Roulette is the oldest table game in the casino. It originated in France and the modern layout as we know it today was developed around 1842. The game has captured the heart of many gamblers over the years and it has withstood the test of time. Many other games have come and gone on the casino floors but the Roulette wheel keeps spinning along. The game has captured the hearts of Princes and paupers alike and it is often portrayed in film and television as a game of elegance with well dressed people surrounding the table as the croupier spins the wheel.

I just finished reading The Gambler by the great Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky. It is the story of a man addicted to the game of roulette and gives an interesting view of gambling over a century ago. In those days Roulette was the most popular casino game. The novel was published in 1867, a year after his classic book Crime and Punishment and the interesting history behind the story is that he completed the novel under a strict deadline so he could pay off his gambling debts. I can only surmise that his game of choice must have been Roulette.

Many people consider Roulette to be one of the worst casino table games to play because of a high house edge. The casino has a 5.26 percent edge on the American double zero wheel, but to rule it as the worst casino table game is a bit unfair. There are many proposition bets on the craps table that have a much higher house edge, along with all of the side bets that can be made on many of the other casino games. Most of these other games are faster than Roulette which means you will play many more hands per hour putting more money at risk.

If you play at a full Roulette table, you will only get about 35 spins per hour which will decrease the overall amount you are wagering per hour, cutting down the time that your money is at risk. Slot players are wagering on about 500 spins per hour with a house edge of eight to fifteen percent. By contrast this makes Roulette look like a great game. It is also a social game making it a lot of fun and it is very easy to play. Here is a look at how to make the inside Roulette bets.