History of Roulette

Last Updated on September 7, 2024 by Mary

How old do you think roulette is? And what is the history of roulette?

One thing I know for sure. Roulette has a history as thrilling as the game itself. Spoiler alert: it goes all the way back to 18th-century France and stretches to contemporary online roulette.

In this article, I’ll explore the history and the origins of roulette, how it evolved, and how it became the present-day online roulette. The road is long, but I’ll try to keep it as interesting as possible.

Ready to roll? But not before you hear the roulette’s story!

Origins of Roulette: Back to the 17th Century

We all know about European and American roulette. But why is there a French one as well? Why not Spanish?

The story begins in France. It was the 17th century when the renowned mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal accidentally invented a game.

Was it a coincidence, though?

He was actually trying to create a perpetual motion machine but laid the basis for what we know today as a roulette wheel. The word itself means “little wheel”. This game later found its place in gambling salons all over France.

At that time, roulette was a hybrid of several games. When it became popular in Paris, it had a more or less similar structure to modern roulette with a numbered wheel with red and black pockets. This early version with a single zero was later called European roulette.

Roulette Evolution: The Origins of the Modern Wheel

In the early 19th century, roulette took quite a turn. The Blanc brothers introduced the single-zero wheel to lower the house edge and make roulette more attractive to players. This is the original European roulette that became standard.

No doubt casinos were able to attract more players with this much more favorable game. Roulette reached Monte Carlo, where it has remained a staple of high-class gaming.

Roulette’s Journey Across the Ocean: The Double Zero

We’re still in the 19th century. The French immigrants brought roulette across the Atlantic right to the United States. And the game acquired a new twist. The American roulette you know today was introduced back then. Of course, it couldn’t go without a few changes, especially the extra double-zero.

Tell you what. The American gambling industry was poorly regulated back then, and many casinos sought ways to increase their profit. As a result, they increased the house edge by adding that double-zero. And the version that was so popularized by the Blanc brothers took an entirely different shape.

The known 37-pocket wheel became a new roulette wheel with 38 pockets. The house edge went all the way up to 5.26% from 2.7%. It’s amazing how exploring the history of a casino game can tell you about the evolution of society. The introduction of this double-zero perfectly shows that Americans were changing all the rules to increase their profits, and I’m speaking about the casino owners.

Back to roulette. Despite the high house edge, the game was mainstream, especially in New Orleans, one of the oldest gambling cities on the American continent. The gambling industry thrived along the Mississippi River. I have to say roulette was also well-received in the Wild West. Why? You place a bet, spin the wheel, and wait. Pretty simple, right?

Roulette in the 20th Century: A Global Casino Staple

The early 20th century was the golden age of casinos. Roulette was a popular game in Europe and the United States. Monte Carlo and Las Vegas became the capitals of gambling. And guess which game was the trendiest? Roulette.

The expansion of Hollywood and pop culture in the mid-20th century popularized roulette even more. It was represented as a symbol of the glamorous casino lifestyle. You could see it everywhere – in movies, literature, and TV shows. Any oldies like me out there that still remember Casablanca or Ocean’s Eleven?

This cultural boom was soon followed by the expansion of Las Vegas, and roulette got a boost of status. In such luxurious casinos like Flamingo and Caesar’s Palace, roulette was taking center stage. Players from various parts of the country were attracted by the spinning wheel for its potential for big wins.

What came next was a turning point in the history of roulette. The Digital Age.

Online Roulette: From Casinos to Online Platforms

In the late ‘90s, roulette made a huge transition from land-based casinos to online gambling. As simple as that, players no longer needed to visit casinos, far away from home, to try their luck at roulette.

New features were introduced in roulette, such as live dealer games with real croupiers and live streaming. You were literally feeling like you were in a real casino but from the comfort of your home. So, more players had access to the game.

The further we go, the more innovative the game becomes. Online roulette started operating on the Random Number Generator, ensuring fair play in the digital variant. So, the game was as unpredictable as the one in real casinos. That’s pretty much how modern roulette looks like.

That’s now all! Later on, online casinos optimized their sites and games for mobile devices, with players being able to enjoy their favorite roulette games on the go fo fun or as a real possibility to win big. The new generation of gamblers knows what I’m talking about.

Contemporary Roulette: Variations and Global Appeal

Today, you definitely don’t need to travel to Las Vegas to play roulette. A few clicks, and you’re all set to play. Who would’ve thought that a coincidental invention would lead to one of the most popular casino games with a global appeal?

While the millennials may still hit the land-based casino from time to time, Gen Z are definitely enjoying their favorite roulette versions on mobile devices. The interesting thing is that while the game has had so many transitions from a simple spinning wheel to a digital one with randomly generated outcomes and live streaming delivered to your home, the roulette versions are still the same. The two most popular are American and European roulette, followed by French roulette and other versions like Mini roulette, which are also enjoyable. What they all have in common is they all are played by both casual players and high rollers.

To wrap it up – the history of roulette had quite an adventurous journey from simple gambling salons in France to the gambling sites we use today. The many changes it has gone through, like the introduction of a double-zero and the switch to digital versions, haven’t made roulette less timeless. So, the next time you give it a digital spin, remember that it hasn’t always been like that.

Well – that’s it, hope you enjoyed this bit of history of the roulette game, see you at the tables!