The origins of Roulette

It speaks volumes these days that, despite the pretty incredible popularity explosion that online slots have endured, Roulette still remains one of, if not, the most well-liked casino game around.

There is absolutely no arguing with that, ever since the humble beginnings of this gambling game it has sent punters absolutely wild with its intriguing blend of real life physics and, of course, money making potential.

Another thing about Roulette is that it has always stood as a symbol of affluence and luxury, therefore making it the centre-piece in many respected casinos. In fact, a trip to Las Vegas will be full of various gambling games, however the most visible of these is always going to be Roulette – it’s just too intoxicatingly fun for it not to be – click here!

But here’s the thing: as popular as Roulette is in 2019, many people don’t have the faintest idea of its origins. Interestingly enough the concept behind Roulette can be traced back to some of the earliest instances of gambling, however it didn’t properly take on the shape it does now until the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Another thing countless people fail to notice is the distinction between European and American Roulette. Oh yes, there are two different kinds to be aware of, and the difference can actually swing the odds of a win quite heavily.

As with all casino games, it really does pay off to know your stuff when it comes to Roulette and its history, because this knowledge can often help you on your way to a big win. So, without further ado, read ahead for our comprehensive breakdown of the origins of Roulette.

History Of Gambling 

If we want to properly trace the history of Roulette we will first have to touch on the history of gambling as a whole, as these two things are intrinsically related. Now, it is pretty much impossible to say exactly when gambling in human civilization first started, but many historians agree that it would have been sometime deep in Ancient history.

We already know, for instance, that the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians all loved to gamble in antiquity, and judging by the sophistication of some of these games they had been doing it for quite some time as well. 

In fact, archaeologists have uncovered some incredibly old stone and bone carvings that seem to resemble a very rudimentary version of craps. This was recently found in Modern day China, and carbon dating reports the objects to be at least 10,000 years old! One thing is for certain about us humans… we love to gamble, and we seemingly always have. 

The Origins Of Casino 

Although it seems as though gambling has been a pretty visible aspect of human culture for tens of thousands of years, the casino as a physical designated gambling place is something that is nowhere near as old. Of course, there were taverns and bars that would have played host to gambling activities before this, but the first real casino was actually opened in the 1600s in Venice.

The Casino di Venezia was first opened during the harvest celebrations in the city, with the authorities deciding that a strictly regulated gambling arena would be better for the populace than some of the shifty bars and taverns that previously had played host to the public’s gambling adventures. 

This was a crucial development in the origins of Roulette too, because without the casino this particularly exciting gambling game simply would not be able to exist. In fact, the origins of casino and Roulette pretty much go hand in hand, as we will see… 

The Quest For More Exciting Casino Games 

So, the word’s first genuine casino was created in the 17th Century, and it really did not take long for these gambling meccas to proliferate incredibly quickly. Before much time the city of Venice was flooded with casinos, with the trend spreading across the rest of Europe too. The popularity of these places was really starting to sky-rocketing, but there was one main problem: the relative lack of many different casino game types. 

And so it was that casino owners began the quest for more exciting casino games, something that directly influenced the creation of the Roulette wheel. 

Perpetual Motion And The Beginnings Of Roulette 

Now, something that many people forget when it comes to Roulette, is that this infectious gambling game is heavily predicated on the Enlightenment and the technological advances that came with it. It was at this time that science was really starting to reign dominant, and the search for a perpetual motion machine was one of the things that resulted in the Roulette wheel being possible. 

A Frenchman named Blaise Pascal is widely acknowledged to have created the first rather primitive version of Roulette through his experiments with perpetual motion, and little did he know how much this invention would influence the gambling world. 

The Proper Inception Of Roulette 

It didn’t take long for Blaise Pascal’s invention to become refined for casino use, with the game of Roulette surging into popularity in the 19th Century. Many gambling historians agree that the first genuine Roulette game appeared in Paris right at the end of the 1700s in 1796, and the game created such a huge buzz that within only a few decades one could find a Roulette wheel in most places on the continent.

19th Century European Roulette Golden Years 

And so followed the golden years of Roulette, as the game enjoyed monumental success in mainland Europe. In fact, it was so successful that the German government decided to outlaw gambling as a whole, meaning that most casino owners were compelled to set up shop in Monte Carlo. 

The Crossing Of The Atlantic 

Another key moment in the history of Roulette is the moment it made the transatlantic jump to America. Rumours had been heard of an exciting new casino game from Europe for quite some time, and when Roulette finally reached US shores it proved to be remarkably popular.