Roulette is a casino game that involves betting on which red or black numbered compartment the ball will enter as it comes to rest. Players place chips on a table map to represent their bets. Inside bets pay off higher odds, while outside bets are less risky.
The wheel has thirty-six compartments alternating between black and red. On European wheels, a green section carries the number 0.
Origin
There are many theories about the origin of roulette but the game that is now widely known as roullete emerged in 17th century France and probably combined elements of other games like roly poly, portique, even-odd and hoca. As more and more Europeans made their way to America, it is quite likely that the game of roullete followed suit. However, it did not arrive in the US with its present structure of a single-zero wheel until about 1856. Even then, it was not the same game that is played today as Hoyle from 1875 describes a wheel that had only 37 pockets and no double zero. It is thought that the earliest written reference to roulette was in a gambling regulations document from New France in 1758.
Variations
There are many variations of roulette that offer different betting rules, table layouts and additional bets. The choice of which version to play depends on the player’s experience level and preferences. Generally speaking, players look for a pleasant gaming experience that also provides them with a certain degree of enjoyment. This is why roulette variants that follow the European format with a friendly house edge are popular. However, players also love games that feature unique wheels and special bets.
Bets
The roulette game has a number of different betting options. The most common is the Red or Black bet, which pays out at 1:1 odds if the player makes a correct prediction. Other outside bets include the Split bet, which involves placing chips on a line separating two numbers and pays out at 17 to 1. The Street bet is another type of outside wager that pays out 11 to 1 if the player correctly guesses three consecutive numbers in a row.