Roulette is a casino game played with chips on a wheel and table. The wheel has thirty-six compartments numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36 and alternately red and black, with two green ones (called pockets on American tables).
Players bet on which number or section the ball will land in by placing their chips on a betting mat. Once the croupier announces that betting is closed, the dealer spins the wheel and throws the ball.
Origin
The history of roulette is a little hazy. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that it originated in ancient Rome when soldiers would spin shields bearing symbols against a numbered board and place bets on the number that came up. However, there isn’t enough evidence to support this claim. Another theory states that the game came from China and was introduced to France by Dominican monks. Whatever its true origin, the modern version of the game dates back to 18th-century France. The French mathematician Blaise Pascal is credited with inventing the roulette wheel in his quest to produce the first perpetual motion machine.
Variations
There are many variations of roulette games that use different wheels and layouts. Some of these variations also offer special betting rules and bets. While these games may not have the same payouts as traditional roulette, they can still be fun to play and offer a variety of winning potential. However, if you’re a beginner, you should avoid any variation that has a higher house edge. The best Roulette game variants are those that follow the European format and have a friendly house edge. Some of these include: Double Ball Roulette, which uses two balls instead of one; and Triple Bonus Spin Roulette, which offers a maximum payout of 1:12,000 for a straight bonus win.
