Roulette is a game of chance, where a ball rolls around a wheel and players bet on what number it will land on. It’s one of the most popular casino games, both online and in person.
Unlike other casino games, roulette doesn’t require skill to win, but there are still strategies that can improve your chances of winning. For example, opting for outside bets increases your odds of winning.
Origin
The game of roulette is an ancient one, but its exact origins are obscure. Some believe it was invented in the 17th century by French physicist and philosopher Blaise Pascal in his quest to create a perpetual motion machine. Others suggest it was developed in France in the 18th century from older games such as portique, hoca, bassette and roly poly. There are even claims that it was based on an ancient Chinese board game discovered by Dominican monks.
As French migrants migrated to America, they brought the game with them. In an effort to make the game more competitive, the Blanc brothers got rid of the double zero pocket on the roulette wheel, creating a single-zero version that we still play today. The word ‘roulette’ itself is derived from the Latin rotella, meaning a little wheel.