Roulette is a gambling game where a small ball rolls around a wheel and people bet on what number it will land on. Players place bets by placing chips on a betting mat.
Bets can be made on individual numbers, groups of numbers or on a square. Inside bets have a lower house edge than outside bets.
Origin
It is difficult to determine exactly where roulette originated. Several theories exist. One is that it was invented by Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician, in the 17th century while he was trying to create a perpetual motion machine. Another theory is that it evolved from an Italian game called Biribi. Some historians have also pointed to other games that were similar to roulette, such as portique, hoca, bassette and even-odd, as possible precursors.
Regardless of the exact origin, roulette first appeared in Europe around 1796 and was soon a popular gambling game in casinos and other establishments. It was then that it acquired its modern appearance and wheel structure. It is believed that as Europeans traveled more frequently, they brought roulette with them to other parts of the world.
Variations
While the basic game of roullete is the same, regional variations may have some minor differences. For example, the American roulette version differs from its European counterpart in that it has more 0s and offers an additional betting option called la partage. This feature allows players to get half of their wager back if the ball lands in one of the even-money bets, such as the first, second, and third dozens. Similarly, French roulette is similar to the European version but uses different terminologies and has a unique layout for bets like Orphelins and Tiers du Zero. Ultimately, a casino’s roullete variant should be enjoyable for players to play and offer a unique experience.