Roulette is a gambling game in which players bet on which red or black numbered compartment of a spinning wheel the ball will fall into as it comes to rest. It also includes a green division numbered zero and on American tables a second green division marked 00.
The bets are laid out on a specially designed table with precise terms and location of chips. There are two main types of bets, outside and inside bets.
Origin
There are many theories as to the origins of roulette, including that it was invented by 17th century French physicist Blaise Pascal while trying to create a perpetual motion machine or that it originated in China and was brought back to Europe by Dominican monks. However, it is more likely that the game derived from other earlier games such as the Italian board game Biribi or the English E.O. games (even/odd).
The modern version of the game was created by Francois and Louis Blanc in 1842 when gambling was illegal in France and they took the wheel to Germany where it quickly gained popularity. The game was brought to the United States in the early 20th century and is now one of the most popular casino games around the world.
Bets
Aside from the Red and Black roulette bets, there are also a number of outside bets that are popular with players. One of these is the Voisins, which covers a single number and the numbers either side of it on the roulette wheel. This bet costs 9 chips and pays 35 to 1.
Another outside bet is the Split Bet, which is a wager placed on two adjacent numbers. This bet pays 17 to 1 if the player’s prediction is correct. The Dozens bet is similar, but covers 12 numbers. Players should place their chips on the line separating inside bets from outside ones. The last type of outside bet is called the Street Bet, which requires players to place their chips on three consecutive numbers in the same row.