Adam Although roulette’s history is rich, it’s essentially the same as it was centuries ago. Here are five lesser-known facts about the most popular gambling activity in the world.
- It has a history of being linked to Satan
A “Devil’s Wheel” moniker has been applied to the 0 and 00 roulette wheels. Its digits are 666, the “number of the beast” in the Bible.
Possibly it has something to do with the game’s penchant for damning its players to the underworld (or at least, their credit ratings).
- William Blake’s “666” is the “number of the beast”
Numerous speculations have been put up as to the genesis of roulette, but no one can be certain of its veracity. A popular myth is that the French physicist Blaise Pascal developed the game after failing to build a perpetual motion machine.
Given that the word “roulette” is a French diminutive for “small wheel,” this explanation makes the most sense.
Some people think it was invented by a bored French monk, while others attribute it to a group of Dominican monks in France. Modern speculation attributes roulette’s origins to the English game Roly-Poly, sometimes known as “E.O.” (Even/Odd). Toss the EO wheel like a coin in a game of roulette
- In the past, deception was less of a challenge
It was much simpler to cheat at roulette before the advent of CCTV and other modern forms of casino security. These days, unless you have insider help, it’s next to impossible (a terrible idea). Whether it be a magnetic ball, a rigged wheel, or anything else, cheaters will always find a method to defeat the house.
Cheaters like Joseph Jagger and Dr. Richard Jarecki, who would take advantage of flawed roulette wheels, are prime examples. They’d notice any damaged wheels (chips, dents, or faults) and study the patterns of which numbers came up before robbing the casinos blind.
Don’t even think about giving this one a go since modern casinos upgrade their gear regularly.
- A standard wager is on number 17, which has a high probability of winning
According to the works of Ian Fleming, 007 James Bond enjoyed playing roulette, and his lucky number was 17.
Coincidence?
Given Bond’s popularity, it may be one of the most popular wagers. The fact that it is in the exact middle of the table may further contribute to its high visibility.
- In the Golden State, you may play roulette using a deck of cards
Some casinos in California are sneaky and offer a roulette variant that employs cards instead of a spinning wheel and ball to get past the state’s stringent gambling restrictions.
