The origins of Roulette go as far back as the 17th Century, however the Roulette as we know it has been played as early as 1796. Because of Beginning as an attempt at a perpetual motion machine, Roulette has evolved into one of the most iconic forms of gambling today. Roulette is directly translated as “little wheel” from French, and this little wheel can be found in every casino and gambling hall today.
First invented by two Frenchmen, Roulette was introduced in Germany to avoid the strict French gambling laws. The game was an immediate hit. Roulette is a very simple game, easy to learn and exciting to play. The wheel is spun by the dealer in one direction, and then a ball is spun the other direction. The ball eventually loses momentum and stops in a colored and numbered pocket.
When it was introduced to the Prince of Monaco Charles III, he was immediately delighted by it. Charles III was well known for his love of gambling and Roulette was introduced to Monte Carlo. The resort was well known world wide for its luxurious gambling atomosphere.
When the Roulette wheel was brought to America in the 1800's the American casinos were not impressed. This is when the Americans developed their own Roulette wheel. The European wheel has 37 pockets numbered from 0 to 36. This wheel has a slightly better advantage for players which the American casinos did not want. The American wheel has 38 pockets with the addition of the 00 pocket. The addition of this single pocket changed the house advantage from 2.7% on the European wheel to a healthy 5.26% on the American wheel. If players have the option to choose between the European wheel and the American wheel, they should always choose the European for the better odds of winning.
The Americans didn't only change the wheel, however. Thanks to rampant cheating, the wheel was moved from placed in the table to raised above it so no devices could alter the outcome. The betting layout was streamlined as well, encouraging faster betting and play.
There is a legend that the the secrets of Roulette were bargained from the devil. This is because all the numbers on the roulette wheel adds up to 666, a number considered by many to symbolize the Devil. Despite this supposed evil design, Roulette has found it's way into the heart of the gambling community and can be found in just about every casino and even on online gambling sites.
No matter where you play, there is a specific etiquette when playing Roulette that is expected of bettors. Much of this is considered simply being polite, while other rules are to protect both other bettors and the dealer from cheating. For example, dealers may not take cash from the hand of a player. The money must be laid on the table. The dealer uses a marker to denote when players are allowed to touch the betting layout to either collect winnings or place new or move existing bets. If a player cannot reach they must ask the dealer to place it for them.
Roulette has flourished in the gambling world and is considered an iconic game. You can walk into just about any casino and find a Roulette table, and odds are you will find a crowd of people watching this exciting game.
