The Roulette History

Roulette history traces back to seventeenth century. It is believed to originate in France as the word “roulette” is actually French and means “small wheel”. Some gamblers claim that the roulette game actually was created in China and got to Europe a liitle bit later after the communications between Dominican and Chinese monks were set up. Other stories in the roulette history also insist that the roulette was invented in Europe as ancient Romans played the game in which wheel was applied. According to the widespread belief the idea of the game was firstly suggested by famous physicist, and religious philosopher, and mathematician, and scientist Blaise Pascal who was obsessed with the invention of a perpetual motion device. And the roulette game got to be the result of his tries to realize the dream of magical machine. Some researches claim that this fact in the roulette history is only a nice story.

According to the roulette history the first close to the up-to-date version of the roulette appeared in 1720 and was known as "roly-poly". Actually this game was prohibited in 1739 by law. Without regard to the ban "roly-poly" game was soon renewed but with another name "Even-Odd". In next fifty years the roulette game was changing and improving and at last it turned into the up-to-date roulette. As the roulette history says the up-to-date roulette wheel was featured in Paris casinos in 1796. A little bit later the game of roulette conquered the USA. But in the US the roulette game never got such recognition like in Europe cause Americans could try the double zero roulette game.

As the roulette history states in 1842 two gamblers Francois and Louis Blanc made the single zero roulette variation. Back then casinos were forbidden in France so game of roulette was played in German where it was unbelievably fashionable. “En prison” option was the second point which added to recognition of this game. “En prison” rule permitted to lower the house advantage and in such way to raise the roulette players’ winning odds. “En prison” rule was a regular rule just in Europe while American gamblers were still suffering from voracious casino owners.

It is possible to figure out a new stage in the roulette history when in the mid-1800’s game of roulette occurred in Monaco as Prince Charles decided to try it where gambling was not popular at all. Since gambling was banned in Germany gamblers were welcomed to visit Monte Carlo to try their gambling skills. Then Louis Blanc together with Prince Charles III founded own casino which these days is regarded as a golden standard in Europe. Louis Blanc tried to attract wealthy class of society to Monte Carlo and to do this he persuaded authorities to built new railways from Nice straight to the city. He managed to bring his dream to life and subsequently gambling got to be legally allowed in France.

Game of roulette lost its popularity after World War II when the players were interested in the craps games because they were believed to be simpler. But through the roulette history this game was never forgotten and it is still enjoyed over the world. It is difficult to imagine gambling hall without roulette wheel.