Roulette History

History Of Roulette: Know All About This casino Game Historial Evidence Of Roulette. The primary reference to Roulette can be found from the Eighteenth Century in France. Roulette Making Way To Germany. Initially, the Roulette wheel had one and two zero pockets in red and black colors,. Before we head on to the 20th Century, here are a couple of fun facts you probably didn’t know about roulette: In 2004, Ashley Revell in the UK bet his entire life savings (£93K) on one red spin on the table. He won and walked away. Roulette is sometimes referred to as the “Devils Game”, as all. Following several modifications, roulette achieved its present layout and wheel structure about 1790, after which it rapidly gained status as the leading game in the casinos and gambling houses of Europe. During the years 1836 to 1933, roulette was banned in France. Roulette History Games existed in Europe that were the precursors to roulette such as Roly-Poly (an English game that was probably imported from France), but roulette as we know it today emerged in France in the 18th century, and drew heavily on the work of Blaise Pascal in 1655, who was working to develop a perpetual motion machine.

1. Roulette Pa History
2. Roulette Wheel History
3. Raw Roulette History
4. Roulette History Definition
5. Retrieval Roulette History
6. Roulette Historical Data

Roulette is one of the most easily recognisable casino games to ever grace the floors of gambling spots worldwide. Few of us would be surprised by this game’s iconic status, especially considering how many cultural, literary and film references it inspires on any given day. The game itself has been around for ages and hasn’t failed to create a giant following among gambling fans! So, what is roulette’s background and how did it become the quintessential casino game? We’ll take a look at exactly that in this page, including a handful of references to the biggest wins in the history of roulette and an overview of the game’s rules. Stay tuned for an exhaustive look at one of casino’s most iconic staples!

The Roulette Origin Story

As history would have it, the famed game is not so much the result of an intention, as it is actually a by-product of something else. And that ’something else’ was Blaise Pascal’s search for a perpetual motion machine sometime in the 17th century. So, while our man Blaise didn’t invent the roulette wheel per se, he made the game into what it is today. You see, roulette had already existed in France as a board game, and combining this with a variety of British games like Roly-Poly and E.O. gave Pascal the magic combination of elements – a true recipe for success, if there’s ever been one! Pascal, a brainiac well versed in maths and physics, missed the mark with this invention by a wide margin – since the wheel is far from being perpetually in motion – but therefore left the world with a fantastic gambling tool that soon took over royal courts and gambling halls all over Europe.

The Roulette Background Could Go Even Further, Though

Those seriously doubting that a French mathematician could invent the game can turn to speculating about whether roulette’s origin stretches even further than assumed. In fact, several pieces of evidence point to an existence of roulette-like games being played in ancient civilisations! For instance, the Chinese supposedly played a board game with 37 animal figures positioned on squares, with a total value of 666 (just like roulette!). Also, Greek soldiers would also play a game where they drew numbers on a shield, spun it next to a spear and guess which number the spear would point at. Whether this is true – we’ll never know, unfortunately. There aren’t any documents supporting or refuting these suspicions, so we can keep on playing the guessing game in this respect as well.

In Comes the Zero to Give the Casinos an Edge

The early wheels in the casinos in Paris actually had a single and double zero pocket, one in red and one in black. Eventually, the colour green was chosen for both zero slots, as to set them apart from the rest of the numbers. These two slots on the wheel were reserved for the house, giving it a major advantage over the players.

Later on in 1843, a single-zero wheel was introduced by the Blanc brothers and soon proved to be more popular than its predecessor. It’s no wonder this reinvention of the wheel was a crowd-pleaser: it reduced the bank’s advantage over the players by half! What’s not to like? It is supposedly here where the split between European and American wheels originates – before the Blancs’ version of the wheel got popular in Europe, the double-zero variant had already been imported into North America.

America Brings in the Double Zero and then Some

Once across the ocean, the game became the talk of the town not only among the French immigrants who brought it over, but also the rest of the populace. The epicentre of this action was in none other than the iconic jazz land city of New Orleans, a gambling hub that was also filled with French immigrants at that time. Even though the wheel still had a single and double-zero slot, casinos weren’t happy with their cut so they placed yet another slot onto the wheel – the eagle slot. With a whopping edge of 12.9%, it’s no wonder gambling halls pushed their agenda for a modified wheel. Eventually, these style of wheels went out of fashion (thank goodness), leaving the wheel again with the two zero slots in the US.

If you’re looking for some American flair, you’ll be happy to know that you can easily find American Roulette in pretty much every online casino. Those of you keen to up the thrill with a higher-edge game should take a look at our take on American Roulette and the best online casinos to play at. And, of course, European Roulette has stayed firmly put since it took over casinos in Monaco and kicked its double-zeroed sibling to the curb – which is good for you and your wallet! In fact, European Roulette and French Roulette are wildly popular when compared to its Yankee offshoot – with many roulette casinos offering primarily these two variants.

Roulette Goes Digital

The rise of the internet – and, inevitably, internet gambling – has ushered in a special kind of heyday in roulette history. As popular as it has been on land, it became even more notorious in virtual casinos thanks to players no longer having to leave their houses to spin the wheel. The prospect of playing while tucked into a blanket on your sofa is just too hard to resist for many – and there’s no wonder why! Gambling has never been so easy-going and low effort – and who doesn’t love a chance to be lazy when given the opportunity? Random number generator-operated software has replaced the fate of physics in this case, but, on the other hand, this gave way to exciting new variants of roulette, for example, Pinball Roulette.

Live Roulette Takes Things to the Next Level

Roulette Pa History

Refusing to be just another online game, roulette has moved on with an even better format based on live streaming of the game and betting via the casino’s online platform as you watch. Since the 1990s, live casinos have been getting into the swing of things with more and more exciting game variants of popular casino games, and as streaming quality got better, the market just started booming with choices spreading out among a handful of renowned live game providers. So, those who do still prefer the “real” touch, as opposed to RNG, can enjoy countless live roulette tables offered at all major casinos in the UK.

Roulette Today

Online roulette has enjoyed a stable level of popularity in the UK, and, unlike slots, there’s not that much need for kooky and out-of-the-left-field variants of this game. The rules go according to one of three variants – European, French or American. Between these three, you’ll find plenty of choice to stay entertained but still within a manageable-sized roster. There are, however, a few recent additions to the scene which might make your ears perk up. For instance, Age of the Gods Roulette has brought the progressive jackpot format to this famed table game as well. Based on a franchise of mythology-themed slots, this variant triggers a jackpot round at random, giving you the chance to land one of the four jackpot levels. In the live roulette department, Double Ball Roulette from NetEnt or Book of Ra Roulette from Extreme Live Gaming are intriguing twists on the standard template, with the latter even incorporating side game offshoots of the famous Novomatic slot of the same name.

The Biggest Roulette Win in History

With such a big reputation, it’s no surprise to guess the source of the fame – the possible explosive wins that you can land while playing roulette. Though we wouldn’t promote these one-off chances as something regular, we still have to acknowledge the payout power this game can have when it is done well. Let’s have a look at some of the most legendary wins in roulette history, courtesy of some very lucky (and slightly reckless) players!

Ashley Revell from the UK – Live on TV

Ashley Revell, evidently a man with a lot of faith, thought it was a great idea to sell his possessions, empty out his bank account, and put it all on a roulette bet. This certainly sounds unorthodox, at best, and insane at worst, but believe it or not – Ashley did right. Of course, nothing is as innocent as it seems, as our friend also got a sweet TV special deal out of it. But the crux of the story remains: he bet every single penny of the $135,000 he had on red – and won! And though we’ve seen bigger wins than this, Revell’s story takes the cake thanks to the epic setup and backstory.

Charles Wells – The Guy Who Broke the Bank

Roulette Wheel History

Another player who happily threw caution to the wind was Charles Wells, back in 1891. It took him two legendary visits to a Monte Carlo casino to scoop up a million francs at each visit, which was a massive amount of money back then! Unfortunately, his luck couldn’t keep up, and Charles was soon on the receiving end of some pretty harsh blowback.

His epic wins were followed by a series of losses and arrests – which was not helped by the fact that he was a famed suspected trickster and scammer. Wells never recovered from his extreme financial rollercoaster, and he died broke and destitute.

Mike Ashley – Lucky 17, Like James Bond

If there are people who can truly play roulette with abandon, its millionaires, nay – billionaires – like Mike Ashley. The owner of Newcastle United has surely got no shortage of funds, made clear when he headed to the roulette table in 2008 with a bold wager in mind. He thus made headlines with a “complete” bet focused around the number 17, meaning he made every possible wager on inside bets, splits, streets and line bets. It’s definitely a ballsy move to make, but, clearly, Mike subscribes to the ‘If you got it, flaunt it’ lifestyle. Wagering a “measly” £480,000 on one spin, he won £820,000 in return. Not sure how much he had lost before, though.

Chris Boyd – UK Computer Programmer

Similar to Ashley Revell, Chris Boyd bet a grand sum of $220,000 on the colour red. Though not as extreme as in the former case, Boyd’s wager came from his intense savings of over three years – so fortunately, he still had possessions of his own, including a car to drive off in in case he lost. However, there was no need for that as the bet on red worked out for Boyd, to the tune of some sweet cash. In another freaky twist of events, it’s rumoured that the slot the ball landed on was the same as Ashley Revell’s lucky red 7!

The Future of Roulette

From the humble beginnings as perpetual motion reject to the current state of roulette as the premier casino game online and offline, there’s surely much more in store for the famed game. The introduction of novelty variants and progressive jackpot roulette games at our top online casino picks will surely continue with further expansion. We can also hold our breath for more virtual reality games which are sure to permeate the gambling world in no time. Several of these are already on the market, with Microgaming delivering a standout flagship VR roulette in 2015 – one that already managed to scoop up a coveted Digital Gaming Innovation of the Year award at the Global Gaming Awards!

How to Use Your Knowledge of Roulette History

Knowing the history of roulette unfortunately won’t improve your chances of winning the game, but you will hopefully navigate from this page with a newfound appreciation for this legendary pastime. You can take inspiration from the guys who made our ‘Big Wins’ list – though we’d advise you not to get swept away by emotions just yet. Instead, check out the roulette rules page to get some deeper knowledge or explore a betting system like Martingale in hopes of minimising your losses. If you’re into getting down to business, you can go ahead and play a round or two of the best roulette games at our following top casinos, in addition to countless other casino games.

Raw Roulette History

The history of roulette is fascinating. Many different countries have some claim on the invention of the game. Casino games that have been around as long as this one tend to have rich histories and the Devil’s Wheel is no disappointment. This centuries-old game of chance is popular for myriad reasons: the rules are easy to understand, as are the bets, payouts, and odds, and the visual of the spinning wheel and bouncing ball are captivating.

Origins of the Game
Three countries can stake a claim to inventing this gambling classic: France, Italy, and China. Generally, it is accepted that the origins of the game played today in casinos is France, thanks to the mathematical mind of Blaise Pascal. The French perfected and categorized the game, though the name ‘roulette’ actually made it to France from Italian origins.

Frescoes and written histories show ancient Romans playing a variety of games of chance involving a spinning wheel and bets of money or property. The excess of Roman chariots meant that spinning wheels were a common sight, especially for Roman warriors, who are rumored to have spun the wheels of their chariots to determine the outcome of battles, races, or other contests. Histories of ancient Rome are full of stories of the spoils of war being split up by the random chance of a spinning chariot wheel.

What is the Chinese connection to the game? The Chinese, like the Romans, have long used spinning wheels, but in China these wheels were used for fortune telling or numerology, and not necessarily for gaming. When a Chinese game of chance involving a spinning wheel and various animal symbols made it to Europe through the trade routes, Europeans had access to yet another game using a wheel and random chance to determine the outcome. It is unlikely that today’s game of roulette has much to do with this Chinese spinning wheel game, but the story goes to show that many cultures were developing spinning wheel games all at the same time.

Blaise Pascal and the French Game
In the 17th century, a French mathematician and philosopher named Blaise Pascal was making huge changes to the study of arithmetic and was a great lover of games of chance. Pascal was a student of physics, and it is said that he accidentally developed what we’d recognize today as a roulette wheel while he was working on a physics experiment about motion. Pascal’s original wheel didn’t contain the green number 0, so the odds were far more in favor of the gambler. The addition of the 0 space changed the gambler’s chance of an even-money payout bet from 50% to around 48%, and is the reason why casinos latched onto the game: the 0 space gave them an edge against the gambler.

The Devil’s Wheel
An interesting side note about the Chinese version of the spinning wheel: the wheel itself was set on a stone or other foundation traditionally engraved with the number 666. This tale comes to us through the writing of Dominican monks, suspicious of the number 666 because of its use in the Bible as a symbol of evil.

The notion of this game as “the devil’s wheel” doesn’t have anything to do with the Chinese 666 label, though. Rather, it has to do with the numbers on the roulette wheel. Add 1 through 36, the numbers on the wheel itself, and you end up with a total of 666. This kind of inauspicious sign would have been a big deal to religious communities in Europe and other Christian nations thanks to the association of 666 with the “number of the beast” in the Bible’s Book of the Revelation.

Roulette History Definition

Since the Christian church frowns on gambling along with other vices, the wheel’s association with the number 666 didn’t do the game any favours, and that’s where the phrase “the devil’s wheel” comes from.

Retrieval Roulette History

American Game History
Like most casino games, roulette made its way to America in the 18th century, when trade with the European world was at a peak. But the European game gave too much away to the gambler, so American casinos and gaming providers came up with a simple alteration to the wheel that put the odds squarely against the gambler.

The addition of a single number to the wheel, a green 00 space to match the green 0 space, increased the house edge against the gambler to the point that the game was really profitable for anyone operating it. You wouldn’t think adding a single number to the wheel would make that big a difference in the outcome, and it doesn’t, but it does push the odds just a little more in favour of the casino. When American casinos and gambling halls realized the profit available from offering this style, the game started popping up all over the place. The double zero version of the game has a higher built-in house edge is responsible for the game’s widespread availability in America casinos today, though they aren’t as popular worldwide.

How Roulette Came to Australia & New Zealand
No doubt colonists from the UK and other parts of the world brought their favourite games of chance with them when they emigrated or were sent to this part of the world. Spinning wheel casino games and betting contests were well-known at the time of mass colonization of both Australia and New Zealand, and it is easy to image original colonists being well-familiar with The Devil’s Wheel itself.

Roulette Historical Data

Though the history of this game is complex and difficult to pin down, we know that the game as it is played today required hundreds of years and much cultural interweaving. Chinese fortune telling wheels, ancient Roman chariot wheels, and the brilliant mind of a mathematician-philosopher all converged to give us one of the more popular casino table games anywhere in the world. We may never know the exact origins of roulette, but we know that people love to line up and bet on the spinning wheel for their chance at casino winnings.