History of Roulette

Intro to Roulette’s Origins and Evolution

Roulette is a game wrapped in a veil of mystery. Every time we hear the name of Las Vegas, we relate it to the countless casinos and loud game tables. Of course, we can’t help, but imagine all the crowded people at the roulette table, staring at the spinning wheel on pins and needles to see the winning number.

• The Invention of the Wheel
• The Spread of Roulette
• Introducing the Game in America
• Further Development of the Game
• Roulette Conquers the Internet
• Roulette – A Game for the Brain

Being one of the oldest and most played games nowadays, it is worth looking back at roulette’s history. Join us on our journey into its origins, starting with the invention of the wheel by Pascal. The game was an instant success and quickly gained popularity. The introduction of roulette in America led to further variations of this classic game. With the advance of technologies, roulette conquered the online gambling realm, with copious variations being created by the leading iGaming studios.

Roulette Wheel

European Roulette

American Roulette

Online Roulette

The Invention of the Wheel

In fact, the name “roulette” means a small wheel and that is namely the symbol of the game. What is a game of roulette without the actual spinning device?! It is not needed to answer that question, but let’s check what is the mystery around it. Every gambler knows that roulette is a game of luck, but also of mathematical calculations of odds, house edge and payouts. That’s why it should not be a surprise that the inventor of the spinning wheel is a mathematician. Of course, to create such a perfect device, you need to have some knowledge in physics as well.

Narrowing the possibilities, history leads us to the name of the French physicist Pascal. As a matter of fact, all great inventions had a different initial purpose. The same holds true for the roulette wheel. The aim of Pascal was not to invent a casino game, but to invent a machine in a perpetual motion. Unfortunately, his attempt failed, but it gave birth to the delightful casino game.

Followed by his design, Roulette was established as a gambling game in 17 century France. In 1842, two brothers by the names Louis and Francois Blanc revolutionized the layout by adding a zero pocket. This became the model for what is known today as European Roulette. Francois Blanc opened a casino in Monte Carlo, where roulette found its true home and gained incredible popularity.

The Spread of Roulette throughout Europe

In fact, there are many different theories about the actual birth of the game itself. Some consider that it stems from a Chinese board game, others believe that it is deeply rooted in Ancient Rome. Greeks also have their fair share in the game, but the credit is taken by France. The game can be traced as far back as the 17th century. Interestingly enough, during that period gambling was illegal. With the coming of the new century, new gambling rules were introduced. This led to the spread of the game and the rules remained pretty much the same even nowadays.

The regulations for France remained still in effect, so gambling was still forbidden. That is why Francois and Louis needed to find a new place to introduce their game. Thus, they changed the spot from France to Germany. The game was a total boom among the gambling community there and that is how roulette entered Europe. A couple of years later, the game was brought back to France upon the request of the prince.

Why Play Roulette

How to Play Roulette

Roulette Game Cycle

Roulette Betting Odds

Introducing the Game in America

French immigrants took the game to New Orleans and thus roulette entered America during the 19th century. But it was not that welcome as in Europe and the real reason was that the American casino owners were not happy with the low European house edge, so they almost doubled it. This led to players’ dissatisfaction with the game, as they were annoyed by the low amounts of money that can be earned. Thus, they “re-shaped” the standard European version of the game and introduced the double-zero pocket. Nowadays, it is known as American roulette, even though it is not the most preferred variation since it is disadvantageous to the player. The proof is that only 5 percent of the gaming revenue is considered to come from roulette.

Further Development of the Game Led by Americans

In an attempt to lure gamblers to roulette, American casinos accepted some changes, which led to the further evolution of the game. More and more casinos accepted the single-zero type of wheel.

Talking about America, we cannot help but relate it to the many modernizations. US casinos introduced also electronic boards at the wheels, which suggested the recent winning number. Furthermore, the limits on each table were increased, which provided gamblers with chances for higher earnings.

Roulette Conquers the Internet

Technological innovations have decidedly brought about the greater convenience of casino players. The rise of the Internet made it possible for many busy people to enjoy the game while at home. There are even some great advantages to play online. Firstly, you can focus on your strategy without all the shouts, which can easily distract you. Secondly, online roulette is completely automatic.

Roulette – A Game for the Brain

As mentioned above, roulette has been around long enough. Over the years, people have invented many strategies to dominate the opponent. It is not a secret that some used even magnets to control the wheel, but there are also some legal ways to gain the upper hand over the house.

You just need to set aside enough time to improve your skills in the game and place the right bet. Back in the days, there were even some conceptions that the wheel cannot be beaten, but that is far from the truth. Roulette is a game of strategy, calculations and luck.