Roullete is a casino game in which players place bets on a single number or various groupings of numbers. It is one of the most popular games in Monte Carlo and other European casino resorts. It is among the few gambling games that can be played for small stakes, allowing people with even modest bankrolls to enjoy it. However, it draws the smallest crowds of any casino game in the United States, behind slot machines, video poker, blackjack and baccarat.
The roulette wheel consists of a solid, slightly convex wooden disk with thirty-six compartments, painted alternately red and black, and numbered nonconsecutively from 1 to 36. A green compartment, labelled zero on European wheels and two green compartments labeled as double zero on American-style wheels, make up the remaining six spaces. The ball is spun in a random manner around the wheel, and if it lands in a pocket with a number, the player wins.
Despite its popularity, the chances of winning at roulette are slim. Those who understand the maths can reduce their losses and increase their profits, but there are no foolproof systems that will guarantee success. A quick search of the Internet will return millions of supposedly successful betting systems, some easy to understand and others not so much.
Roulette is one of the oldest casino games and is thought to have been invented by French physicist Blaise Pascal during his experiments with perpetual motion. Other sources credit the Chinese and Dominican Monks with its development. It became a popular game in Europe during the 1790s and is still a staple in casinos and other gambling dens. Regardless of its origin, the game has long been plagued by cheating.