Roulette is an exciting casino game with a wide range of betting options. The different bet types in the game have specific odds and payouts.

Players use regular casino chips to place their wagers on the roulette felt. Each player gets a distinct color of chip to help them differentiate their wagers from those of other players.

Origins

The origins of roulette are obscure, but some forms of wheel-based games date back to ancient Rome. The Wheel of Fortune, also called Rota Fortunae, used a wagon wheel that was marked with symbols and an arrow; soldiers would spin the shields and place bets based on which symbol appeared in front of the arrow.

The roulette game we know today was developed in the 17th century in France. Its ancestors were the games Roly Poly and Even-Odd, both of which included spinning a wheel and betting on the result, as well as Biribi, an Italian game that involved guessing which numbered ticket would be pulled out of a bag.

A French mathematician, Blaise Pascal, is often credited with the invention of roulette. He was trying to create a perpetual motion machine and combined elements of these other games with a gaming wheel.

Rules

Once players have placed their chips using a betting mat, the croupier throws a ball into a spinning wheel. The ball eventually settles into a pocket that marks a specific number. Players who bet on that number have won. When the winning number is announced, the croupier clears off losing bets and pays out winners.

Roulette tables have different betting odds and payouts for each type of bet. Players can place bets on individual numbers, groups of numbers or the entire table. In addition, some players attempt to predict the outcome of a spin by analyzing past results and relying on the gambler’s fallacy.

Some players believe that certain numbers, colors or odd vs. even patterns appear more frequently during certain periods of play. However, this is a false assumption and can lead to bad bets.

Variations

There are several different roulette variants to choose from, including those available in real money online casinos. These games can be played on PCs, Android phones, tablets, and iOS devices. They also feature a live dealer, which gives the game an authentic casino feel.

Despite being one of the oldest gambling games around, roulette remains a game of chance. Although many people try to use betting systems to gain an edge over the house, it’s mathematically impossible.

European Roulette is the most popular variation of the game both in land-based and online casinos. It has the same 37-pocket wheel as American roulette but has a single zero, which reduces the house edge to a coveted 2.7%. The European version is also more popular amongst novice players as it offers a higher winning probability.

Bets

Roulette tables offer several betting opportunities. Players can wager on individual numbers, groups of numbers, or even the entire table. The winning number is determined after a dealer spins the wheel and drops a ball into a slot. The dealer then clears losing bets and pays the winner’s chips.

Roulette is a game of chance and players should not make grandiose bets based on past results. This type of strategy can lead to large financial losses. Instead, players should focus on outside bets that cover a larger number of numbers.

The Double Street Quad is one such bet that covers 17 different numbers. Another good choice is the Fibonacci sequence, which also covers a large number of numbers. Players should note that betting limits vary for different types of bets.

Payouts

There are a variety of payouts for roulette bets. The payouts are determined by the odds and the type of bet. A straight up bet pays 35 to 1 and a winning bet will have the amount of chips won plus the original $1 bet back.

The highest payout for a single-number bet is 35:1, while a split bet offers 17:1. A column bet wins if the ball lands on the number in your chosen column, and a zen bet covers three ’12’ sections of the table and pays 2 to 1.

Outside bets cover numbers found on the perimeter of the roulette wheel and have higher chances of winning. However, if you lose many times in a row, your bankroll will be drained. Moreover, martingale betting strategies can lead to large financial losses in the long run.