Roulette is a game of chance that can be played with either real or virtual money. Before the wheel spins, players place their chips on the table. Outside bets have a lower house edge but higher payouts than inside bets.

Several betting systems claim to beat the odds of roulette. However, these systems have not been proven as effective.

Origin

Although many people believe that roulette is a modern game, it is actually quite ancient. There is evidence that the Romans played a game that was similar to today’s roulette. The word “roulette” itself is believed to come from the Latin rotella, meaning little wheel.

Despite the numerous theories about its origins, most historians agree that roulette was conceived in 17th-century France by physicist Blaise Pascal. During his quest to create a perpetual motion machine, he created a spinning wheel that became the foundation for the modern game of roulette.

He used a numbering system based on the numbers 0 through 36 and incorporated a red and black color scheme to distinguish the different betting areas. This wheel is the one that we see in casinos and gambling houses today.

Variations

Roulette is available in several different variations. Although all these variants are very similar, each one offers a different experience for the player. The basic differences between these variations are the number of numbered pockets, the payouts and the basic betting options.

The most popular version of roulette is European roulette, which features a wheel with 37 numbered pockets, including a single zero. This gives it a lower house edge than American roulette and has made it a favorite among players seeking better odds. Some variations also feature additional rules, such as La Partage, which allows players who placed even money bets to get half of their wager back if the ball lands in the 0 pocket.

Bets

There are a variety of bets you can make on roulette. The simplest is the street bet, where you put your chips at the end of a row, and get a return if the ball lands on either of two numbers. This bet has high winning odds, but also a high house edge. There are other inside bets such as voisins du zero (neighbors of the zero, 17 numbers closest to it), and le tiers du cylindre (the 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from the zero). Each has different odds and payouts.