Roulette is a game of chance played on a table with a revolving roulette wheel. Players place bets by laying chips on a special layout before the dealer spins the wheel. The odds of winning a specific bet are known as the house edge.

It is important to understand the odds of roulette before placing your bets. This will help you determine the best bet type for your budget.

Origin

There is no clear consensus among historians about where roulette originated. Some believe that it was invented by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal in the 17th century as part of his quest to create a perpetual motion machine. Others believe that it evolved from the Italian game Biribi, which had a similar wheel and betting system.

Another theory is that it originated in China, where it was played by monks who then brought it to Europe when they traveled. Regardless, it is generally agreed that roulette first appeared in the form we know today in Paris in 1796. It was very popular with the aristocracy and soon became a staple of gambling houses throughout France. From there it spread to the rest of the world.

Bets

There are many types of bets you can make on a roulette table. Some of them are referred to as Outside Bets and pay out at a rate of 1 to 1. One of these is the Red or Black bet, which is made by placing a chip on either the red or black line separating two numbers. Another popular type of outside bet is the Street bet, which pays out 11 to 1, and is placed by putting chips on the end of a row that separates Outside Bets from Inside Bets. The Dozens bet is also a popular Outside Bet, which pays 2-1 and is placed in a similar manner.