Roulette is a casino game in which a croupier spins a wheel with 36 numbers and a 0 (or 00 on some American tables) and people bet on what slot the ball will land in. The game’s popularity has led to the creation of many betting systems, which claim to beat the odds.
Origins
The origins of roulette are murky. The game’s name, derived from the French phrase for little wheel, suggests that it came into being in France but historians disagree about its actual origin. Some believe that it was invented by Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician, in 1655 as part of his efforts to create a perpetual motion machine. Others think that it may have evolved from a similar game called Biribi, which was played in Italy.
What is known for sure is that the modern game was first played in Paris in 1796. Until that time, gambling was illegal in most of Europe. When it was legalized, it quickly became popular. It has since spread to casinos around the world. Roulette is played with a revolving dishlike device, or roulettewheel, into which a ball is spun to come to rest in one of 38 (or 37 on modern European/Latin American tables) compartments.
Variations
Roulette variations differ from one another in terms of the number of pockets on the wheel, payouts and betting options. Each has its own unique charm that appeals to players. European Roulette, for instance, is the most common form of the game that can be found in casinos across Europe and other parts of the world. The house edge for this variation is 2.7%. Other popular games include Roulette Royale, which offers a progressive jackpot and a single-zero wheel, and Astro Roulette, which uses European rules but replaces traditional numbers with zodiac signs. For players who are looking for higher payouts, try a game like Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT, which offers 1:12,000 for a straight bonus win. This game also has a different turn order that reduces the probability of losing a bet by changing the sequence in which the player’s chips are placed.