Players the whole world over are continuously captivated by roulette ā itās among the most sophisticated and charming table games around.
But for all the talk of strategy, betting systems, bankroll management, and other important, tactical matters players need to be familiar withā¦
ā¦ how much is known about the lighter side of things?
While guides are important and certainly have their place, letās take a few moments to explore some of the gameās wildest stories, its origins and development, and other pleasurable parts of roulette.
Origin Stories
Of all the casino table games, roulette is among the eldest.
While there are certainly forms of gambling that go back even farther ā cavemen likely wagered on footraces and combat; we know that betting was also popular among the Ancient Greeks as well as the Pharaohs; playing cards were used in China as early as 900 AD; a cave was even discovered in Utah that archeologists believe was used as a Native American casino as early as the 13th century!
But the roots of roulette can be traced back to Blaise Pascal: the great French mathematician, philosopher, theologian, andā¦ gambler?
Not only did this Renaissance man (in every sense of the word) create the first roulette wheel (way back in 1655, while trying to build a perpetual motion machine), he also combined gambling and theology in what has since been called āPascalās Wager:ā
āEither G-d exists, or he does not exist, and since neither proposition can be proved, we must wager. If we wager that G-d exists and we are right, we win everything. If we wager that G-d exists and we are wrong, we lose nothing. You would be impudent to wager that G-d does not exist.ā
For this great thinker, even divinity was a matter of finding the best odds available!
Modern Roulette
Though Pascale invented the wheel, documentations proves that the modern game has been played in Paris as early as 1796.
The single 0 style was created in 1842ā¦ this provided the house with a significant edge, as well as saving the Kingdom of Monaco from financial ruin! It was designed by the twin brothers FranƧois and Louis Blanc for the casino in Monte Carlo.
The game became immensely popular, generating tremendous income for the Kingdom! It didnāt hurt that France outlawed gambling at around this time, driving eager bettors to Monaco.
The casino there has offered the game continuously since the 1860s. Itās now known as European roulette.
In the meantime, roulette migrated to the New World by way of New Orleans. There, a second zero was added to the wheel, further increasing the house edge. These days, this style is called American roulette.
The Legend of James Bond
Many people associate high-stakes gambling with most famous (fictitious) secret agent of all time: Bond, James Bond. There are many good reasons for this ā the fabulous success of the movie Casino Royale (both the 2006 blockbuster and the original 1967 classic), and 007ās unforgettably debonair attitude at the tables, to name two.
But did you know that the legend extends even to Sean Connery himself, the most famous Bond of them all?
Thatās right! In 1963, still early in his tenure as 007, Mr. Connery found himself at the Casino de la Vallee in Saint-Vincent, Italy.
He bet on his favorite number: 17.
It didnāt hit. So he repeated his bet.
Again, it didnāt hit. So he repeated his bet a third time.
This time, he won! So what did Mr. Connery do?
He bet his winnings on 17 again. For the fourth time.
It hit again.
And againā¦ Mr. Connery let it ride on 17.
And it hit. Again!
Five bets in a row, on the same number, culminating on three consecutive wins. What are the odds?
About one in 50,000!
That day, the great Scotsman walked out of the casino 17 million lira the richer. In 2020 money, thatās over $200,000 US!
Not bad for five minutesā work.
- Up to $3000 welcome bonus upon first three deposits
- Well-established US-friendly brand
- Top quality casino games
- Extra bonuses for Bitcoin depositors
ACCEPTED
PLAYERS FROM UNITED STATES: OHIO ARE ACCEPTED AT THIS CASINO
- Well-established brand
- Prompt payments
- 24/7 customer support
- Wide range of casino games
ACCEPTED
PLAYERS FROM UNITED STATES: OHIO ARE ACCEPTED AT THIS CASINO
- Up to $300 bonus upon first three deposits
- Great loyalty program
- Superb loyalty program
- Great selection of table games
ACCEPTED
PLAYERS FROM UNITED STATES: OHIO ARE ACCEPTED AT THIS CASINO
- Accepts players from all over the world
- Great daily bonuses
- Fair bonus rules and requirements
- Award-winning customer care team
ACCEPTED
PLAYERS FROM UNITED STATES: OHIO ARE ACCEPTED AT THIS CASINO
Mythology
There are plenty of myths and scamsĀ out there. But how many of them involve Beelzebub?
Remember the twin brothers FranƧois and Louis Blanc, who came up with the brilliant advent of a single 0 on the roulette wheel?
Rumor has it that FranƧois sold his soul to the devil in order to ālearn the secrets of roulette.ā The proof?
Add up all the numbers on the roulette wheel, the sum is 666. The number of the beast.
The Wildest Wins of All Time
When it comes to wild wins, every gambler has a story to tell.
Few, however, can hope to match that of Ashley Revell. Back in 2004, this Briton sold all his worldly possessions and bet the sum on a single spin of the wheel.
It must be said that there was some method to this madness: Revell had already agreed to have his story told by the British television program SkyOneā¦ it is not known whether he was financially compensated for this, but it was certain that some amount of celebrity would follow.
Still, the fact remains: at the age of 32, Mr. Revell bet it all on redā¦ and won! His $135,300 became $270,600. He has been an international celebrity ever since.
The Man Who Broke the Bank
Over a hundred years before Ashley Revellās coup at the wheel, Charlie Wells pulled off a roulette caper that is still being talked about. He is the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo!
On 28 July, 1891, Wells began a five-day gambling streak that ranks among the most successful in recorded history.
He started with a bankroll of about $4,000, and ended with $500,000ā¦ in modern money, thatās about $13 million, after starting with $400,000.
Wells claimed that he had devised a āperfect system,ā but never revealed exactly what it was. Since he died in disgrace and ruin, itās unlikely that this is the case.
Today, no one knows what truly happened ā and thatās the stuff legends are made of!