Roullete is a casino game of chance in which players bet on either a single number or various groupings of numbers. The numbers are arranged in a seemingly random pattern and alternate between red and black. The wheel also contains a single green division numbered 0. On American tables there is an extra green division marked 00. A ball is spun around the outside of the wheel until it comes to rest in one of the divisions. The winning bets are paid according to their odds.
Roulette is a popular casino game and its rules are relatively simple to understand. However, it can have a surprising depth of strategy for serious betters.
Prior to the spinning of the wheel, players place bets by laying down chips on a betting mat, the precise location of each chip indicating the type of bet placed. The bets are based on the number or groupings of numbers, whether they are odd or even, and the color (red or black). Bets on six numbers or less are called Inside bets. Those on twelve or more are called Outside bets.
The game has its roots in the 17th century and was invented by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal. It quickly became a popular game in the illegal gambling dens of France and then spread across Europe. When it arrived in the United States, cheating was rampant and the game was modified to prevent this by placing the wheel and table on top of each other and making the betting layout simpler. This version of the game is referred to as American roulette.
A single zero wheel was introduced in 1843 and this massively reduced the house edge, allowing the game to gain enormous popularity. It then spread to the legal gambling dens of Monte Carlo and eventually reached all other parts of the world.
There are several variations of the game that differ in how the bets are made and the payouts. The most common variation is European roulette which offers higher winning probabilities than the American version. Other variants include Mini, Multi-Wheel and German roulette. These games may also have a live dealer.