Roullete is a gambling game with a rich history. A hybrid of wheel games like Roly-Poly and number lotteries such as Biribi, it crystallized in late 18th-century Paris into the roulette we know today. Its evolution shows how the game responded to changes in economy, politics, and culture.
The game’s enduring appeal is due to a unique synthesis of mathematical elegance, sensory drama, and cultural resonance. From the chandeliers of Monte Carlo to the neon signs of Las Vegas casinos to the virtual lobbies of online casinos, roulette’s red and black pockets evoke the thrill of chance in advertising, films, and everyday expressions (to spin the wheel, “life is roulette”). Its endurance across centuries reveals how deeply we are drawn to the challenge of risk.
Roulette’s inseparable link with mathematics gave it the status of a case study in probability theory, and established its place at the center of the Enlightenment’s new science of chance. In the 17th century, mathematicians Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat exchanged letters about the game, laying the foundation for modern probability theory.
But even before this intellectual breakthrough, roulette had already seized the popular imagination. In his novella The Gambler (1866), Fyodor Dostoevsky depicted the psychological torment of a man consumed by roulette at a German spa town. This saga was inspired by Dostoevsky’s own gambling debts and his obsession with the game.
In the 19th century, roulette migrated to America via paddlewheel steamboats that carried it along the Mississippi River and into river towns and frontier cities. There, it became a staple in saloons and mining camps. In contrast to Monte Carlo’s refined salons, American roulette embraced the rough-and-ready spirit of the frontier, and its rules allowed players from a much broader socioeconomic spectrum to participate.
While the American version uses a double-zero wheel with 38 pockets, its house edge is lower than that of European roulette. In addition, it has La Partage, which recoups half of all losing even-money bets.
As a result, it’s the most popular form of roulette in the United States and the Caribbean. While some players use betting systems to try and gain an advantage, most just enjoy the game for its entertainment value. However, to play roulette strategically, you must keep track of your bets. This will help you avoid re-betting on the same numbers and maintain your bankroll. Also, make sure you understand the house edge to ensure that you’re not wasting your money. You can find this information on the table’s information tab.