Roulette consists of a wheel and table with a betting layout. The wheel has 37 or 38 numbered compartments, red and black on European-style wheels, with one green zero on American wheels.
Players can place inside bets on individual numbers or small groups, and outside bets on high/low, odd/even, dozens, and columns. There are also strategies like the Martingale and D’Alembert, which involve raising bets after losses and decreasing them after wins.
Origin
Although there are many different stories about the origins of roulette, the truth is that the game was born from a curious intersection of scientific pursuit and recreational gaming in 1655. French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal conceived the game while staying at the Port Royal-des-Champs monastery for research on a perpetual motion machine.
The game he created was a remarkably similar version to the roulette we know today. The game’s name, from the French word for “little wheel,” also suggests its French origin. However, the majority of websites on the internet that provide a summary history of roulette seem to point to supposed ancestors that are English (Roly Poly) and Italian (Hoca). But Pascal’s contribution is undoubtedly the strongest. This is why his name is inscribed on the roulette wheel.
Variations
There are a few different variations of roulette that differ in the number distribution of numbers on the wheel. In most cases, two odd and two even numbers alternate on each section of the wheel. In addition, the numbers on the roulette wheel are carefully arranged to make sure that each compartment (pocket) has the same dimensions compared to other pockets.
The most popular type of roulette is the European version that uses a single zero and offers a friendly house edge. There are also other variations that have special betting rules and additional bets. However, beginners are encouraged to avoid roulette games that feature a higher house edge and should stick with the European format.