Roulette is one of the most popular casino classics out there. It’s a game of chance in which the player places a bet on one or more betting outcomes, such as even/odd or black/red numbers, and hope that when the wheel spins, the ball (also known as a pill) will land on their selection.
The fun and popularity that surrounds this game is one that’s been around for centuries. Even Ancient Romans are said to have enjoyed an earlier form of the game, which involved betting on spinning swords and shields, as a way to relax between battles.
Since then, Roulette, as we know it, has become a staple part of any casino. But with technology constantly evolving, so has this iconic wheel.
As we enter a new age of gaming, let’s take a look back at how far Roulette has come, and discover just what the future might hold for the beloved game. Read on to find out more.
A brief history
The first form of Roulette is said to have been devised in 18th century France, by mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal. Pascal attempted to create a perpetual motion machine, but naturally couldn’t defy physics, so his failed invention led to the first form of the Roulette wheel that we know and love today.
In 1843, brothers Francois and Louis Blanc introduced another version of Roulette, with only one zero pocket. At this time, other variations of the wheel all had both a single and double zero pocket, meaning that the house edge was 5.26%. The single zero version later became known as European Roulette, and took centre stage in the first modern casino, opened by Francois Blanc himself, for Prince Charles III of Monaco. The wheel’s considerably lower house edge of just 2.70% drew in visitors from far and wide, quickly becoming popular amongst aristocrats and royalty, and helping to shape the luxurious casino lifestyle we associate the games with today.
The modern day
Nowadays, it’s rare that you’ll find any casino without at least one Roulette table. Many casinos host different variations of the game, including American Roulette, European Roulette and even French Roulette.
Online casinos are also a popular way to play the game, with the spinning wheel and a chance to win available from the comfort of your own home – or anywhere with internet access – on any device! Sky Vegas Roulette is just one example of where you can play the online game, with Random Number Generators (RNGs) keeping gameplay fair. A RNG is computer software that produces an undecipherable pattern of numbers, with new combinations being generated each second. This is the closest to generating randomness that’s possible, and the technology is even used in some modern land-based casinos with automatic card shufflers.
A new age
Online casinos have enabled Roulette to become even more popular over time. The fast-paced and exciting gameplay, with a history of iconic wins, makes it a desirable game to play, and with technology becoming more advanced, live online casinos are now offering games of Roulette that have truly transformed the way we play.
Not only can you enjoy the classic games in a brick-and-mortar casino, but live casinos give you the chance to play Roulette with a real-life dealer, in real time, whilst still in the comfort of your own home. The human dealer will host the game from a specialist studio, with lights, cameras and state-of-the-art animations helping you to immerse yourself in the gameplay. There are also themed games available, such as Quantum Roulette live, for example, and special chat features to keep gameplay interactive.
Roulette truly has entered a new age, and with some casino games becoming available in Virtual Reality (VR), only time will tell if online Roulette is next in line to get this even more interactive makeover.
