The roulette table
Casino games are all about making money and having fun. If you are looking for a simple and slow game, find a roulette table. It has almost a 50% chance of winning with plenty of fun, although it offers the lowest payout.
So, what is Roulette? Where did it originate? What is its layout? What about the materials? Continue reading this article to answer these questions and more.
Roulette
What is Roulette?
Roulette is a casino game in which a ball is dropped onto a revolving wheel with numbered sections, and the player guesses which number the ball will rest.
A player may choose to place a bet on the numbers, group of numbers, color red or black, if the number is odd or even, or if the numbers are high (19–36) or low (1–18). A successful bet is determined when the ball rests on a number chosen by the player.
The Origin
Roulette has fanciful theories about its origin. These stories included its invention by French mathematician Blaise Pascal and by the Chinese in the 17th century.
The Chinese Theory
It is believed roulette was transmitted from Chinese by Dominican monks to France. According to the Chinese theory, it is believed that roulette originated from an ancient Chinese board game. In this game, 37 animal figurines were arranged into a magic square with numbers that total 666.
Dominican monks discovered the game, and they brought it to Europe. The theory is discredited because no one knows how the game was played. It is also alleged that the monks changed the game layout, making the square a circle and adding a slot for the number zero. But the earliest French roulette had a zero and a double zero slot.
The mere resemblance of the wheel adding up to 666 between the ancient Chinese game and the modern roulette keeps the theory alive.
French Mathematician Blaise Pascal Theory
With all the theories, the French take the credit and, consequently, the name roulette. Roulette was derived from the French older game ‘Roly Poly’ and ‘Even-odd’. Both games involved spinning a wheel and betting on the results of the spin.
Blaise Pascal was both a mathematician and a famous gambler. Therefore, he undoubtedly knew about ‘Roly poly’ and the ‘even-odd’ game when he created his version of the wheel.
With time Blaise Pascal’s roulette underwent several modifications, achieving its current layout and wheel structure by around 1790. Due to this evolution and the influence of Prince Charles of Monaco, it rapidly acquired status as the leading casino and gambling house game throughout Europe.
The Layout
The roulette layout or roulette table has two sections; the wheel and the betting layout. There are two styles of roulette tables; the first is the wheel on the left side of the table, while the betting layout is on the right. The other is where the wheel is positioned between two betting layouts.
The Betting Layout
This section is known as the layout in casinos or gambling houses. It is generally cloth-covered green like all the tables for gambling. Three colors are used in this section to write numbers and mark sub-sections.
White color is used for all writings, while black and red for marking sub-sections. The red and black sub-section represent the numbers that are the same color also on the wheel.
Roulette Wheel
The traditional wheel has 37 slots numbered from 0 to 36. The slots are either red or black, but the one with the number 0 is green. The number on the wheel is divided into two sections using the color of the slots and the odd or even numbers technique.
From 11 to 18 and 29 to 36, all odd-numbered slots are black, while even-numbered slots are red. In the range between 1 to 10 and 19 to 28, odd-numbered slots are red, and even-numbered ones are black.
Types of Roulette Table
The roulette table is an easy game to get around. You only have to remember there are three types of them;
European Roulette Table Layout
This is the traditional roulette table. The layout and the roulette wheel are as much as described above. There are 37 slots on the wheel with numbers from 0 to 36. All the slots are black or red except the 0 slot, which is green. All these specifics correspond to the layout.
American Roulette Table Layout
The type of roulette table is similar to the European one, with only slight differences. On the roulette wheel, there is an additional number and slot that is a double 00 slot. The slot is directly in front of the regular 0 slots and is also green.
The numbers are spread differently, and due to the additional double 0 slot, the numbers are 38 instead of 37. The placing of bet is the same generally.
French Roulette Table Layout
This is the last roulette layout which, compared to the above two, has several differences. The arrangement on the layout is the same; numbers from 1 to 36 in three rows with 0 on the top. But the difference comes in on the outside bets.
The additional section of ‘Manque’ indicates the bets on 1-18 and odds, and the ‘Impair’ indicates the even numbers. On the other side, you will see ‘passe’ for numbers from 19 to 36 and the ‘pair’ for even numbers.
Another added section is where there are writing P12, M12, and D12. The P represents the first dozen numbers, M for the second and D for the third. Most of the writings are in French; that’s another difference.
The Materials
A roulette ball or the pill is made from white or ivory Delrin material and is accurate within 0.0001 inches. When making a ball for roulette, it is advisable not to use metal or glass as this will scratch the wheel’s finish.
As for the wheel, since its invention, it has been made from wood. It is a reliable material and makes the product look classy and vintage. The wood is polished to make it shiny and smooth.
The wheel part where the action takes place is made of metal, but you can also use plastic. There is also the metallic part that divides the slots. According to casino regulations, the wheel should be 32inche in diameter and 100 pounds in weight.
Manufacturers
Roulette tables have been there for ages since the 17th century to date. Over time it has been modified and modified. Some of the famous companies that have improved this unique game are:
Cammegh
It is one of the leading companies which powers 90% of the land-based casinos in the world. The company was founded in the 1990s and is known for its high-quality roulette wheel.
It is the leading company due to the ability to customize its product to clients’ needs. Their wheel design is very impressive, created from tensile and stainless steel. This material makes durable and requires little maintenance.
Huxley
This is another company in the United States dealing with all gambling equipment. Their wheel has an inbuilt sensor that helps collect data and reports regarding the winning numbers. It also has a ‘drop zone detection’ feature that allows the owner to detect drop zone bias.
B.C Wills & Co and Caro
This is widely known as the founding company of modern gaming. B.C Wills & Co and Caro were the only suppliers of all casino equipment during the 1960s. Their wheels had deep slots that allowed the ball to slide in.
Besides the above companies, there are others like Abbiati, CTC Holdings, and more.
Why is the Roulette Table so popular?
There are several reasons why the roulette table still exists, but the most outstanding is its popularity. Its popularity is due to the following;
- Simplicity – Roulette is the simplest and remarkably easy to pick up. This means even first-time players can catch up within a short time.
- Social factor – Roulette is the most crowded and loudest game in casino. You will hear people cheering each other when the wheel is spun. Secondly, there is no limit to how many people can make the same bet, and this brings some “betmate” relationships.
- Unique, exhilarating nature – Casinos have nothing more exciting than watching the ball go round and round, hoping it will rest on the number you bet on. Then the sense of spectacle and emphasis on the dynamic movement of the wheel makes it more exciting.
Conclusion
The roulette table game has been there for ages, believed to have been invented by a French mathematician called Blaise Pascal. It is one of the most exhilarating, simple, and easy games in the casino or gambling houses.
It is made up of two sections, the layout, and the wheel. The wheel comprises numbered and colored slots, while the layout is full of numbers ranging from 0 to 36 or 37, depending on the table type.
There are three types of roulette tables: French Roulette table Layout, European roulette table layout, and American Roulette Table Layout.