There are many fanciful stories about roulette’s origin, but it is a simple game of chance. You place chips on a table until the croupier says no more bets.
Each area of the table corresponds to a different type of bet. Inside bets have higher chances of winning but lower payouts. Outside bets have larger payouts but less of a chance of winning.
Origin
Although a number of fanciful theories exist, it is quite probable that roulette evolved into its present form in France during the eighteenth century. It was soon established as the premier game in casinos and gambling houses throughout Europe. Its name, derived from the French word for “little wheel,” hints at its central feature. A revolving wheel carries a ball in a bowl, and the bettors place their chips on a betting mat. The numbers on the wheel, colored red and black, reflect the odds of winning. The game’s duality—mathematically precise yet existentially random—explains its universal appeal.
Structurally, roulette is a hybrid of two strands of gaming traditions—wheel-and-ball banking games (Roly Poly and E.O./Hoca) and number-betting lottery (Biribi). These games merged in New Orleans, where the French-Creole culture created an environment where roulette could flourish alongside card and dice games.