Rss FeedsAn Introduction to Roulette
Roulette is a game of chance wherein a ball is thrown into a revolving wheel with 38 numbered compartments. The numbers range from 1 to 36, with double zeros in American roulette wheels. A variety of bets can be placed on the wheel.
As with most casino games, the history and origin of roulette is unclear, with more myths and legends than actual facts. There are several theories, and most of them point to France as its place of origin. The reason of course, is that the word itself is French for "small wheel."
The most popular hypothesis is that the history of roulette began in 1655, when it was created by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal as a way of testing mathematical probabilities and equations. Another theory is that the game was derived from a wheel based device from China. It is believed that the Chinese traders in Europe introduced roulette, or its precursor, to the monks, who played the game in their leisure.
Whatever the origin of roulette may be, the records show that by the 1840s the game had made its way into casinos in Paris. It was also around this tie that the alternating colors and numbers were incorporated into the design.
The history of roulette in the United States began in the early 1800s as well. While the game was introduced in the east by immigrants, it would in California, at the height of the Gold Rush in the 1850s, that the game would come into its own and prove popular among gamblers.
As time went on, casino operators in the United States decided to do away with the solitary zero and instead opted for the double zero, increasing the house edge significantly. Thus was made the distinction between American and European roulette wheels.
Perhaps in no other game is the house edge more pronounced than in roulette. Yet this has not stopped players from attempting to beat the wheel. Various attempts, ranging from mathematical formulas to observing the nuisances of the wheel have been tried. The latest efforts include using computer software to try and anticipate which number the ball would land in.
The fact that roulette is still a fixture at every casino suggests that all these efforts have been in vain. However this has not stopped players from trying other strategies. One popular notion is to bet on red.
Given that there are 18 red compartments in the wheel, there is a 47% chance that the ball will land in red about ten times in 38 spins. A variation of this is to be on red and odd, separately. The reasoning behind this is that there is a 50% chance of winning and a 25% chance of breaking even. In reality this can only happen if the player has an unlimited bankroll.
Nevertheless, players are still enthralled by the game. With the advent of Internet gambling, online roulette has only served to increase its popularity, reaching out to other players all over the world, as never before in its history.
