Roullete, or roulette in English, is one of the world’s most popular casino games. It is a simple, yet fascinating game that has captured the public’s imagination for centuries. Its endurance is a testament to its unique combination of mathematical elegance, sensory drama, and cultural resonance. From the gilded chandeliers of Monte Carlo to the neon lights of Las Vegas, and now the screens of online casinos, this revolving wheel has become a global symbol of chance and fate, inspiring literature, art, and film.
Although there are many fanciful stories about the game’s origin, the first clear description of modern roulette emerges from 18th-century France. Derived from older games like roly-poly, even-odd, biribi, and hoca, it featured a numbered wheel and betting segments arranged in columns, dozens, and even-money wagers on red/black and high/low. The earliest mention of 0 and 00 as house slots is from Jacques Lablee’s book of 1801/02, but the basic structure of the game was already in place.
The game spread quickly throughout Europe, where it became the aristocrat of gambling games, a favored pastime for the rich and the powerful. Its reputation for glamour and risk propelled it into the world of high culture, with writers like Fyodor Dostoevsky using the wheel as a metaphor for compulsion and fortune—both riches and ruin, joy and despair, all hinged on the bounce of a ball.
In the 20th century, roulette shifted to the silver screen, with Humphrey Bogart’s portrayal of a Parisian gambler in Casablanca immortalizing the game as a symbol of espionage and danger. Despite its association with risk, roulette also evokes philosophical questions about free will and the role of chance in human life. Mathematically, the game illustrates the concept of expected value and the inevitability of the house edge; psychologically it remains fertile ground for biases such as the gambler’s fallacy.
Before the wheel spins, players place their chips on the betting table. Each player has a color assigned to them, which helps the dealer identify them, even during long sessions. When the dealer announces “No more bets,” it’s time to spin the wheel. Once the ball lands, winning bets are paid out and any losing bets are left up for the next spin.
There are two types of bets in roulette: Inside Bets and Outside Bets. Inside bets are placed directly on specific numbers or small number combinations within the main grid (1-36) and offer higher payouts but lower odds of winning. Outside bets are made on larger groups of numbers, such as a column or a slash, and have a much lower house edge but pay out less often.
The best bet for beginners is a Straight Up, which pays 35 to 1. Players should avoid betting on individual numbers or color combinations, which are more likely to lose. They should also set a bankroll before starting, and avoid systems that claim to beat the game. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of spinning the wheel, but a smart bettor will remember that roulette is a game of chance and not skill.