Roulette is a game of chance that involves spinning a wheel and rolling a small ball. Players place chips or cash on a special betting table until the dealer announces ‘no more bets’.
A roulette wheel consists of compartments that are painted alternately red and black and are numbered non-consecutively from 1 to 36. The wheel also includes a green compartment marked with 0 or 00.
Variations
Roulette games can be changed or amended to accommodate different player needs. For instance, players can choose a variation that uses more than one ball or that has additional bets. These games can also feature special betting rules and payouts. If you are a new player, it is best to stick with variations that follow the European format and offer a friendly house edge. There are also games that offer higher payouts, like Lighting Roulette from Evolution Gaming and Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT.
Origins
Roulette has a rich history, but the exact origins are unclear. Some people think that a 17th century French mathematician named Blaise Pascal invented the game during his search for a perpetual motion machine. Others believe that it is based on earlier games like portique, hoca, bassette, and roly poly. It’s also possible that it is a descendant of the ancient Chinese game wu shu.
Whatever the truth is, the first true roulette game began to develop into its modern form in France during the 18th century. Its name, which comes from the French word roelet, refers to its central feature of a small wheel. There are also fanciful stories about roulette’s supposed ancestors, including Chinese and Dominican monks. However, these claims are probably untrue.