it was derived from other European games such as hoca and portique. While these games were similar to roulette, they differed in wheel configuration and betting options.

The first modern roulette wheels appeared in France in the 1700’s and were used in gambling houses. They were numbered and featured red and black slots. The game’s popularity grew quickly and the wheel layout and betting table was modified to its current form. Regardless of its origin, roullete is a popular casino game that has become a mainstay in gambling halls and casinos worldwide.

Variations

Roulette has many variations and each one comes with its own set of rules and payouts. The most common is European Roulette which utilises a single-zero wheel and has a house edge of 2.7%. Other games include Lighting Roulette from Evolution Gaming, which uses a wheel with two concentric rings and pays out wins on both sides of the bet. There is also Double Action Roulette, which utilises a double-action ball and offers a high payout of 1:12,000 for straight bonus wins.