Roulette is a game of pure chance. Its origin is disputed, with 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal and a Dominican monk being credited with its invention.
The game is played on a circular wheel divided into thirty-six red and black compartments, plus a single green zero compartment on American wheels. Bets are placed by laying chips on the betting mat before the dealer spins the wheel.
Origin
There are a number of different stories about the origin of roulette. Some claim that it was invented by 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal as a way to study probability. Others believe that the game was introduced to France from China by Dominican monks. Most agree, however, that the modern version of roulette originated in the early 18th century in France. It was based on earlier games such as portique, hoca and bassette. It also drew from the Italian board game biribi, in which players bet on a series of numbered squares to see which one will be randomly selected. The game was also introduced to America as more and more European immigrants made their way here. Eventually, the game evolved to its current configuration and wheel structure.
Variations
Roulette variations exist in order to offer a variety of gambling experiences. Gamblers do not only consider odds, expected value, and house advantage when playing the game; they also look for a pleasant experience and variation contributes to that. For example, Double Action Roulette is played on a special wheel with two concentric rings instead of the traditional single one and offers unique betting options. It also uses different names for the bets and a table layout that is more French than European.