Ever wondered where the much-loved game of roulette actually came from and what took it from its origins to the game we know today? The game is steeped in a rich history and you may be surprised to find out some of the interesting facts about roulette strategy history and it might give you a whole new appreciation of the game! So let’s dive in and discover more about where the game of roulette came from and how it progressed and developed into the popular game that is now played all over the world both in land-based casinos and online.
The origin of the game is still debated to this day, but it is generally accepted that the game first originated in France in the 17th Century and was first played in Paris under the name “little wheel”. However, there are clues in history that suggest versions of the game that may have inspired roulette were played across the globe from Britain to Germany as well as in antiquity in ancient civilisations such as ancient Chinese cultures. In ancient China there was a board game which was centred on arranging animal figures (37 in total) into a square shape, creating a ‘wheel’. The ancient game was subsequently brought over to Europe by travelling monks who modified the game for a European audience, transforming it from the Chinese square into a circle.
Another theory is that the game was played back in ancient Rome by roman soldiers, where they would bet on games that involved spinning chariot wheels or their round metal shields. However, there is little evidence to support this, even though the soldiers probably would be enjoyed such a game if it were invented at the time, and gambling certainly was a past time in ancient Rome and ancient Greece.
As you will well know if you’ve ever played roulette online or in a casino, the game is extremely popular and this is due to how well it spread throughout Europe in the wake of new gambling laws coming into play following gambling being banned in the 17th century. Since then, the gambling industry was revived with a make-over and game-like roulette were now games of the elite rather than played illegally in the backstreets of European cities. One of the most famous places to gamble and a second home for roulette is Monaco, where several casinos were opened by Prince Charles of Monaco in the 18th century and the game itself hasn’t differed much from this traditional version.
Despite the game being a game of luck with no strategies or tact to employ while playing to help players win, roulette today is as popular as ever. This proves just how hypnotising and entertaining watching the wheel spin round is for players, showing why it has stood the test of time! Like many other games, it skyrocketed in popularity through the introduction of convenient online casinos where players could get their roulette fix whenever and wherever they were, honing their inner French aristocrat in hopes of making a fortune on the roulette wheel!
