Few sights are more iconic in a casino than a spinning roulette wheel, the ivory ball bouncing across red and black pockets before finally settling into place. For centuries, roulette has been one of the most elegant, suspenseful, and universally recognized games in the world of gambling.
With simple rules, a blend of chance and strategy, and an aura of sophistication, roulette attracts players of all types—from casual tourists looking for fun to high rollers placing thousands on a single spin. But behind its glamour lies a fascinating history, unique mathematics, and strategies that make it one of the most enduring games in casino f8 học lập trình.
A Brief History of Roulette
The origins of roulette date back to 18th-century France. The word “roulette” means “little wheel” in French, and the game is often credited to mathematician Blaise Pascal, who was experimenting with perpetual motion devices in the 1600s. Though his invention failed as a perpetual motion machine, it set the groundwork for the modern roulette wheel.
By the mid-1700s, roulette became popular in French gambling houses. Early versions of the game included both a single zero (0) and a double zero (00) pocket. In the 19th century, when roulette spread to America, casinos adopted the double-zero version to increase the house edge—this became the American Roulette wheel. In Europe, the single-zero wheel remained the standard, leading to what we now call European Roulette.
Today, roulette remains a global favorite, both in land-based casinos and online platforms.
The Roulette Wheel and Table
A standard roulette wheel consists of:
- European Roulette: 37 pockets (numbers 1–36 plus a single zero).
- American Roulette: 38 pockets (numbers 1–36, a single zero, and a double zero).
The numbers alternate between red and black, with zeros in green.
The roulette table mirrors the wheel’s layout and offers a variety of betting options, from single numbers to groups of numbers, colors, or ranges.
How to Play Roulette
Playing roulette is simple:
- Place Bets
- Players place chips on the table to indicate their wagers. Bets can be made on single numbers, groups of numbers, or characteristics like color or odd/even.
- Spin the Wheel
- The dealer spins the wheel and rolls the ball in the opposite direction.
- Outcome
- When the ball lands, winning bets are paid according to the odds.
Types of Bets
Roulette offers a wide range of betting options, generally divided into two categories:
- Inside Bets (Higher Risk, Higher Reward)
- Straight Up: Bet on a single number (pays 35:1).
- Split: Bet on two adjacent numbers (pays 17:1).
- Street: Bet on three numbers in a row (pays 11:1).
- Corner: Bet on four numbers (pays 8:1).
- Six Line: Bet on six numbers across two rows (pays 5:1).
- Outside Bets (Lower Risk, Lower Reward)
- Red or Black: Bet on the color of the winning number (pays 1:1).
- Odd or Even: Bet on whether the number will be odd or even (pays 1:1).
- Low or High: Bet on 1–18 or 19–36 (pays 1:1).
- Dozens: Bet on groups of 12 numbers (pays 2:1).
