Roulette is one of the most popular casino games worldwide. Despite its relatively low popularity in America, it still draws big crowds in Monte Carlo and other European casinos.

The game’s name is derived from its French meaning little wheel. Players place their chips on a betting mat with a specific location indicating the bet they have placed.

Origins

Roulette is a game that is played with a numbered wheel, like the one pictured above, and a table on which players place bets. The game is of French origin and has become a staple in casinos and gambling houses across the world. It has been the subject of numerous fanciful stories, including that it was invented by the 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal as part of his failed attempts to create a perpetual motion machine. More likely, it derived from older games such as hoca and portique, with its present layout and wheel structure being developed in the 18th century.

Variations

While the basic rules of roullete remain unchanged, there are a few variants that may be more appealing to inexperienced players. These variations typically feature smaller wheels and a different betting layout. For instance, one variation is called mini roulette and uses an authentic wheel that contains 13 pockets, including the numbers 1 to 12, as well as a zero pocket in blue color. The game also features a static marker to determine the winning number. In addition, the payouts are slightly different. Winning straight bets offer a payout of 11:1, while split, street, and corner bets pay out at the rate of 2:1.