Roulette is a casino game where players bet on which numbers, sections or colors the ball will land. Before the croupier throws the ball, players place their chips on a betting mat.
Depending on the wheel type, the house edge can vary. For instance, an American roulette wheel has two green pockets labeled 0 and 00, which significantly increases the house edge.
Origin
There are many stories about the origins of roulette, most of them claiming that it was invented by 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal. Others claim that it was derived from English games such as Roly Poly and Even Odd, and Italian ones such as Hoca and Biribi. Regardless of its true origin, it is clear that the game became popular around 1800. It is first mentioned under the name of “roulette” in a document describing gambling regulations. It was later included on a list of banned games in 1836. Despite these setbacks, roulette quickly gained popularity worldwide. The game’s popularity continues to this day, both in casinos and at home.
Variations
Roulette variations offer players a variety of experiences. These games usually differ in terms of the wheel’s make-up and house edge. For example, Double Ball Roulette uses a European roulette layout and offers similar bets, but it comes with a higher house edge of 2.7%. Other variations of the game include Lighting Roulette, which features multipliers, and Triple Bonus Spin, a variation from IGT that offers payouts of up to 1:12,000 for straight bonus wins. Choosing the right variant depends on the player’s skill level and experience. Some variations have additional bets and special rules, which can complicate the game for beginners.
Bets
The odds of winning vary when it comes to placing a bet on the roulette table. For example, the Dozens bet has a higher chance of success than the Columns bet as there are more numbers to choose from. Similarly, Outside bets such as the Dozens and the Street bet pay 2-1 if the player makes a correct prediction but the House edge is higher on these types of wagers. The odds of the game are also listed on the betting grid for players to refer to.