Roulette is a game of chance played on a spinning wheel. It is credited with having been invented more than 300 years ago by 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal.

The game is played by betting on a single number or various groupings of numbers. It has a house edge and players can choose to make inside or outside bets.

Origin

There are a few different theories regarding the origin of roulette. One theory is that it was invented by a French mathematician named Blaise Pascal in the 17th century while he was working on a perpetual motion machine. He reportedly combined a wheel of numbers with the Italian game Biribi to create the game of roulette. Another theory is that the game originated in China and was brought to France by Dominican monks. Finally, some anecdotal evidence suggests that Roman soldiers played a gambling game with shields that were similar to the modern-day version of roulette. Whatever the true origin of the game, it is widely believed that roulette was introduced in France in the late 18th century and became popular with the aristocracy. It would later become a staple in casinos and gambling houses throughout Europe.

Variations

Roulette has several variants. Some versions include special betting rules and additional bets. These games have a higher house edge and may not be the best option for beginners. If you’re looking for a game with a friendly house edge, then stick to the classic European variation. Other popular roulette games include Lighting Roulette from Evolution Gaming, which offers payouts up to 500x your bet, and Triple Bonus Spin from IGT, which boasts a 1:12,000 payout for a straight bonus win. These roulette games have higher payouts than the standard European version. They are also fun to play. But if you’re a beginner, then avoid these roulette variants.