Roulette is a game of chance played with a rotating wheel and a small ball. The player places chips on a betting table according to their desired bets. The dealer then spins the wheel in one direction while rolling the ball around its rim. If the ball lands on a number, the player wins. There are two main categories of bets: inside and outside. Inside bets are bets on a single number or small groups of numbers. They have lower winning odds but higher payouts. Inside bets include straight-up, split, street, corner, and six-line bets. Outside bets are placed on larger groups of numbers, such as red/black, odd/even, high/low, and dozens.
The earliest mention of roulette is from the 17th century. The French mathematician Blaise Pascal is credited with its invention. Whether or not it was his intention, the game soon gained popularity as a means of passing time and making money.
During the course of its history, many different theories have been put forth about its origins. The game eventually made its way up to the Mississippi River and westward, where it gained popularity in gambling dens. Over the years, it adapted and evolved into the American version that is still played today.
A revolving disc, about 25 inches in diameter, with 37 or 38 numbered compartments; the central portion contains a slanted, slotted plate with one or two zeroes and a corresponding table of betting options. A version of the game in which only the 0 is included in the center is often called double-zero. A variation in which the wheel has two green pockets is also popular in the United States.
For nearly two decades, the TriBeCa loft that once housed Roulette acted as a crucial laboratory for the downtown-music scene. Artists like John Zorn, saxophonist Jim Staley, clarinetist David Irene Ayers, harpist Zeena Parkins, and composer/improviser Merce Cunningham forged their careers there, pursuing an aesthetic guided by the likes of Coltrane and Cage.