The Basics of Roullete
Roullete is the French word for “wheel” and it refers to a gambling game in which players bet on which slot on a rotating wheel a small ball will come to rest in. It’s been around for more than 300 years and has a number of fanciful origin theories, including that it was invented by the 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal as he tried to create a wheel that would demonstrate perpetual motion. Other popular theories are that it was created by a bored monk or by Chinese traders who brought it to France where it was introduced into casinos and gambling dens.
Unlike other casino games, the rules of roulette are fairly simple and can be understood by almost anyone. The game is played on a flat, circular table with a spinning wheel at the center. The numbers on the wheel are randomized and alternate between red and black colors and also between odd and even numbers. A 37th compartment, painted green on European-style wheels and red on American-style ones, carries the sign of zero. A croupier spins the wheel, throwing the ball into one of the pockets in the wheel and then clearing all losing bets off the table. After paying the winners, betting for the next round begins.
The Outside Bets
The odds of winning a Straight-Up bet on the American roulette wheel are 36 to 1, but the payout is only 35 to 1. This discrepancy between odds and payouts is where the house gets its huge edge over the player.
There are three types of outside bets: The Dozens Bet, known as douzaine in French; the Columns Bet, called impair et pair in French; and the Line Bet, or Six-Number Bet, which is placed on the outer border of the layout. All three pay 2-1.
Regardless of which type of outside bet you place, it’s important to understand the procedure of a roulette round. When the dealer clears the table, he or she will announce that betting for the current round is closed and then spin the wheel. After the wheel stops, the dealer will then place a marker on the winning number or bet. Then the winner is paid and the dealers will reset the table for the next round.