Roulette is one of the figureheads of gambling in the casino culture, and it is, for some years now, also available online. Online casinos considered roulette to be one of the main attractions from the beginning on. As with many casino games, the background of roulette is only partly known, and there are plenty of theories about the early origins and developments of the game.
One thesis is that it originated in China. Legend has it that Dominican monks brought the game to Europe, with the help of a Chinese monk. Other theories include references to ancient Rome, where chariots were flipped to the sides. The wheels are said to have been rotated in order to pass the time.
While there are several loose assumptions about the history of roulette, all historians agree that the first primitive roulette wheel was invented by Blaise Pascal, a French scientist and mathematician. This man, who lived in the 17th century, was obsessed with building a Perpeto-Mobile, and the roulette wheel was a mere byproduct of his passion.
Most researchers support the theory that Pascal, indeed, was the inventor of the simple roulette wheel. However, they doubt whether Pascal bequeathed his soul to the devil for this venture, or not. The reason for this speculation is that the sum of the numbers, from 1 to 36, equal 666, which is the symbol of the Antichrist.
The first indication of the use of a rotatable wheel and a ball game in England are from the year 1720, when only royalty and noblemen played a game called “Roly Poly”. However, all gambling games in England were banned due to the Gaming Act of 1739 and 1740.
Thereafter, an inventive lifeguard, Beau Nash, succeeded to circumvent the gambling laws for a short time by introducing a new game called “Even-Odd”. This game evoked intense enthusiasm in people; but, unfortunately, it too was declared illegal in 1745.
After the relative quiet period, caused by the game laws in England and other European countries, roulette came in fashion in France again, at the beginning of the 18th century. Prince Charles of Monaco realized that the introduction of a casino could be a solution for the financial problems his small kingdom suffered. From that moment on, roulette became extreme popular within the circles of the French nobility, as well as royalty.
The modern roulette of today is a lot similar to the version of the 18th century. The first in vogue roulette wheels were used in the casinos around 1796. Most features of the fashionable roulette table were already then present – the numbered boxes 1 to 36, which were alternating in black and red, the same rules and equal betting options.
Then, European settlers, who came to New Orleans, brought roulette to America in the early 19th century. The game changed dramatically on American soil, as many arcade owners introduced the number 0 in order for the bank to win. However, due to the low profits, the game soon lost all its appeal.
The single 0 game was rejected by most American casinos, and only the double 00 was the accepted form to play. This version was favored during the gold rush period in California, as it was a welcoming change for gamblers who primarily played with cards. Nowadays, the roulette of the 20th century continues to be an all time favorite in France and America.