Roulette is a simple game of chance. Bets are placed on groups of numbers and are cheaper than individual number bets.

A croupier throws a small ball into a spinning wheel with numbered pockets. Then, players wait for the ball to land in a pocket that matches their bet.

Play European roulette if available, as it has the lowest house edge. Also, choose a table within your bankroll.

Variations

While the basic rules of roullete remain the same, there are many variations of this casino game. Some variants offer different payouts and special betting rules. For example, Lightning Roulette from Evolution Gaming features a multiplier that can reach up to 500x your bet. Another variation is the Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from IGT, which offers a 1:12,000 payout for a straight bonus win. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to avoid roulette games that have special betting rules and bets as they tend to have higher house edges than European Roulette. However, if you’re an experienced player, there are several roulette variations that can help you maximize your winning potential.

Origins

Although roulette is a game that has a number of supposed ancestors like portique, hoca, bassette and even-odd, it is hard to pin down its origin. One theory is that the roulette wheel was invented in the 17th century by French physicist Blaise Pascal as part of his search for a perpetual motion machine.

Another theory is that the game originated in China and was then spread to France by Dominican monks who travelled the world. As more Europeans migrated to America, it is likely that they brought roulette with them, which probably helped give the game the wide popularity that it has today. In any case, the game soon became a staple of American casinos and gambling houses. The Blanc brothers gave the game its modern name and removed the double-zero pocket from the roulette wheel, which is now used in all versions of the game worldwide.