Roulette is one of the oldest casino games. Despite having the lowest popularity in American casinos, it still draws big crowds in Monte Carlo and other European locations. Choose a table that is within your budget before placing bets. Most players wager on the outside numbers.

A roulette wheel has thirty-six divisions alternating between red and black, and on the American version there is an extra green compartment numbered 0. A ball rolls around these compartments until it lands on a number.

Origin

There are a variety of different theories about the origin of roulette. One is that it was invented in the 17th century by a French mathematician named Blaise Pascal. He was trying to create a perpetual motion machine, and in the process created a wheel that had numbered slots.

Another theory is that roulette was inspired by the Italian board game Biribi. The game had a similar structure to today’s roulette and was a popular choice for soldiers. However, encyclopaedias from the era do not mention Biribi so this theory is unlikely to be accurate.

Some people also believe that roulette came from China. A version of the game was played by Chinese monks, who then brought it to Europe as they travelled. The game would then be brought back to France by Dominican monks and given its modern form.

Variations

Roulette can be played in many different variations, each with its own unique rules and payouts. For example, Double Action Roulette utilises a dual-wheel and allows players to make two winning bets with each spin. Other variations include Lighting Roulette from Evolution Gaming, which features multipliers of up to 500x your bet and Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT, which boasts a 1:12,000 payout for straight bonus wins. French Roulette, on the other hand, follows a similar layout and rules but uses French names for bets like Orphelins and Tiers du Zero.