Roulette is one of the most popular games that you can play in a casino. This game is easy to understand and very fun to play. In fact, due to its popularity, it can now even be played online. Online Roulette is offered on many websites today, enabling you to enjoy your favorite casino game in the comfort of your own home. But did you know that this game originated in France in the 18th century? Yes, people have been playing roulette for a very long time now.
The name roulette came from the French term for “small wheel”, which reflects the main decision-making force behind the game, which is the roulette wheel. If you want to know more about the game of roulette, how it started, and its different kinds, then you’re in the right place. Today, we are going to tell you more about the origins of roulette and its variations.
The Origins of Roulette
The game of roulette came of age in 1765 in Paris. Ever since it was played, it has experienced lots of cultural evolutions. Based on a popular legend, Blaise Pascal, a Catholic philosopher and mathematician was the one who created the game of roulette in his pursuit to make a perpetual motion machine. However, instead of making the said machine, he developed the roulette wheel, which put into motion one of the most famous gaming traditions in post-revolutionary France.
Pascal’s story is still the most popular among gaming historians. But there are some who also credit Francois Blanc, a French entrepreneur and casino owner. They believe that he popularized roulette for the masses. Included in his other pursuits is owning the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco, which is one of the most fashionable casinos on the French Riviera and even in the world.
There are also others who claim that there’s a game similar to roulette that originated in China before it was brought to France in the late 18th century. According to these historians, the nuances of roulette were actually presented by Dominican monks who had been trading with Chinese merchants to the French culture.
No matter how it came into the world, the game of roulette was able to take hold of the 19th-century French culture quickly. And as its popularity grew, new forms of gameplay were made in the United States and other parts of the world, as well.
Different Variations of Roulette
Roulette, to put it simply, is a game of chance. Before spinning the wheel, players will need to place their bets first on a certain number, color, or even or odd specification where they think the ball will land on. In this game, no techniques or strategies can increase a player’s odds of winning, besides knowing the small differences in odds between the main variations of the roulette. These differences come from the two variations of roulette, which are the American and European versions.
It is important to know the different variations of roulette for you to better understand their cultural and physical differences. It’s because that may also have an effect on your odds of winning. To know more, here are the different variations of roulette that you might encounter.
- American Roulette
The difference of an American roulette to the European one is on the design of the roulette wheel. In the American roulette, you will see a 00 pocket in addition to a 0 pocket. This can increase the house advantage because there are more spots on the wheel where the players will be choosing. When you play an American roulette game, your chances of winning or 1 to 38.
Aside from the added 00 spot, the American roulette also has its numbers placed in logical and sequential order, unlike the European roulette, which assigns number placements at random. In American roulette, the numbers are placed sequentially opposite from one another. For example, 11 is placed across the wheel from 12.
- European Roulette
The European roulette originated in France, and it is the most authentic version that you can play. The numbers on a European roulette are from 0 to 36, and it does not have the 00 that the American roulette has. This means that you have a slightly higher advantage when you play European roulette, and your odds of winning are 1 to 37. In addition to that, as your odds of winning increase, the stakes decrease significantly. The house edge in European roulette is 2.7 percent, which results in smaller losses if ever you lose while playing it.
Aside from the design of the wheel, there are also cultural and non-numerical differences between the European and American roulette. The European version of the game offers more formalities and gaming options. It’s because the players are given the option to pay the croupier or the person who spins the wheel, to start the ball from a specific spot on the wheel. In addition to that, there’s also the la partage rule in European roulette. It states that after a spin of 0, you’re allowed to leave your bet in prison or on the same spot where you had originally betted before spinning a 0 to try to recover your loss.
- Rapid Roulette
Rapid roulette is a version of the game of roulette that combines the benefits of a live dealer with touch-screen betting prompts. This kind of roulette has become popular in recent years because of the amount of time you can save with virtual betting. In fact, in this type of roulette, you’ll be able to place 65 bets in an hour. A lot of people find this option striking because, at first, it seems that there are lots of opportunities to win. However, keep in mind that in rapid roulette, your odds of winning are just the same each time you play, regardless of how many times your bet is individually cast.
- Multiwheel Roulette
The multiwheel roulette is a special form of roulette that is played on one table, but it uses multiple wheels at the same time. You can decide how many wheels you want to use when you play. This means that in this kind of roulette, your single bet is multiplied by the number of wheels that you use to play. For example, if you play on 4 roulette wheels, you also put in 4 times your chosen bet, and you have 4 chances of winning at the same time if your chosen number comes up.
- Multiplayer Roulette
Multiplayer roulette is a game of roulette online. It will give you a greater sense of having a real casino experience during an online play of roulette. In this game, you will be sitting at the same game table together with other people online. You can also talk to them during the game. Aside from that, you can also see the profits your opponents are making, and as well as watch their game strategies to see if there’s something you can also try to be successful.
These are the origins and variations of the game of roulette. Whether you are playing in a physical casino or online, you now have an idea of what each type of roulette game can offer you. We hope the information we shared will be able to help you better understand the game of roulette and its variations.