The history of Roulette

As the wheel spins around and around, players patiently wait to see where the ball will land. How long have people being watching the roulette wheel spin? Has the game evolved since its first introduction into gambling society? A mixture of black and red, odd and even, it is said that roulette was the result of several different games from a few different countries, all put together to come up with the modern day game that you see today in casinos all over the world.

18th Century

While a very primitive form of the game was created in the 17th century, most people recognize 18th century France to be the birthplace of roulette. Several different English games including Ace of Hearts and Reiner were added to others including the Italian board game Hoca. From there, the French board game, already called Roulette, was added to create the game as it is played today. In 1758, in the regulations of Quebec, there is mention of banned games which includes roulette.

Historians often mention the French novel "La Roulette, ou le Jour" This novel by Jaques Lablee was published in 1801 and, in the book, the roulette wheel is described in detail, including the two slots reserved for the bank as well as the betting spaces with the different numbers available for players. It was around this time, in the late 18th century, that the wheel was changed to have both the zero and the double zero in green to avoid any confusion.

19th and 20th Centuries

During the 19th century, there were several variations made to the roulette wheel. Today you probably could not imagine having a slot for an American Eagle when you go to play live roulette online but, back then, it was looked at as a sign of American liberty. Of course, it was not the players that benefited from the eagle on the table. When the ball fell into this slot, the entire board was cleared in favor of the dealer unless someone had bet specifically on the eagle. When this happened, the player was paid twenty-seven to one for the win. These roulette wheels are incredibly rare and it is said that there are only around six that are still in existence.

Throughout the 19th century, the game of roulette began to spread around the world. Players from the United States and Europe came in droves to try out the game, making it one of the most popular games at the casino. During this time, Germany banned gambling altogether and things in Europe began to change. Monte Carlo took on a central role when it came to gambling. Here, the roulette wheel changed to only one zero. In the United States, the double zero became more accepted and was not changed.

The Americans also made adjustments to the game of roulette including setting the wheel on a table to ensure that no one, dealer or players, was able to cheat. The layout for betting was also simplified to make it easier for new players to understand the dynamics of the game. At the beginning of the 20th century, Monte Carlo and Las Vegas were seen to be the two premiere places for gambling. Monte Carlo had the single zero and Las Vegas had the double. Instead of making your way into a casino to take advantage of the game, you can check out a live dealer online and still enjoy the benefits and risks of betting on the spinning wheel.