Roullete, also known as Roulette or French roulette, is a game of chance in which a small ball is spun around the perimeter of a revolving wheel to come to rest in one of 36 numbered compartments. Players place bets on which number or grouping of numbers the ball will land, or on various other combinations that pay off at lesser odds. The game combines simplicity of rules with elegance of design, and has been entertaining and rewarding casino-goers since the 17th century.
Roulette is an exciting game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. While the game is based primarily on luck, there are a few simple strategies that can be used to maximize your winnings. Before you start betting, it is important to understand the basics of roulette, so that you know where to place your chips at the table and how to handle your winnings.
A roulette wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex wooden disk with a series of metal partitions around its edge that allow for different types of bets. Thirty-six of these compartments are painted alternately red and black and numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36, while the last two (on European wheels only) are green and carry the signs 0 and 00 respectively. The spindle is perfectly balanced, allowing the wheel to rotate smoothly in a frictionless manner.
Before a croupier spins the wheel, players place their bets by laying chips on a specialized roulette table, with the precise location of the chip indicating what kind of bet has been made. Bets are placed against the house, and losing bets are cleared off of the table first before winners are paid out. It is important to note that the croupier must never place chips on the same number or type of bet multiple times in the same round. This practice is called “stacking” and is considered cheating.
The earliest known mention of roulette dates back to the 17th century, and it was credited to French mathematician Blaise Pascal. It became popular in the 18th century, and was adopted by casinos across Europe. Several modifications took place to the game, and it reached its final layout and wheel structure by the end of that century.
The most common type of roulette bet is on the Dozens, which covers twelve of the thirty-six total numbers. The odds for this bet are 2-1 and are marked clearly on the roulette table with specific locations. Outside bets cover a range of numbers, from 1 to 36, and are less likely to win than the Dozens.
