If you’re considering playing roullete, there are few things to keep in mind. First, choose a game with a European wheel and avoid American roulette. French roulette is often available and has a lower house edge, plus it can have special rules like la partage that give players half their money back if the winning number is zero.

Origin

The origin of roulette is not completely known. There are a number of fanciful stories that point to supposed ancestors including a 17th-century French mathematician named Blaise Pascal and an older game called hoca. Nevertheless, modern roulette was developed in France in the 18th century and first appeared in gambling houses. Its wheel and layout were based on the earlier games hoca and portique, and it soon became popular among the upper classes of the time.

A modern roulette wheel has 38 (or 37 on American tables) numbered divisions that are painted red and black. Players place bets by laying chips on a betting mat, and the wheel is spun to determine which number will appear.