What is the History of Roulette?

Roulette as we know it is a rather new addition to the games available at casinos.  While someone probably invented a game employing a roulette wheel almost as soon as the wheel itself was invented it wasn’t until the seventeenth century that a game that we would identify as Roulette was presented to the world.  The European Roulette roulette wheel (the single zero roulette wheel) was invented in 1842 by Francois and Louis Blanc.

In France gambling was banned so the developers of Roulette, Francois and Louis Blanc relocated to Germany where the game grew to become well-liked.  When Germany banned gambling Louis Blanc accepted an invitation to go to Monaco to establish and operate a casino.  The casino was such a hit that it was powerful enough to establish all of the Roulette rules in Europe.

The roulette wheel hasn’t been altered much since then.  One of the few modifications made to the wheel was the addition of the green color to the wheel on the zero and double zero spots.  Before this the zero was red and the double zero was black, this led to a little confusion for the players so the color was changed to green to get rid of the confusion.

An additional change to roulette was made in Europe when the “En Prison” alternative was introduced.  If using the European roulette wheel when a zero is the winning digit any player who has bet even-money is able to  take one of two options; they can take back one half of their wager, or they can decide to exercise the “En Prison” option.  When En Prison alternative is chosen the bet is set aside awaiting the next spin of the roulette wheel.  Should the wager win the players have their money returned to them (without the payoff) if not the funds are lost.  When zero again wins the cash is again set aside awaiting the next spin of the wheel.

Roulette became glamorous after Europe’s wealthy and famous started to go to Monte Carlo to amuse themselves.  The participants were dressed to the nines in formal attire, the casino was strikingly beautiful and huge sums of cash were wagered.  All of this helped to establish Roulette as the worlds most recognized casino game.

The double zero Roulette wheel evolved into the normal Roulette wheel in America.  The double zero wheel is often referred to as the “American wheel”.  The American wheel was very popular in the California gold rush in the American west.

In Europe Roulette gambling is a lot more popular than it is in the U.S.  United States casinos just earn 5% of their earnings from the game of roulette while casinos in Europe make 50% of their earnings from Roulette.  The principle basis for this is that European casinos have a house edge of only 1.35% (because they use a single zero wheel and the En Prison choice being available) compared to the American house edge of 5.26% (using a double zero wheel and no En Prison option).