Roulette is a game of chance that involves spinning a ball around a revolving wheel. Players place bets on which colored and numbered compartment the ball will come to rest in. The numbers on a European-style roulette wheel range from 1 to 36 and alternate red and black. On American roulette wheels, there are also two green compartments marked 0 and 00.
Origin
The exact origin of roulette is not known. However, many theories have been offered. Some of these include that it was invented by the 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal while he was trying to create a perpetual motion machine. Others believe that the game was first created in China and then brought to Europe by Dominican monks. It is also possible that the game was developed from older games such as hoca and portique, and that it gradually grew in popularity until it reached its present form in the late 18th century.
Modern roulette wheels are still slightly different from those in the 1700s but they have evolved significantly over time. Today’s wheels have numbered slots and red and black backgrounds. They are used in gambling houses and casinos throughout the world.
Variations
While the house edge, expected value, and payouts will remain the same no matter what variation of roulette you play, there are some subtle differences that can have a big impact on your overall winning potential. For example, Key Bet Roulette offers additional betting options that can increase your payouts by up to 100x, while Lighting Roulette from Evolution Gaming relies on multipliers to deliver some of the highest payouts around. Other variants include Double Ball Roulette from IGT, which delivers a payout of 1:12,000 for a straight bonus win.