Roulette is a game based entirely on chance. Players place their chips on a betting layout until the croupier (dealer) announces “No more bets.” Then, they watch the ball as it bounces around the wheel until it stops in a number pocket.
Bets are placed by giving the dealer money and asking for coloured chips. These chips have a value equal to the table minimum bet.
Origin
The word roulette is derived from the Latin roelete, and it means little wheel. The game originated in France, and its popularity spread quickly. Earlier games such as portique, hoca, bassette, and roly poly may be considered precursors of the game, but it wasn’t until the Blanc brothers invented it with a single zero that it became truly distinct from other games.
Historians believe that the roulette cylinder was introduced in a primitive form by 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal while trying to create a perpetual motion machine. Some historians also claim that the game evolved from an Italian board game called biribi, in which players bet on a layout of numbered squares. This story makes a bit more sense than some of the others, since the roulette wheel was eventually brought to France from Italy.
Variations
Roulette variations aren’t just about adding extra rules or changing payouts. They’re about enhancing player enjoyment. This is because gambling players are not just interested in odds, expected value, and house edge; they also look for a pleasant experience. Fortunately, there are several roulette variants that offer a fresh take on the game and boost payouts in the process.
For example, Key Bet Roulette adds a new dimension to the game by expanding betting options with novel features. Meanwhile, Lighting Roulette from Evolution Gaming relies on multipliers to deliver big payouts. And Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT offers an impressive 1:12,000 payout for a straight bonus win.
Bets
There are many different betting opportunities available on roullete. Some of these are considered more risky than others. For example, the Voisins bet (or corner bet) costs 9 chips and covers 17 numbers on the wheel, meaning that if you make the correct prediction, your winnings could be quite high. Other bets that offer a greater payout include the Street Bet (also known as the Three Number Bet or the Side Bet) and the Split Bet, which is placed by placing your chip(s) to straddle a line between two adjacent numbers on the layout. This bet pays 11-1 if you win.