admin1989 The game of roulette starts with players making bets. The croupier (dealer) then throws the ball into the spinning roulette wheel and players watch it spin until it lands on a number. They may then collect winning chips depending on the betting odds.
The roulette wheel consists of thirty-six compartments painted alternately red and black, with one green compartment on European wheels and two green compartments on American wheels. Barring exceptional circumstances, no betting system can overcome the built-in house edge.
Origin
The origins of roulette are a bit obscure, but it is generally believed that the game was invented in the 17th century by French mathematician Blaise Pascal as part of his attempt to create a perpetual motion machine. He was unsuccessful in his quest, but the wheel he designed became the basis for modern roulette.
The game was first popularized in 18th century France and is largely associated with gambling houses. Its popularity spread across Europe after it was introduced to the French aristocracy.
Theories about its genesis also vary, but most of them point to supposed ancestors in English (Roly Poly and Even Odd) or Italian (Biribi). One theory suggests that the game was invented by Roman soldiers who played a similar game using shields with symbols and an arrow on them.
Variations
The incredible variety of roulette variants available in online casinos is proof that players do not consider odds and expected value alone when they decide what game to play. Rather, they look for a pleasant experience – and this is exactly what variations of the game offer. From the French version that retains rules like ‘en prison’ and ‘La Partage’ and is played on a standard single-zero wheel with French names for bets, to Double Ball Roulette from IGT offering a bonus game that boosts payouts, there are plenty of options to explore as you learn more about this mesmerizing casino classic.