Roulette is one of the oldest casino games and has gained in popularity among Europeans. However, it still has a very small following in the United States.
Before the wheel spins, players place their chips on a betting mat. They can make either Inside or Outside bets. The croupier then throws the ball into the spinning wheel and winners are rewarded according to their odds of winning.
Origin
There are many theories about the origin of roulette, including that it was invented by 17th-century French physicist Blaise Pascal in his quest for perpetual motion. There are also rumors that it was invented by Dominican monks or even by the Chinese, who sent it to Europe along with other games. Whatever the truth is, modern roulette originated in France and first appeared in the form we know it today in 1716. Its influences include English E.O. games and the Italian board game Biribi.
Some people believe that Roman soldiers played a game similar to modern roulette. It involved spinning shields that had symbols on them, but there isn’t enough evidence to prove this claim. It is also unlikely that ancient Greeks played a version of roulette, since they were more interested in other gambling games.