Roullete, from the French for “little wheel,” is a casino game where players bet on the outcome of a spin of a numbered wheel. A small ball is thrown onto the spinning wheel and, if it lands on one of the betted numbers – whether a single number, various groupsings of numbers, red or black, odd or even, or high or low – the player wins. A variety of bet types can be made, with some offering more chances to win and others offering higher payouts.
Despite fanciful stories of its invention by 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal, roulette is actually derived from earlier games like hoca and portique. By the late 18th century, it had become a popular game in gambling dens across Europe. When it came to the United States, its popularity grew rapidly, as did cheating by gamblers and operators.
A roulette wheel consists of a bowl-shaped disk with a series of divisions around its edge, each with a different number, alternately red and black. On some tables, there is an extra green division labelled 0. The wheel is spun and the ball is dropped into a slot where it will stay until the wheel comes to a stop. When the ball and wheel come to a rest, the winning bets are paid.
Bets are placed by laying chips on a betting mat, the precise location of the chips indicating the bet being made. The betting mat is typically marked with the words “Inside bets” and “Outside bets”. The game’s French origin means that, on some European tables, the terms are in French but on American roulette wheels English words and a different style of betting mat are used. Bets on six or less numbers are known as Inside bets while bets on more than 12 are called Outside bets.
While many people swear by elaborate systems for predicting the outcomes of a game of roulette, most professional gamblers admit that they cannot beat the maths. However, some have discovered ways to maximize their chances of a good game by seeking out rigged wheels and making certain bets.
Before each roulette round, the dealer clears the table of winning bets and pays the winners. Players then have time to place new bets on their desired numbers. It’s a good idea for beginners to start by wagering on “outside bets” that cover larger areas of the wheel and pay out at a lower rate.