The Basics of Roulette
Roulette is one of the most popular casino games in the world and a great way to get your adrenaline pumping. It’s based on luck and is played with a wheel of numbers that is spun when the game is started. Players bet on a single number or various groupings of numbers, red or black, high or low and other combinations such as odd or even. The goal is to predict which slot the ball will fall into when the wheel stops spinning. The game has become a worldwide phenomenon and is offered at online casinos as well as brick-and-mortar establishments.
The History of Roulette
The history of roulette dates back to the 17th century when French mathematician Blaise Pascal created the first formal version. It was soon adopted by the gambling houses of Europe and became a major draw in many European cities. The modern roulette wheel and table layout were developed in the 1800s after a period of rampant cheating by operators and gamblers. In order to curb this cheating, the roulette wheel was moved to the top of the table and the color of the zeros was changed from black to green.
Unlike craps, where the house edge is more varied, roulette bets have much lower house edges, making it easier to earn money. However, the range is still quite substantial. It can vary from 2.63 percent to 7.89 percent on American double-zero wheels. On the other hand, the house edge is significantly lower on a European single-zero wheel – at around 2.70 percent.
When you play the game you will find that there is a standard roulette table which usually seats up to 7 players (though some casinos may impose a maximum number of players). The Roulette table is flat and circular with a special bet panel, billboard and racetrack where you can make your bets. The Roulette wheel itself consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape. Its rim is lined with metal separators or frets, and in the centre are compartments painted alternately black and red numbered from 1 to 36. In addition, there are two green sections on American-style wheels which carry the symbols 0 and 00.