The game of roulette has an interesting background, and its origins are fascinating to try to uncover. Unfortunately, some pieces of the history of roulette will always remain shrouded in mystery, as there is some debate about the primary origins of the game. No matter the exact background of roulette, the game has evolved into one of the most popular table games in the history of gambling.

Obscure Origins

Roulette has an uncertain history, as gambling historians cannot be definitively sure about when and where the game originated. Most estimates place the primitive development of the game to have been around 1655 to 1700. Some roulette proponents proclaim that the game was first invented by the French scientist Blaise Pascal. This version of roulette, the historians say, was developed in a makeshift Paris casino.

There are other claims for the game’s beginnings, however. Some say roulette was developed by a French monk to alleviate the boredom of his daily life. Yet others move completely away from the idea that roulette was first developed by the French. These particular gambling historians say the game was invented in ancient China. In this old version of roulette, 37 statuettes of animals were arranged in a “magic” square.

No matter the exact roots of the game, the modern version of roulette first began around 1842. This early French version has both the zero and the double zero, but two Frenchmen named Francois and Louis Blanc arrived in America with the single zero version of the game. This version became less favored to the zero and double zero versioned game, so the formation of the American wheel was born. The single zero game of roulette is now referred to as the European -or French-wheel.

With its interesting origins, roulette remains one of the oldest and most popular table games in casino history. The game is also one of the most easily recognized games in the world of gambling. There is certainly no mistaking the appearance of the roulette table. One of the most famous images of gambling and betting, the roulette table is easily spotted in a crowded casino.