The History of Roulette

One of the most popular games in land-based and online casinos is roulette. It has been around for aeons and it is here to stay, seemingly getting more popular as time goes by. Here, we will look at the history of our most popular live casino game, where it came from – and where it’s going in the future.

The Origins of the Game

No one really knows the exact origins of roulette. Most people believe that it started out in France by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal back in the 17th Century as he was attempting to invent his ‘perpetual motion machine’.

However, there has been evidence to suggest that it is much older than this, with origins dating back to ancient civilizations.

Did Roulette Really Start in China?

There are some that believe roulette was based on the ancient Chinese game played with 37 animal figures arranged into a magic square with 666 numbers. It is said that this game was discovered by Dominican monks that were involved in Chinese culture and that they eventually brought it to Europe, with a few small changes. However, no one can really know how that original game was played.

It was rumoured that the monks altered the layout by changing the square into a circle and then added a space for the ‘0’. The only issue with this version of events is that even the earliest French Roulette game included the 0 and 00 slots. So, any implication that the ancient Chinese game was still being played seems unlikely. However, given the fact that all of the numbers on a modern roulette wheel add up to 666, this is an interesting theory…

A Pastime for Ancient Romans and Greeks

Being a soldier in Ancient Rome or Greece wasn’t fun or enjoyable. The soldiers had to come to terms with the fact that their life expectancy wasn’t great – and they would have to say goodbye to friends and comrades in every battle. This could mean some low morale in the troops – and a less effective fighting force.

While they weren’t facing death, the soldiers were known to enjoy a bit of gambling and one of their favoured games was said to resemble the contemporary roulette game. Soldiers would write symbols on the inside of their shields. They would then place them face down on the ground with an arrow placed beside them. Then they’d wager on the different symbols, spin the shield and see what symbol the arrow was pointing to.

France – the True Home of Roulette

Undoubtedly, France was really where the game began – and that is reflected in its name. The game was, however, influenced by two similar games popular in Europe in the 17th century. These were ‘Even-Odd’ and ‘Roly Poly’. Both games involved spinning the wheel and placing a bet on the outcome. Given that Blaise Pascal was a well-known gambler, he would have known all about them when creating the game as we know it.

Back then, gambling was not at all popular, owing to the fact that it was prohibited in most European nations. However, Prince Charles of Monaco was going through some financial problems and he decided to use the growing popularity of gambling to help solve his issues. He opened a number of gambling establishments in Monaco – housing a roulette wheel. This saw a huge rise in popularity, especially amongst the upper classes, aristocrats and royal family.

The game played in those establishments was practically the same as the ones we enjoy at land-based and online live casino roulette games we know and love today. The numbers ranged from 1 to 36, were coloured red and black, it had one 0 pocket and one 00 pocket.

Roulette Hits Europe

The reason Roulette travelled outside of France and became a hit all across Europe was down to two Frenchmen – Louis and Francois Blanc. These were the people responsible for eliminating the 00 pocket and creating the modern European Roulette – now the most popular variant of the online roulette game.

Gambling in France was still illegal at this time, so they had to look for another way to popularise the game. So, they moved to Hamburg in Germany and introduced this new variation of the game to the regional gambling scene.

The newer roulette game saw the house advantage drop to just 2.70% from 5.26% as there was now only one 0 slot. This saw the game become even more popular and replace the original roulette wheel.

A few years later, Prince Charles of Monaco III invited the two men back to France – and the game was reintroduced in its newer format. They proceeded to build the first modern-style casino in the world – with the famous single ‘0’ roulette game as its main event. Not long after this, they started construction of the world-renowned Monte Carlo Casino resort. This started to attract the richest and most elite from across the continent, reintroducing them to the game in its newer version. It was this that saw many gambling games, especially roulette, growing in popularity across Europe.

Roulette Goes Stateside

America also has its own roulette game – which is available in most live dealer casinos now. The game was first introduced to the United States by European settlers who headed over to Louisiana at the start of the 19th century. However, this wasn’t quite the smooth sailing as it was in Europe. The casino owners in the US didn’t think a 5.26% house edge was high enough and wanted more. However, players didn’t like the losses this caused and soon lost interest.

Despite this, the country soon rejected the European variant of the game and to this day, the American variant still has the 00 pocket.

Roulette Online

The rise of live casinos in New Zealand and across the world means that anyone can now play roulette online from the comfort of their own settee. The best online live casino will offer all different variations of the game, and players are now spoilt for choice. You can enjoy European, American and French Roulette no matter where in the world you live.

There are also lots of advantages to playing the game at a New Zealand live casino site. Firstly, you can concentrate on your live casino betting strategy with no distractions. Also, you can choose to play either the auto version or the live roulette game. In terms of the odds and transparency of playing online, these games are always tested for fairness, so you can always feel assured that you are playing a trusted game.

Roulette Today

Roulette did go through a dip in popularity, but now the online roulette game is making a comeback. The convenience of online gambling means that players can choose their preferred game and have instant access to it.

Although there is still no definitive answer to how to play roulette online and win, there are still strategies out there. These strategies might not be fool-proof, but they can improve your chances of making a profit in the long term. It also pays to know the game inside out – as knowledge is always power. However, roulette is still a game of chance, just as it has always been.
The game might be old, but it is still one of the most played live casino games online – and has never been more popular.

The History of Roulette – FAQs

Why Is Roulette One of the Most Popular New Zealand Online Casino Games?

Firstly, online roulette is popular with punters these days because of the accessibility and improvement of the technology available. The casino industry increased in popularity when online and live dealer casinos started making their appearance on the scene. This has made the online roulette game convenient. You can also access all of the different variants of the games with just a few clicks of the button. Additionally, it’s also easy to enjoy the online casino live game on mobile, which means you can play it where you want, when you want.

Is Live American Roulette Better than European Roulette?

This depends on whether you are the player or the casino. Many players prefer to play French or European roulette because it has a lower house edge, which means you have a better chance of winning as there is just one single 0 and not the double 00. However, this isn’t the case in the US, where they never really took to European roulette, and American roulette is still the preferred game.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Live Casino Roulette Games?

Many gamblers find playing roulette at live dealer casinos to be a satisfying and enjoyable experience. They offer you a combination of convenience mixed with realism. If you aren’t living anywhere near a land-based casino, but want a real roulette experience, then live roulette is perfect for you. The only negative is that you can’t play without depositing real money. You would need to practice on an automated roulette game first to learn the ropes before heading to the live dealer games.

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