Roullete (pronounced “row-LEE”) is a casino game that has offered glamour, mystery, and excitement to gamblers since the 17th century. Although its rules are relatively simple, the game offers a surprising level of depth for serious players. And the right strategy can reap high rewards.
The basic premise of the game is that you place bets by laying chips on a betting mat, with precise placement indicating the bet being placed. Each bet covers a grouping of numbers, with each individual number paying out based on the probability that it will hit. You can also choose to make bets on a color or whether the number is odd or even. Those bets that cover six or less numbers are called “Inside bets” while those that cover twelve or more are known as “Outside bets.”
While there is no proof that roulette was invented by the famous French mathematician Blaise Pascal, it did evolve from older games such as hoca and portique in the early 18th century. It took on its current form by the mid-19th century and rapidly gained popularity in casinos and gambling houses throughout Europe. During this time, the game was also adopted in America, where it is still a popular choice for casino-goers.
A typical roulette wheel is a solid wooden disk, slightly convex in shape, with metal divisions around its edge. The compartments are painted alternately red and black, and on European-style wheels a single green compartment carries the number 0. On American roulette wheels, there are two additional green compartments, marked 0 and 00.
Each roulette table has a placard that describes the minimum and maximum bets allowed on that table. Typically, there is a higher minimum bet for outside bets than inside bets. So before you place your bet, determine your budget and select a table that accommodates it. If you’re a beginner, you should start with the outside bets and work your way up.
Before play begins, the dealer removes a small object from the top of the wheel, which is known as the buck or puck. This object indicates the number that was spun on the last decision. Then the dealer will place a marker on the betting area to indicate the amount of your bet.
Regardless of what bets you place, it is important to understand how the odds of winning change with each spin. The first step is to calculate the expected return, or the percentage of your bet that will be returned on average. To do this, simply multiply your total bet by the probability of hitting that bet. For example, a bet on a straight up pays out 36 to 1 – a return of 96 percent.