Boule (gambling game)

Boule is a gambling game of chance, primarily found in casinos in France and Italy. It is a simplified version of roulette, offering a smaller number of betting options and generally lower stakes.

The game is played using a circular bowl (the "boule" itself) containing 9 numbered pockets, from 1 to 9. There are generally five of each number. The pockets are alternately colored red and black, except for the number 5, which is yellow. A small ball is spun around the bowl, and the winning number is the number of the pocket where the ball comes to rest.

Players place their bets on a layout featuring the numbers 1 through 9. Common bets include:

• Straight Up: Betting on a single number (1-9).
• Odd/Even: Betting on whether the winning number will be odd or even (excluding 5).
• Red/Black: Betting on whether the winning number will be red or black (excluding 5).
• Manque/Passe: Manque (low) refers to numbers 1-4, while Passe (high) refers to numbers 6-9.
• Simple Chances: Odd, Even, Red, Black, Manque, and Passe are all "simple chance" bets.

The presence of the number 5, which is yellow and neither odd nor even, nor red nor black, creates a house advantage for the casino. When the ball lands on 5, all simple chance bets lose, and the stake is held over for the next round, which determines how it is handled. (Sometimes it will be returned immediately to the player, but more often it is 'imprisoned' - played on the next spin. If the next spin wins with the chosen chance, the stake is returned; otherwise the stake is lost). Straight up bets on 5 are paid out like any other straight up bet.

The payouts for winning bets vary depending on the casino, but are generally lower than those offered in roulette, reflecting the lower risk associated with the limited number of betting options. Boule is considered a relatively simple and accessible casino game, appealing to players who are new to gambling or who prefer lower stakes games.