Roulette is a classic casino game that draws large crowds of players at online and land casinos around the world. A simple game based on chance, it is one of the few games where a player’s skill has no bearing on the outcome. While it may not draw as big of a crowd as the likes of blackjack or video poker, it is still a popular choice among gamblers.
Roulette was derived from the older games hoca and portique, and is believed to have been invented by either a 17th-century French mathematician Blaise Pascal or a Dominican monk. Either way, it was a game that soon found its place in the gambling houses and casinos of Europe. The game eventually spread to the United States, where it gained popularity in gambling dens and became an important fixture at Monte Carlo resorts.
The Roulette wheel consists of a solid wooden disk slightly convex in shape and with a number randomized layout all around its rim. The outer edge of the disk is a series of metal partitions called frets or separators, and in between these are thirty-six red and black compartments numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. Two green compartments, referred to as canoes by roulette croupiers, are also on the outside of the wheel. The 0 and 00 are colored green on American wheels to distinguish them from the rest of the numbers.
Once all the bets have been placed, the croupier (that’s what you call a dealer in roulette) will spin the wheel and throw the ball into one of the pockets that contains a specific number. If you made a bet on that number, then you have won!
While all bets pay out a percentage of the original bet amount, some bets offer a lower payout if you win. Outside bets, for example, are more conservative plays than the inside bets and will generally give you a better return.
There are a few different automated roulette tables that vary in size, design, and layout. Some will include a special bet panel, billboard, and racetrack. Regardless of the type of automated roulette table you choose, be sure to take advantage of all the betting options to maximize your chances of winning.