History

The exact invention and origin of roulette is a mystery. However, there are two theories on where roulette may have actually originated. The first theory is that the Chinese invented the game. The game was brought to Europe by Chinese traders. The second theory is that Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician, invented the game of roulette. Many support this theory since Pascal developed the concept of “probability,” and the word roulette is French for “small wheel.”

In the late 18th century the game of roulette was present in the Paris casinos. However, during this time the 0 was colored red and the 00 was colored black. Even though these numbers were colored red and black, the casino forbid color bet wins if the ball landed on 0 or 00. Due to the confusion, they eventually decided to change the 0 and 00 to green. Another European concept for roulette is called “En Prison.” This deals with the 0 and 00 bets. If the ball lands in either of these spaces the player has two options. First, the player can choose to freeze their bet and wait for the next spin of the wheel. Second, the player can surrender half of the bet to the casino and receive the other half back. Even today some casinos like the ones in Atlantic City use the “En Prison” rule for 1 to 1 bets.

The game of roulette arrived in the United States around the 1800s. It was brought over by Europeans migrating to New Orleans. The game was originally changed to contain only 1 to 28 with 0 and 00. This change took place to give the casino similar odds but would pay the winners less. The game of roulette eventually reverted back to its origins to contain 1 to 36 and a better payout ratio. Meanwhile in Europe, casinos were modifying the wheel to only have the 0 and not the 00. This enhanced the odds for the players and the casino kept the same payout ratio. Casino patrons truly enjoy the game of roulette so this wheel with is used throughout Europe. It is interesting to note that the game of roulette is the oldest game in the casino and is still enjoyed by many today.