Roulette is a game of chance, and while many betting systems claim to give players an edge, luck is the only factor that determines whether you win or lose. There are a few basic rules to keep in mind before you start playing.
The table is a grid covered with betting areas, numbered 1 through 36 (American roulettes have an extra green zero). Each area corresponds to a different type of bet.
Origin
Roulette’s allure lies in its paradoxical duality: it’s mathematically precise, yet existentially random. Its circular form calls to mind the medieval “Wheel of Fortune,” turned by Fortuna to determine human fates. It promises wealth and ruin, joy and despair, all based on the bounce of a single ball.
The origin of roulette is a bit of a mystery, but most historians agree that it started in the 17th century. Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and physicist, invented the game during his quest for a perpetual motion machine in 1655. He combined a gaming wheel with the Italian game Biribi to create roulette.
The game migrated to America with French settlers and found its first American home in New Orleans. The city’s Creole culture and role as a major port made it the natural entry point for European gambling traditions.