Roulette, sometimes known as Roullete (French for wheel), is a casino game in which you place a bet on the color or pattern of numbers that will appear when a ball is spun around a revolving roulette wheel and comes to rest in one of a number of compartments. It is a simple game of chance that relies on luck, and it has become one of the most popular games at online and land-based casinos in the world.
The history of the game dates back to the 17th Century when French mathematician Blaise Pascal is credited with inventing it. Originally, the wheel had divisions that were red and black alternately, plus a single zero, but an extra green pocket was added on American roulette wheels starting in the 1800s. The game was banned in the United States for a while, but once it became legal again in the late 19th Century, it quickly found a large audience.
People bet on the outcome of the spin by placing chips on a special roulette table before the wheel is spun. The table has a betting mat with the specific locations for different types of bets clearly marked. In European roulette, the bets on six numbers or less are called “Inside bets” and the bets on 12 or more are referred to as “Outside bets.”
When a winning number is determined, the player’s wagers are paid out depending on the type of bet. For example, a straight bet on number 1 or number 3 costs 35 chips and pays out 36. A split bet on number 2 and 3 costs 26 chips and pays out 29. A corner bet on four numbers, on the other hand, costs 34 chips and pays out 39.
Roulette is played at many top online and land-based casinos, and it can be enjoyed for free or with real money. When playing online, you can choose to use a computer to place your bets for you or you can play with a live dealer in real time. While the latter option is more expensive, it offers a more authentic experience. Regardless of which type of roulette you choose to play, it’s important to understand the basics of the game before making any bets.
