The History of Roulette

Roulette is a game of chance that was invented over 300 years ago. Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher and physicist, is credited with this invention.

The roulette wheel has numbered pockets that alternate between red and black, with the exception of the 0 (or 00 in American roulette). Players bet on which number will win by placing chips on the betting table.

Origin

The modern game of roulette is a fairly recent invention. There are a number of theories surrounding its origins, but no one theory is completely accurate. Some believe that it began in China, where a game similar to the modern roulette wheel was played. This version of the game was then brought to France by Dominican monks who were traveling through the country. The game would later be reintroduced in gambling houses in the 1700s and adopted its modern form. Other theories suggest that the game originated in Rome or Greece, where soldiers used to spin shields with symbols on them in order to place bets. The modern roulette wheel and layout was first introduced in the late 18th century by French mathematician Blaise Pascal.