Roulette is a game of chance that involves a spinning wheel and a ball. Players can choose to bet on a single number, various groupings of numbers, red or black, odd or even and high (19-36) or low (1-18).
Before playing, set your budget and decide how much you want to spend on betting. Then, select a table that allows you to wager within your limits.
Variations
While standard roulette has always been the most popular variation of the game, there are many other variants available to players. Some of them have different rules and payouts, while others differ in the layout of the wheel and betting options. For example, French roulette has a different layout that presents two separate rings and the numbering of the pockets is also slightly different. This variation has a higher chance for the ball to land in the zero pocket, and thus lowers outside bet payouts.
Origins
Despite its popularity, the origins of roulette are somewhat mysterious. Some fanciful theories claim that the game was invented by 17th-century French math wizard Blaise Pascal while working on his perpetual motion machine or by Dominican monks who brought it to France from China. Others point to the games hoca and portique as its supposed ancestors. Whatever its true roots, roulette evolved into its current form by the early 18th century. It is now the leading game in many casinos and gambling houses.