What is Roulette?

Roulette is a game of chance in which players place chips on a betting mat. The table has a revolving roulette wheel in the center. It has several sections marked off with numbers from 1 to 36, and a single zero and double zero.

Each table carries a placard describing minimum and maximum bets. It is important to choose a roulette table within your budget.

Origin

It’s hard to say where the game of roulette originated. There are a few different theories, however. Some believe that it was invented by French mathematician Blaise Pascal in the 17th century. He was trying to produce a perpetual motion machine when he inadvertently developed the first roulette wheel. Others claim that the game started in China, where it was passed to Europe by monks traveling between temples. The game may have also been influenced by the Italian board game biribi, which included a number system similar to modern roulette.

There is also evidence that soldiers played a gambling game that was fairly similar to roulette, using shields with symbols on them and a rotating wheel. Regardless, roulette in its modern form was created in France in the late eighteenth century.

Bets

There are many betting options on a roulette wheel, from the basic Red or Black bet to more elaborate outside bets like Neighbours, Voisins or Orphelins. These special bets cover one number and the numbers either side of it, with different payouts and odds depending on the specific roulette variant chosen.

The most risky bet is a Street Bet, which covers three numbers in the same row. Players place chips on the line separating them, and will receive a return of 17 to 1 if they’re correct with their prediction. The second highest payout is on a Split bet, with players putting their money on two adjacent numbers in the same row.