Strange Roulette Facts
Roulette is a simple game in many ways, and that is what draws so many online casino players to the game. However there are some things you might not know about the game which show it is a complex and entertaining game with a colourful past.
Our Roulette.ca interesting facts include some things you might not know about:
- Roulette's origins
- Betting systems
- Big wins
Roulette dates back to the 17th century
The first roulette wheel is credited to French mathematician Blaise Pascal, and it was not originally created with gambling in mind. The name of the game derives from the French for 'little wheel'. However, rather than being designed for gambling activities, it is believed to have originated in Pascal's attempts to create a perpetual motion machine.
The zero and double zero were not always green
These days a roulette wheel is unmistakable for its numbers 1-36, half of them red and the other half black, plus a green zero (and a green double zero on American roulette tables). However this was not always the case.
Early roulette wheels, in 18th-century France, had a red single zero and a black double zero. This soon proved confusing, though, and we soon saw the change to the current system. French and European roulette tables have of course also dropped the double zero.
The first single zero casino roulette table was unveiled in 1843
The Blanc brothers introduced the table to a casino in Bad Homburg, Germany, to compete with traditional double-zero tables.
Early American roulette wheels contained an American Eagle symbol
It joined the numbers 1-28, plus zero and double zero. However players soon wised up to the fact that this supposed symbol of freedom merely increased the house edge.
French Roulette has a couple of unique bets available
The 'en prison' and 'la partage' rules are not featured in any other form of roulette besides the French version, and both allow the player to potentially recoup part of a losing bet if their original bet loses when the ball lands on zero. These rules are in place both in land-based casinos and online casino sites where French Roulette is played.
In California, there is a version of roulette played with cards instead of a wheel
California Roulette is popular in the state's casinos and has been available since 2004.
The five-number bet is the least cost-effective
The five-number bet, covering 1, 2, 3, 0 and 00, is only available on American Roulette wheels. It also offers the worst odds-payout ratio for players.
The house edge on this bet is a relatively large 7.89%, while other bets on American Roulette offer a 5.26% house edge. In fact, the edge is even smaller on European Roulette.
The most popular single-number bet in roulette is 17
This is considered to be the preferred number of fictional character James Bond, who (along with his creator Ian Fleming) was known to enjoy a flutter. Bond bet 17 black in the movie 'Diamonds are Forever', and this has, subliminally or otherwise, wound up as the go-to number for many players.
Of course, no one number is more likely to hit than any other in the long run, so there is no advantage or disadvantage to be gained from following Bond's lead.
A British gambler once bet his life savings on a spin of the roulette wheel
Ashley Revell gambled his entire net worth, more than £75,000, on red. His bet was filmed for the TV show 'Double or Nothing', and he hit Red 7 to walk away with a handy six-figure score.
There is no betting system that can guarantee you 'beat' roulette
Despite what some may claim, no system can overcome the house edge. In fact, many so-called 'systems' have resulted in roulette players losing substantial sums of money.
Roulette is the one casino game where drinking is frowned upon
Of course, drinking and playing is rarely a good idea anyway, but plenty of players enjoy a beer or a cocktail at a casino. However, unlike with games such as blackjack and poker, it is considered poor form to drink at the roulette table.
No one number is any more likely to hit than any other at any given time
Ignore all the claims about the velocity of the spins, the number that hit previously, and any other factor. The spin of a roulette wheel is random, so just because it his 24 last time doesn't mean 24 is any more or less likely to hit on the next spin.
The numbers on a roulette wheel add up to 666
That's right, the numbers 1-36, when added together, make the number of the beast. Is it the work of the devil, or just pure coincidence? We'll let you be the judge of that.
