The story of roulette

The Origins of Roulette

The game of roulette is believed to have originated in 17th-century France, with credit often given to the mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal. While Pascal wasn’t aiming to invent a gambling game, his efforts to create a perpetual motion machine led to the development of a primitive roulette wheel. The term "roulette" itself means "little wheel" in French.

Development of the Game

Early Influences
Roulette likely draws inspiration from older games of chance and wheels, such as the Italian game Biribi and the English Roly-Poly.

The French Roulette Wheel (18th Century)
In the early versions of roulette, there were two slots for the house: a single zero (0) and a double zero (00). These ensured the house had an edge over players. By the late 18th century, roulette gained popularity among French aristocrats.

Spread Across Europe and America

• Europe: In the 19th century, the single-zero (0) roulette wheel was introduced in Germany to attract gamblers by reducing the house edge. This version became known as European Roulette.
• America: Roulette was introduced to the United States in the early 19th century, but the double-zero (00) version remained popular there, creating what we now call American Roulette.