Roullete (from French for little wheel) is a game of chance that has offered glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. While it is a relatively simple game, roulette provides a surprising level of depth for serious bettors who understand the nuances of probability. With the right strategy, players can make some big money playing this exciting game.
The game of roulette involves a small ball spinning around a revolving wheel with compartments numbered 1 to 36, alternately red and black, with an additional green division labelled 0. When the wheel comes to rest, the ball will fall into one of these compartments. The game is played by placing bets against the house, either on individual numbers, various groupings of numbers or the colors red and black. Bets are made by laying chips on a betting mat, the precise location of each chip indicating the bet being placed.
Roulette was derived in France in the early 18th century from earlier games such as hoca and portique, and its present layout and wheel structure was developed about 1790. The game became popular worldwide, and is now a staple in casinos and gambling dens. The game’s enduring popularity is attributed to its simplicity, ease of play and high payoffs.
Before the spin of the roulette wheel, the dealer clears the table of all losing bets and pays out winners. Winning bets are marked with a marker, and the winning chips remain in place until requested to be removed by the player. It is important to cash out your winnings as soon as possible, and not to dip into your winnings for future bets.
The Roulette wheel and table have certain symmetries, including the fact that all the low red numbers and all the black high numbers are on one side of the wheel, while all the odd and even numbers are on the other. A bet on the second dozen, for example, pays 2-1, and is usually the highest paying bet in any game. The symmetries in the wheel also contribute to the fact that no single number is more likely to be hit than any other.