Fanciful stories abound about the origins of roulette, but the game really took off in the 18th century after French mathematician Blaise Pascal invented a version with a zero. Today, most casinos feature a single-zero wheel and offer several types of bets with different payouts.
There are many bets in roullete, but they can all be broken down into two categories: Inside and Outside. Inside bets are made on individual numbers or small groups of numbers. Outside bets cover big groups of numbers.
Origin
The origin of roulette is a little bit unclear. Some say it was invented by 17th century French physicist Blaise Pascal in his quest for a perpetual motion machine. Others say it was based on the Italian board game biribi.
Other games that have been thought to be precursors to roulette include portique, hoca, bassette, and even-odd. However, there is not sufficient evidence to support these claims.
In 1842, the Blanc brothers made a significant change to the roulette wheel that would ultimately make it what we know it as today. They removed the double zero pocket, creating what is now known as a European or French roulette wheel. This allowed the game to grow in popularity. It also led to the game making its way to America.
Variations
Roulette has many different variations, each with its own unique rules and betting options. While some variants are more suited for novice players, others offer more complex gameplay and higher prize payouts. Key Bet Roulette, for example, takes the traditional European game to new levels by combining standard inside and outside bets with novel features that can multiply winnings. Double Action Roulette combines two concentric rings on the roulette wheel, doubling your chances of winning every spin!
Bets
When playing roullete, players must consider the odds of each bet to determine how much they should risk. This is because each type of outside bet has different odds and payouts. Some examples include the high/low bet, where players predict whether the ball will land on a high number (19-36) or a low number (1-18). Another example is the Dozens bet, which involves placing chips on the first, second or third 12 squares of the roulette betting grid. This type of bet pays 2-1. However, the most common outside bet is the Street, which covers 17 numbers and pays 11 to 1. This bet also has a higher minimum bet than other special bets.