Roulette is a game of chance where you bet on the number the ball will land in when it comes to rest in one of the compartments on a revolving wheel. Each table has a placard describing the minimum and maximum bets allowed.
Outside bets cover groups of numbers and have a higher chance of winning, but pay out at lower odds. They are a good choice for beginners.
Origins
It is difficult to determine the exact origins of roulette, but it is generally accepted that the first incarnation of the game was developed by French math wizard Blaise Pascal in the 17th century. He was trying to produce a perpetual motion machine when he inadvertently invented the roulette wheel. It is also believed that he combined it with an existing Italian game called Biribi.
However, there is evidence that primitive versions of the game existed long before Pascal’s invention. For example, ancient Roman soldiers played a game that was similar to roulette by spinning shields with symbols on them. It is also believed that a Chinese version of the game was brought to Europe by Dominican monks who traveled widely in China. The modern roulette layout and wheel structure was standardized by the Blanc brothers in 1860.