Roulette is one of the world’s most popular and fascinating games. It is also among the few offerings that have barely changed since its inception. Yet, it still manages to attract players. The iconic wheel was conceived in the late 17th Century in France, and later made its way to the United States of America where it became the global powerhouse it is today. Paris is where it all began, and New Orleans took the game to the next stage of its journey. The rest, as they say, is history.
Roulette Has Not Changed Much
Looking at the online versions of roulette available to play today, it’s amazing to think that the game hasn’t changed much since it was invented in the late 1600s. Players can access internet sites and find roulette options that strongly resemble the original gambling games found in the 17th Century.
The main difference is that these online roulette offerings exist in a separate location to the player, and are live-streamed to them via the internet. There are also different themes on offer, including Penthouse Roulette, NightClub Roulette, and Lightning Roulette. Naturally, all of these games have a slight twist on the original wheel due to their technologically-advanced nature, but the general aim, rules, and layout are the same.
Beginnings in Paris
It is a well-known fact that a French inventor and physician named Blaise Pascal was responsible for creating the wheel in 1655 that later became roulette. Pascal was trying to develop a machine of perpetual motion when he came up with the basic concept for the famous gambling game.
It took a while for the game to spread, but when it did, it was played throughout Paris in the 1700s. At this time the wheels either came with one or two zeros, and there was no standard. This was changed later in 1843 when the single zero roulette wheel became the norm in France. The reason for this move was to lower the house edge, meaning that players had a better chance of winning. This was a great way to attract more players.
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Move to New Orleans
Las Vegas is the most famous city for gambling in the USA, but it didn’t become a global gambling hub until the 20th Century. So contrary to what some people may believe, the Entertainment Capital of the World was not the first place that people played roulette in the States.
New Orleans actually played a big part in boosting roulette’s popularity in America. This is because the city in Louisiana welcomed a large number of French immigrants in the 19th century. The southern city quickly became known as the gambling hub of the States, and roulette was one of the most popular games. The wheels used at the time were slightly different from the ones seen today, though. They actually used 28 numbers and two zeros. The most glaringly different aspect was the American eagle that occupied one of the number spots.
Roulette now exists in cities all over the world and can be accessed anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection at online casinos. However, it’s Paris and New Orleans that played the biggest part in making it the world-famous game it is today.
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