Roullete is a casino game in which players place bets on which number, or various groupings of numbers will come up as the ball comes to rest in one of the numbered compartments of a revolving wheel. Each bet is made by placing chips on a betting mat, the precise placement of which indicates the bet being placed. Each bet is paid out at odds based on the probability that the bet will come up. The game was invented more than 300 years ago, in the 17th century, by French physicist Blaise Pascal, who credited the invention to his quest for a perpetual motion machine.
In the modern version of the game, the roulette wheel consists of a disk with 36 numbered divisions that alternate between red and black and also has an additional green numbered zero. There are two extra green numbers on American tables, and it is this difference in the game that gives the house a bigger advantage over the European version of the game.
The game has become popular around the world and has been adapted to many different cultures. The game has also been influenced by myths and legends, including the stories of Aladdin, King Arthur and the Three Musketeers. The earliest known roulette wheels had only one zero, and it was not until the middle of the 19th century that the game was modified to include the double zero.
A common type of bet is on a specific number, such as the number 7, which is considered to be lucky by many people. Other bets are made on groups of numbers, such as high or low, and whether they are odd or even. In addition, there are bets on specific sections of the wheel such as the first, second or third dozen.
In the early days of the game, the balls used were actually carved from ivory, but nowadays they are made with synthetic materials that resemble the look and feel of ivory. The size, weight and material of the roulette ball has a significant effect on its behavior. A lighter, more erratic ball will move faster and jump more unpredictably before it finally lands on a number. A heavier, more stable ball will move slower and have a greater chance of landing on a number.
