The game of roulette is one of the first images that springs to mind when individuals think of visiting a casino – be it of the bricks-and-mortar or online variety – but taking part can be a daunting prospect for those who are new to it.
Originating in 18th-century France – the name itself is French for “little wheel” – roulette has come a long way since its humble origins to now be one of the most popular options in all of gaming.
Deceptively simple in its design, roulette requires players to place bets on the outcome of a small ball thrown into a rotating disc – the wheel – with numbered and coloured compartments in it.
In total, the wheel’s numbers range from one to 36. In European games there is also a single zero, while in America there is also a double-zero – meaning the odds of winning are slightly higher when playing outside of the US.
The simplest form of betting is to place money on either red or black, with 18 of each colour compartments found on the wheel. This doubles the money on a successful outcome, but players lose their bet if they are incorrect.
Another option is to bet on a single number – paying odds of 35 to one – while combinations of bets are also permissible.
The gaming board where players place their bets consists of a large table with all the myriad options for betting found upon it. Popular betting options include red or black, odd or even, dozen bets of the first, second and third numbers, column bets and half-table bets, with the odds for each dependent upon the amount of numbers covered.
