Roullete is a casino game in which players place bets on either a single number, various groups of numbers (such as the Dozens or Columns), the color red or black, whether the number is odd or even, or if it is high (19-36) or low (1-18). The object is to correctly guess which compartment the roulette ball will drop into as the wheel comes to a stop. The odds of winning vary depending on the type and amount of bet made.
Roulette is one of the most popular casino games, and for good reason. It is a simple and easy-to-understand game with an appealing array of betting options. The game also provides a surprising level of depth for serious betters.
The earliest evidence of the game dates back more than 300 years to 17th-century France. The game is credited to the mathematician Blaise Pascal, who was exploring probability as he developed his concept of a perpetual motion machine. The Roulette wheel itself was an accidental invention—Pascal was spinning a disk-shaped, metal-rimmed dish-like device known as a rotor when it landed in a compartment marked with a solitary green zero.
A croupier takes bets from players, then spins the roulette wheel in one direction while rolling a small ball in the opposite direction around a tilted circular track that runs around the perimeter of the wheel. The ball loses momentum as it curves down the rim of the wheel, then drops into one of 37 or 38 compartments that determine the winner.
A dealer then marks the winning bets on the table, pays out winners, clears the losing chips from the board and starts a new round. Each roulette table carries a placard that describes the minimum and maximum bets allowed. It’s important to set a budget before you hit the tables and stick to it—refrain from wagering more than you can afford to lose. It’s also a good idea to start with “outside” bets, which cover a larger area of the betting table and have lower odds than individual digit bets.