Roulette is one of the most popular casino games, especially in Europe. It has a lower following than other games like slot machines, blackjack and video poker, but it still draws crowds.
Unlike craps, there is no skill involved in the game of roullete. However, it does have a variety of bet types.
Origin
There are many theories about the origin of roulette. Some believe that it was invented by the French physicist Blaise Pascal as part of his attempts to create a wheel that could demonstrate perpetual motion. Others believe that it was derived from English even/odd games or from the Italian board game Biribi. Some historians have also suggested that the game may be rooted in ancient Rome, Greece, or China. There is no definitive proof that any of these theories are correct, however.
Roulette is played on a wheel with 38 (or 37 on European/Latin American tables) divisions, each numbered from 1 to 36. Players place bets by laying chips on a betting area. The ball is then rolled around the wheel until it comes to rest in one of the slots.
Variations
Many variations of roulette exist, some offering special betting rules and bets while others have different payouts. If you’re a beginner, stick with the European variant that follows a single-zero format and has a friendly house edge of 2.7%. Other games to try include French roulette, which uses a standard wheel and offers ‘En prison’ and ‘La Partage’ rules that boost your winning potential. If you’re looking for a more modern take on the game, check out Lightning Roulette from Evolution Gaming and Triple Bonus Spin from IGT, which delivers up to 1:12,000 payouts for straight bonus wins. These are among the most popular online roulette games available.