Among the many casino games, roulette has one of the smallest followings. In the US, it is often overlooked in favor of more popular games like slot machines or video poker.
The game is played on a roulette table where players stake chips on a specific location on the betting mat. Bets are made until the croupier announces “No more bets.”
Origin
There are a number of fanciful stories about the origin of roulette. Some claim it was invented by 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal while searching for a perpetual motion machine, and others believe it originated in China and was brought to France by Dominican monks. The reality is that roulette first emerged in 18th century France, and its present wheel and layout are thought to be based on older games like Roly Poly, Even Odd and Hoca, as well as Italian board games such as Biribi and Lotto Reale. It was first mentioned under its modern name in 1716 and is a popular game in casinos around the world today.