Reflecting upon the illustrious history of roulette. By Edwin Ford
Roulette is the most popular game of chance, one that has become synonymous with casinos worldwide. It boasts a fascinating history that intertwines mathematical curiosity, cultural evolution and strategic innovation. From its origins dating back to the 17th-century in France to modern casino floors, the story of roulette reflects the changes in gambling culture — and the perpetual drive to balance odds between players and the house.
The Birth of Roulette
The game of roulette traces its origins to the 17th century, with its invention often attributed to the French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal. Renowned for his contributions to the probability theory, Pascal was reportedly experimenting with a perpetual-motion machine when he inadvertently laid the groundwork for the roulette wheel. However, the origins of the game may also have connections to earlier games, such as Roly Poly and Even Odd, which were popular in England during the 17th century. These games involved spinning wheels and betting on outcomes, serving as precursors to the modern roulette we know today.
Another intriguing theory suggests that roulette may have been invented by monks seeking an entertaining pastime. These early iterations of the game featured a wheel with numbers that, when added together, intriguingly totaled 666, a feature that has led to the nickname "The Devil's Wheel."
In the early 18th century, gambling houses in France began adopting a game resembling modern roulette. The wheel featured numbers from one to 36 and included a single zero, which was marked in green. The addition of the single zero was a critical element introduced to give the house an edge over players, ensuring profitability for operators.
Introduction of the double zero
By the mid-19th century, roulette had spread beyond France and gained popularity in other parts of Europe and the United States. While single-zero roulette wheel dominated European casinos, the double-zero version was first introduced in Germany, where casino operators sought to increase their profits. This innovation eventually made its way to the U.S., where it became a defining feature of American-style roulette.
The double zero was primarily introduced to increase profits, reflecting the competitive nature of the burgeoning gambling industry in the U.S. The addition altered the probabilities, giving American-style roulette a house edge of 5.26 percent, compared to the 2.7 percent house edge of European-style roulette.
The evolution of chips and betting
Modern casinos use standardized stacks of 20 chips for roulette, a practice that began to simplify game play and ensure fairness. This system allows for easy tracking of bets and payouts, maintaining clarity on the gaming floor.
Additionally, French innovations in roulette introduced sophisticated betting options like the “call bets.” These bets include “tiers du cylindre” (thirds of the wheel), “voisins du zero” (neighbors of zero), and “les orphelins” (the orphans), which are based on specific sections of the wheel. The concept of “neighbor bets” was also developed, allowing players to wager on a number and its adjacent numbers on the wheel. Interestingly, the three main call bets – “tiers du cylindre,” “voisins du zero” and “les orphelins” – add up to exactly 20 chips when placed, the same as a standard stack. This design allows players to cover every number on the wheel, whether by coincidence or meticulous planning, adding an element of balance and completeness to the betting strategy.
Bonus games and modern innovations
In recent years, casinos have introduced bonus games to enhance the appeal of roulette and attract a broader audience. These features include …
Lightning Roulette: A variation where random numbers on the wheel are assigned multipliers ranging from 50x to 500x, offering players the chance to win significantly larger payouts on straight-up bets.
Double Ball Roulette: Using two balls instead of one, this version increases the excitement by allowing two winning numbers per spin.
Roulette with Side Bets: Some games incorporate additional betting options, such as progressive jackpots or bets on specific combinations, to add layers of strategy and potential rewards.
These innovations aim to modernize the classic game while retaining its core mechanics, ensuring its continued relevance in an evolving gaming landscape.
Electronic roulette terminals
In response to technological advancements and shifting player preferences, many casinos now offer electronic roulette terminals. These terminals allow players to experience roulette in a digital format while maintaining the essence of the traditional game. Players can place bets using touchscreens. The results are determined either by a live wheel that is electronically connected to the terminals or through a random number generator.
Electronic roulette terminals are popular for several reasons:
Increased Accessibility: They accommodate multiple players simultaneously, even in smaller spaces.
Lower Minimum Bets: Casinos often set lower stakes for electronic versions, attracting casual players.
Privacy: Players can enjoy the game at their own pace without the pressure of a live table environment.
Enhanced Features: Some terminals offer additional statistics and betting options, appealing to those who enjoy analyzing patterns and trends.
These terminals have become a staple in many modern casinos, blending tradition with convenience.
Evolution and modern forms
Over time, roulette evolved into two distinct versions: European roulette, with its single zero, and American roulette, with the double zero. These variations cater to different player preferences and strategic approaches. European roulette remains the more popular choice worldwide, primarily due to its lower house edge. This significant difference in odds makes European roulette more favorable for players, particularly in markets outside the U.S., where casinos aim to attract more participants with better chances of winning. Conversely, modern American roulette has occasionally experimented with triple-zero wheels, albeit sparingly, as players often prefer more favorable odds.
Roulette in popular culture and strategy
The allure of roulette extends beyond its mathematical elegance. The game has been immortalized in literature, films, and popular culture as a symbol of sophistication and risk. Many player strategies have emerged over the years, such as the Martingale and Fibonacci, to name but a few. These Roulette strategies offer players various approaches to navigating the wheel, even though no system can overcome the house edge in the long run.
Conclusion
Roulette’s journey from Blaise Pascal's experiments to the glittering casino floors of today is a testament to its enduring appeal and adaptability. The influence of earlier games like Roly Poly and Even Odd — combined with the myths of its invention by monks — adds depth to its history. The introduction of the single and double zero, along with innovations like standardized chip stacks, French call bets, bonus games, and electronic terminals, not only shaped the game’s evolution but also highlighted the delicate balance between chance and strategy that defines roulette. As players around the world continue to spin the wheel, the timeless charm of roulette remains undiminished.
About Edwin Ford
Edwin is a highly motivated, flexible and results-driven senior executive with extensive experience in strategy, sales, business development and commercial operations, developed through over a four-decade career in the gaming industry. Training, working and supervising in casino operations to an executive level , spanning over 15 years, he also operated and was a shareholder of several software-development and supply houses, leading development and deployment of new technologies across international markets.
He displays a skill set transferable to almost any business sector, experienced in consulting with the ability to drive any organisation to realize its goals.
In recent years he has handled licensing applications for several companies with a 100 percent success rate. After 46 years in the industry his passion for the sector is still strong.
*** This article was originally published in the ICE Barcelona Show January 2025 edition of Casino Life Magazine Issue 173***
