The history and evolution of Roulette

Roulette is one of the most iconic casino games in the modern day. It’s a staple in both land-based and online casino sites, proving to have stood the test of time since the primitive version of the game first came about.

That’s right, primitive forms of the Roulette wheel we know and love today have been present all-throughout history – some of the earliest recordings of chance-based games were played by Ancient Greek and Roman soldiers. At this time, gameplay involved swords and shields being spun, and predictions being made on what the outcome might be.

Thankfully, since then, the famed Roulette wheel was introduced. But did you know it was invented by accident?

A game of chance, by chance

In 1655, French mathematician, physicist and inventor, Blaise Pascal, created the primitive version of the Roulette wheel. In an attempt to defy physics and create the perpetual motion machine, Pascal instead became accredited for the invention of the Roulette wheel.

However, it was in 1843 in Hamburg, Germany that the Roulette wheel as we know it today was created. Thanks to French brothers Francois and Louis Blanc, the green double zero pocket on the wheel was removed, lowering the house edge. This was in an attempt to compete with the popular casino industry in France at the time and bring more funding to the German city.

The single-zero version of Roulette was a hit and continued to rise in popularity.

Roulette and royalty

Word of the Blanc brothers’ invention spread, and Prince Charles III of Monaco caught wind of its popularity. Sadly, Louis passed away, and Francois decided to take a chance and accept the deal Monaco’s royal family proposed.

Seeking security, Francois agreed to move to Monaco, using his savings to help build the Monte Carlo Casino and develop the surrounding areas.

Single-zero Roulette took centre stage in the marble and gold casino, which now sees over 7,000,000 visitors per year, and has featured in numerous James Bond films.

Single-zero vs. double-zero Roulette

With the Blanc brothers’ single-zero wheel making history, we mustn’t forget about the double-zero wheel.

The popularity of single-zero Roulette soared in Europe, but when taken to American shores, both gamers and casinos alike rejected the idea. They preferred the higher stakes of double-zero Roulette.

Due to this, the single-zero variation of the wheel became known as European Roulette, and the double-zero version – American.

Modern-day Roulette

After seeing how much the iconic game evolved in the first few centuries of its creation, there’s no doubt Roulette has continued to advance.

Whilst the wheel remains the same, the way we can play has changed.

Land-based casinos still host both versions of the game, and the materials used to create the wheel, and balls, have become more ethically sourced, reliable and unlikely to develop a bias.

But with the introduction of technology, there are more ways than ever to try your chances on the classic wheel.

Gameplay has become digital, with a Random Number Generator (RNG) providing unpredictable outcomes on the virtual wheel. There’s also the live casino, where a professionally-trained dealer can host the game, live streamed to your device, directly from a specialist studio.

Evidently, Roulette has, and will continue to stand the test of time. So now you know the history and evolution of the iconic game, where do you think you’ll be playing next?

Sponsored