Roullete, or roulette, is a game that involves spinning a small ball around a revolving wheel and placing bets on which red or black numbered compartment the ball will fall into as it comes to rest. Each spin of the wheel has its own unique sequence that determines whether you win or lose. The game has been a source of glamour, mystery, and excitement for casino-goers since the 17th century and has gained popularity worldwide. Its simplicity makes it an easy game for beginners to learn, but its rules offer surprising depth for serious betters.
Before each spin of the wheel, players place bets by laying chips on a betting mat with precise markings to indicate the bet being made. Bets on six numbers or less are called “Inside bets” and those on 12 or more are known as “Outside bets.” A croupier spins the wheel and when the ball comes to rest, he or she clears losing bets from the table first. Then, winning bets are paid.
Each roulette table carries a placard listing the minimum and maximum bets allowed. Choose a table within your budget and avoid making large, grandiose bets that may leave you with nothing to show for your efforts. Instead, start by wagering on outside bets (groupings of numbers on the chart) that are cheaper to make and often pay out at higher odds.
The roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk, slightly convex in shape, and its rim with metal partitions or frets that divide it into thirty-six sections. The compartments are painted alternately red and black and numbered from 1 to 36 in a non-consecutive pattern. In addition to the numbers, a number 0 is coloured green on European wheels while two additional green compartments are labelled 00 on American roulette tables.
While there are many fanciful stories about the origins of the game, roulette is a fairly recent development and was invented in France at the end of the 17th century by Blaise Pascal as part of his search for a perpetual motion machine. It quickly became a popular casino game in Paris and its popularity has continued to grow ever since.