Roulette, like Blacjack ("Vingt-et-un" or "Twenty-one") originated in France in the 18 century. It was invented by famous French mathematician, Blaise Pascal. Since then, roulette has spread and developed, causing there to be three versions of the game today: French, British, and American. The differences between them are the numbers on the roulette wheel and on the table - which of course, affect the odds for the player vs. the house.

Unlike a slots game where you play alone, roulette is a game where everyone around the table gets involved with the game. It's not abnormal to see a large crowd around the roulette table - with everyone anxiously watching (and yelling!) to see where the ball will land in the roulette wheel.

How to Play:

The table can appear confusing: chips everywhere in seemingly random spots, a roulette wheel, and lots of number and options. Here's what it's all about. The roulette wheel has pockets for numbers 1-37. The American version has an extra pocket with 00. Every other number is red (1, 3, 5, etc) or black (2, 4, 6, etc). The green felt table has a chart of numbers that correspond to the coloured numbers on the wheel. The chart is made up of three columns of twelve. This is where you place your bets.

The confusing part of roulette - is placing your bets. In roulette, there are many betting options - which relate to the chances or odds of winning, as well as how much you'll win according to your initial bet. Generally, the betting options are the same in all casinos, and where you place your chips on the chart depends on the kind of bet you make, as follows:

Once bets are made, the dealer will call "no more bets," and will spin the roulette wheel. It is this point of intense anticipation and suspense that makes roulette one of the most exciting (and loudest!) casino games.

How to Win:

To win in roulette, you need to have correctly chosen where on the roulette wheel the ball will land. This corresponds to choosing the right colour, number, range of numbers, columns, and etc. It's generally a game of luck - what chances you've bet on and where the ball will land.

Learn other games with our Casino Games 101 Series!

> Blackjack 101: Learning to Count to 21

> Slots 101: The Classic One Armed Machines

> Roulette 101: Spin Spin Spin

> Baccarat 101: Counting to 9

> Craps 101: Easier Than You Think!