The Origins of Roulette at the Casino

At the casino, roulette is a captivating game of chance that is a must-play. But do you know the origins of roulette? And its evolutions over time? We explain everything about the origins of this iconic game!

Earliest Traces of Roulette in France

Several theories clash regarding the origins of the first version of roulette. Some claim that it dates back to the Middle Ages, where it was invented by a monk to pass the time. Others assert that it was invented in ancient Rome when Roman soldiers had the idea of dismantling a chariot wheel to make a game of chance. Nevertheless, most historians agree that it was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, and philosopher, Blaise Pascal, who is also credited with inventing the arithmetic machine "Pascaline." He created a primitive version of roulette in the 17th century, while trying to develop a perpetual motion machine. This version of roulette was inspired by English and Italian games and strongly resembled the roulette we know today.

Over time, Blaise Pascal's roulette game was enriched with new rules and characteristics that improved its mechanics as well as its aesthetics. The original version evolved to include numbers, colors, red and black, and a zero, later adding a double zero. These transformations increased the complexity of the game, as well as its appeal, making roulette a symbol of luck, strategy, chance, and elegance.

The Roulette of the Blanc Brothers

By the end of the 18th century, roulette had 38 numbers, featuring a red zero and a black double zero. In 1842, French brothers François and Louis Blanc, owners of the iconic Monte Carlo Casino, had the idea to remove the double zero and keep only the single zero, thus improving the game. This new variant of roulette, more advantageous for players, experienced tremendous growth in France and was introduced for the first time in the casinos of Hamburg, Germany. Following a government prohibition, the Blanc brothers had to return to France to manage their Monte Carlo casino. Monaco thus became the European capital of gambling, thanks to roulette. At that time, however, this expansion of roulette was limited to Europe.

In 1873, a British engineer, Joseph Jagger, observed all the roulette games at the Monte Carlo Casino for several months and noted each spin to establish statistics. He discovered a mechanical irregularity on one of the wheels and exploited this flaw to win a fortune, before being unmasked and trapped himself. He was one of the first "cheaters" at the game of roulette.

In 1891, English player Charles Wells won a huge sum at the Monte Carlo Casino thanks to several consecutive victories, which sparked great curiosity across Europe.

American Roulette

In the mid-19th century, the game of roulette appeared in the United States, where it was immediately adopted by many casino owners, but underwent several modifications. Indeed, Americans decided to reintroduce the double zero, which was more advantageous for casinos: American roulette was born. This variant of roulette then spread throughout the country and eventually to the entire continent.

Online Roulette

With the emergence of the Internet, and then online casinos, roulette continued its expansion worldwide, in a new form but with the same basic rules, reaching a new audience. In physical casinos, it has existed for several years in its electronic form, blending tradition and modernity in most major establishments around the world.

Online roulette allows players to play from anywhere, on various devices. Moreover, online casinos have added new variants to attract even more players:

European roulette, the first variant created;
French roulette, whose rules are relatively similar to those of European roulette but with additional rules, such as "La Partage";
American roulette, which includes the zero and double zero;
Royal roulette, with the same rules as European roulette but with the addition of a progressive jackpot;
Multi-ball roulette, which allows players to play with several balls at the same time;
Multi-wheel roulette, where players can place bets on several wheels at once;
Mini roulette, a simplified variant of the roulette game;
Live roulette, a version played live with real dealers through streaming.

At the beginning of the emergence of online casinos, they had to face significant technological challenges:

Internet connections were very slow, significantly affecting the user experience;
Graphics were rudimentary, usually in 2D, with simple interfaces that failed to create the luxurious atmosphere of a real casino;
The initial versions of online roulette were limited in terms of features.

Despite these limitations, the first versions of online roulette contributed to the rise of the game by attracting a new generation of players who wanted a simple, convenient, attractive, and innovative experience. Indeed, winnings were automatically calculated by digital systems, and the speed and efficiency of this processing appealed to many gaming enthusiasts. Today, technological advancements have radically transformed online casinos.

Online roulette games now offer a personalized gaming experience for each player, with options tailored to the level and amount of the bet. Several technologies, such as random number generators (RNG) or responsive design, ensure fair play. Significant advancements in graphics and sound effects create a truly immersive and engaging experience. Furthermore, the possibility of interacting with live dealers has added a social dimension and authenticity, bringing players closer to the traditional casino experience while remaining in a digital environment, on the device and in the location of their choice.