Roulette is a game of chance where players bet on individual numbers or small groups. The odds and payouts vary by bet type. Players have until the croupier says “No more bets!” to place their chips.

Some roulette strategies involve raising your bets after losses to recover them. The Reverse Martingale strategy involves doubling your bets after each loss and the D’Alembert system involves increasing bets in a mathematical progression.

Origin

The origin of roulette is not completely clear. It seems that it evolved from other games such as portique, hoca, bassette and even-odd. These games were similar to roulette and used a spinning wheel with different pockets, but they did not use the same layout.

In the 1700s, roulette became a popular game in Paris gambling houses and the modern version of the game was born. This version used a table with numbered slots and a spinning wheel. The numbers were coloured red and black, and players placed their bets on the number they thought would come up next.

The true origin of roulette is a mystery, but there are many theories. One is that 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal invented it during his quest to create a perpetual motion machine. Other theories claim that the game was invented in China and introduced to France by Dominican monks.

Variations

To the naked eye, the number distribution on a roulette wheel appears random. However, it has been carefully arranged in order to ensure that each section of the wheel contains two odd numbers and one even number, and that there is a balanced distribution between the various pockets. This makes the game more predictable and gives players a greater sense of control over their chances of winning. Other rules include La Partage, which allows players to recover half of their coins placed on an even event, and En Prison, which locks your bets for the next spin.