Roulette is a casino game played on a table with a revolving roulette wheel. It is a game of chance and there are many betting systems that claim to beat the odds.

Players place chips on the roulette table and wait for the croupier to announce “No more bets”. There are different types of bets and each has a different payout.

Origin

The origin of roulette is a bit mysterious, and a number of different theories exist. Some of the most common include that it was derived from the older games portique, hoca, bassette, and roly poly. Others claim that it was a French variation of the Italian board game biribi.

Regardless of its exact genesis, the game became very popular in the late 18th century. The first modern roulette wheels appeared in Paris in 1796, and they were very similar to those that we use today.

Some historians believe that the game originated in China and was brought to Europe by Dominican monks who visited the country. Others think that it was invented by a 17th-century French mathematician named Blaise Pascal. There is also a theory that it evolved from the ancient Roman chariot wheel.

Variations

There are many variations of roulette games. These versions differ from each other mainly by their make-up. The most common is the European roulette with 38 pockets and a single zero, which is more simple to play and has a friendly house edge. However, players are not just concerned about the odds or expected value; they also look for a pleasant experience. Therefore, even a variant with a lower probability of winning can become more popular than the standard version over time. Some of the most interesting roulette game variations include Lightning Roulette from Evolution Gaming, which features multipliers and La Partage rules; and Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT, which offers payouts as high as 1:12,000 for a straight bonus win.