Roulette is a game of chance played on a table with numbered bet areas and a revolving wheel. The wheel has thirty-six compartments, painted alternately red and black, with one or two green pockets (depending on whether you’re playing European or American Roulette).
You can place inside bets on individual numbers or small groups of numbers. These bets have a lower house edge than outside bets, but higher payouts.
Origin
There are a variety of theories about the origin of roulette. Some believe that it was invented by 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal during his search for a perpetual motion machine. Others believe that it was derived from an earlier game called Biribi, which was played in France during the early 18th century. The game eventually made its way to America and then back to Europe, where it became very popular in gambling houses and casinos.
There is also a theory that the game originated in Rome or Greece, where soldiers would spin shields with symbols on them and bet on which one would stop in front of an arrow. Regardless of its origin, there is no doubt that roulette has a long and rich history.
Variations
While a classic European roulette game has a house edge of 2.7%, players can find different versions of the game that offer more or less favorable odds. If you’re looking for the best payouts, look for games that include bonus features that multiply your winnings. These games include Lightning Roulette from Evolution Gaming and Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT.
Other variations of the game use the same betting rules and layout as a standard single-zero wheel, but they may have unique names for some bets. For example, French Roulette is played with a standard single-zero wheel and offers the same betting options as the European version, but it uses different bets and includes the en prison and la partage rules. These variations add to the game’s variety and can make it more fun to play.