History of roulette

The name of the game roulette is the French word for “small wheel”. Roulette is most likely one of the easiest as well as one of the most entertaining games of chance, there is. The game has been around for centuries with a very glamorous image and is loved by players around the world. Roulette is an absolute game of chance and can therefore even be played by players with little or no experience at all. Even inexperienced players can look forward to some handsome winnings when playing roulette.

The history of roulette is quite complex and where the game stems from is not 100% clear. Some say that the game was invented in the 17th Century by Pascal, a mathematician, when he originally tried to create a perpetual motion machine. Pascal failed to build a perpetual motion machine but scientists believe this may have been the birth of the roulette wheel as we know it. Others believe that the game originates from China and was probably brought to Central Europe by traders.

In 1842, the game first appeared in France and the Blanc brothers then introduced the game to the Prince of Monaco. This was also the beginning of Monte Carlo as a gambler’s paradise – a place where the rich and famous still try their luck on the casino tables to this very day.

A special feature of the game in the North American version is an additional 0, a feature that increases the house edge slightly. If you find yourself playing at a casino or online casino and you get a choice between the European or American version of the game, you should be advised to play the European version of the game as your chances of winning will be increased.

A summary of roulette bet types

There are two different types of rouette: French Roulette as we play it in Europa and the American Roulette as mainly played in North and South America. In roulette, the fields are either red and black and in the French type of roulette there is a total of 37 fields with one zero. In American Roulette, there is a total of 38 fields including a double zero.

Roulette allows you to place 11 different bets in total. When placing a so-called outside bet, you can win the value of the money you originally placed as a bet. An example for an outside bet is placing your bet on the numbers between 1 and 18. You assume, that the ball lands on one of those numbers and you can therefore double your money if your prediction turns out to be right.

Furthermore, there are other various types of outside bets: if you for example bet on an odd number, you will double your money if the roulette ball lands on any odd number. You can say, that the risk with an outside bet is much lower than the risk you take with an inside bet.

Another different bet type at roulette is the inside bet. You can place an inside bet in different ways. You can for example bet on any random number on the roulette table for the ball to land on. The payout when winning a bet like this is an incredible 35:1 which is an extremely high payout. You see though, that the risk with an inside bet is significantly higher than with an outside bet.

A different way of placing an inside bet is placing a split bet. With a split bet you place your bet in between two numbers of the roulette table. If the ball lands on any number in between the two numbers you have chosen, you win. The payout for this type of bet is 5:1. Again, this is an impressive sum to be won.

A strategy to win at roulette

An interesting strategy for roulette is that it would make sense for a certain sequence of colours to wait and then double your bet. If the roulette ball lands on a certain colour for a few times – about 3 or 4 times in total – it makes sense to double your original bet and place the bet on other colour. If the ball therefore lands on a red number for four times, it makes sense to place your bet on black next time. This system goes on and on and each time a certain colour appears on the wheel several times, you place your bet on the other colour.

This strategy does not always makes sense, because if you happen to bet on any colour several times, no matter if it has appeared on the wheel or not, you stand exactly the same chances for that colour to appear on the wheel next.
The doubling strategy however is a very popular strategy and you should try and find out if it’s a strategy that works for you.

The Martingale system for online roulette

Online casinos usually have an upper betting limit of $ 500 for roulette. It may therefore make sense to try the Martingale system once. If you play online roulette with $ 5-chips, the Martingale system works as follows:

- You bet $ 5 if you lose

- You then double your original bet to $ 10 if you lose again

- Then double to $ 20 if you lose again

- Then double to $ 40 if you lose again

- Then double to $ 80 if you lose again

- Then double to $ 160 if you lose again

- Then double to $ 320 if you lose again

- Then double to $ 640 if you lose again

You have then reached the upper betting limit for roulette at most online casinos. At the end, you will win back your original bet of $ 5. In principle, you can risk up to $ 640 to win a total amount of only $ 5.

You should always be aware of the fact that roulette is a game of chance. Roulette is always random and there are no guarantees that you win but you can try one of those systems and they might work for you.