Roulette offers glamour, mystery and excitement to casino-goers around the world. While it is a game of chance, there is a surprising level of depth for serious betters and the right strategy can reap high rewards. However, it is important to understand the rules of roulette before betting all of your money on black.
A Roulette cylinder consists of a spinning wheel that has divisions numbered 1 to 36 alternately in red and black and a green division marked 0. A ball is spun and thrown over the edge of the wheel until it comes to rest in one of the numbered divisions. The American wheel adds a second green division marking 00.
Prior to the spin of the ball, players place bets on which number or grouping of numbers they think will come up by laying chips on the betting mat. The precise location of the chip indicates the bet being made. Bets on six or less numbers are termed “Inside bets”. Bets on 12 numbers or more are called “Outside bets”.
Before playing roulette, you should decide on your budget and choose a table within that range. Each table carries a placard that describes the minimum and maximum bets allowed. Generally, the minimum bet is $5 and the maximum is $1,000. The house edge is slightly higher on outside bets than inside bets, so the best bet is to play outside.
The history of roulette is complex and varies according to different accounts. Some believe that it was invented in the 17th century by a French physicist and philosopher named Blaise Pascal in his quest to create a perpetual motion machine. Other historians claim that it was derived from earlier games such as hoca and portique. In any case, it is clear that roulette had a major impact on the development of gambling in Europe.
Despite the many variations, a few basic principles are common to all forms of the game. Most bets are placed on either red or black, or odd or even. Some bets are also grouped in various ways, such as on the numbers that form a dozen or on those that fall in columns. The payouts for winning these bets are determined by the odds, which are generally much higher than those for any individual number.
Roulette wheels have a variety of symmetries, which improve the player’s chances of success. For example, the European wheel has all low red numbers and high black ones on one side of the zero, while the American wheels have the opposite arrangement. Besides, the size and material of the roulette ball also has an effect on the results of the game. While old ivory balls were used in the past, modern professional roulette balls are usually made from plastic, resin or Teflon. The lighter materials make the ball bounce more unpredictably than a heavier ivory version and this affects the odds of a number appearing on the betting mat.