Roulette is a casino game that relies on luck. It consists of a solid, convex wheel with 38 compartments numbered from one to 36, plus two green ones marked 0, 00. The compartments are separated by metal partitions, called frets.
Bets are placed until the croupier (dealer) says no more bets. Then, the dealer throws a ball into the wheel and the players watch it spin until it settles in a number slot.
Origin
Roulette, or roullete as it is also known, has been around for a while. The game has a long history in Europe and, despite its French roots, it is now played all over the world. However, the history of the game has a lot of fanciful stories associated with it. Some people claim that it was invented by the 17th century mathematician Blaise Pascal as part of his attempt to create a perpetual motion machine. Others believe that it was created by Dominican monks in France at the end of the 18th century to provide entertainment within their monasteries.
Regardless, it is clear that there were many games similar to roulette before it got its name. These include portique, hoca, bassette and roly poly.
Variations
While the basic game remains the same, different variations of roulette offer a variety of features that can enhance your gaming experience. Some of these features include enhanced payouts and additional betting options. For example, Double Ball Roulette from IGT offers a higher payout for outside bets if both balls hit your selected area. Another variation is Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT, which offers a payout of 1:12,000 for a straight bonus win. Other games like Key Bet Roulette expand betting options with novel features that can boost your winning potential.
Bets
Roulette offers a wide variety of betting opportunities. Some of the riskiest wagers are on split bets, where players place chips to straddle the line between two numbers. If they make a correct prediction, the initial bet will be multiplied by 17 to create their payout. Other bets, such as street bets and trio bets, pay out at a much lower rate, with payouts of 11 to 1. Players can also make outside bets, which are placed on a group of numbers and offer a higher payout when they win. These bets include the Dozens and Columns bets. The Sixline Bet, also known as the sixain in French, is another option.
House edge
A house edge is a built-in mathematical advantage that casinos use to ensure they make a profit over the long run. This edge can be a significant factor in your expected loss per hour when playing roulette. Understanding how to calculate the edge can help you make more informed betting decisions.
In games that require skill, such as blackjack and Spanish 21, the house edge can be lowered to a fraction of 1% using basic strategy. This technique does not involve card counting, which can be detected by casinos and is often prohibited.
The odds of a bet are also affected by the type of roulette wheel used. American roulette wheels have two zero pockets, while European roulette has one. This difference might seem insignificant, but it affects the house edge significantly.