Roulette is a casino game in which players bet on the outcome of a spinning wheel after a ball has dropped into a numbered compartment. Bets can be placed on single numbers, various groupings of numbers (Dozens and Columns), the color red or black, whether a number is odd or even, or if the numbers are high (19-36) or low (1-18). The odds for winning are proportional to the total amount wagered. The game originated in the 18th century in Europe and remains popular to this day.
The game is easy to learn, and offers a surprising level of depth for serious betters. The game of Roullete has offered glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers since the 17th century. The earliest incarnation of the game was invented by the French scientist and mathematician Blaise Pascal in his quest to create a perpetual motion machine, but it didn’t gain traction until it was introduced in the American gambling dens of the 19th century.
Before the wheel is spun, people place bets by laying chips on the table. These are then marked with their precise location on a betting mat. The numbers 1 through 36 are on the outside of the rim and the color of each bet is indicated by a stripe on the betting area, or “the table map.” The odds of winning for any specific bet are shown on the left side of the table.
During the course of a game, the dealer clears the betting area of all losing bets and pays out winners. Winning bets are then moved to a special area and the process repeats. Some players like to watch their opponents, hoping they can learn something about the way they play, but this won’t improve their own odds of hitting.
The mathematics of Roulette is based on probability, the study of how likely an event is to occur. This is why there are so many systems out there, some easy to understand, and others not so much. The best thing to do is to choose a system that suits your personal style and budget, and stick with it.