How does roulette work?

Roulette is one of the most well-known gambling games, enjoying great popularity among players both in stone gambling rooms and in the online space on online gaming sites. The name of the game is derived from the French word roulette and translates to bicycle, which is the shape of the gaming device on which it is played. Have you ever tried to play roulette? If not, let’s get to know this game a little bit.

A little bit of roulette history

There has been much debate about where the game actually originated, and to this day there is no clear opinion about its origins. Some people claim that the game was played in ancient China and brought to Europe by traders from the Far East. Others, on the other hand, believe that the idea of roulette was conceived in the 17th century by the mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal. From other sources, it is known that roulette was first played in Paris in 1976, and by around 1850 roulette was being played throughout Europe. In time, it found its way to America, where it was as popular as on the old continent.

Basic Principle of Roulette

As mentioned in the introduction, roulette is played on a circular spinning device. This is divided into an outer and an inner circle, with the outer circle being stationary and only the inner circle rotating, which is furthermore divided into evenly equal pieces. For European (French roulette, if you like) roulette, this is 37 coloured and numbered pieces, or 38 pieces for American roulette. During the game, the croupier sends the ball along the outer wheel against the direction of rotation of the smaller wheel. After a moment, the ball slows down and moves to the smaller wheel, where it settles in one of the 37 (or 38) parts.

Basic Roulette Rules

Later, before the roulette wheel spins, players place multiple bets on the number or color they think the ball will land on. Bets are placed and closed before the croupier spins the wheel and throws in the ball. However, they can often be placed during the course of the game until the dealer announces the betting is complete. After the ball falls on the winning number or colour, successful bets are paid (in game chips) and unsuccessful bets are collected by the dealer.

Betting Options and Betting Strategies

A player always has multiple options for betting. As mentioned earlier, one can bet on color, on even or odd numbers, on large or small numbers, or on just one particular number. In the case of betting on one particular number, the winnings are 35 times higher than the stake placed, but the probability of such success is not very high. Over the decades, many players have tried to find a proven way to win at roulette. Although there is never a guarantee of a win, several systems have been devised by which any player can try his luck. The Martingale betting system, the Fibonacci betting system, the Parlay betting system, The Memory Game, etc.

Online Roulette

With the advent of the online environment came the possibility to play roulette virtually, on gaming web portals. Gaming companies offer their software for online play to the general public, but betting and playing is only possible from the age of 18. In order to maintain fairness and fair play for players, online casinos must undergo regular audits to check the software. If they do not meet the criteria, they are not allowed to operate the gaming site and are not issued with a license or have their license revoked.