Roulette is one of the most iconic casino games in the world. It is played by millions of people every year and it is one of the few casino games that rely entirely on chance. 

In this article, you will learn 10 facts about the game that you probably didn’t know before. Read on to find out more. 

If these facts have inspired you to play Roulette now, enjoy! 

#1 – The Roulette wheel was meant to be a perpetual motion machine 

Blaise Pascal was a French inventor who was on the hunt for the perpetual motion machine. It is believed that if these machines are discovered they will provide an infinite source of energy. 

Pascal was not having any luck with inventing the perpetual motion machine, so instead the story says that he turned his invention into the wheel for the new game Roulette. 

Pascal is also widely considered to be one of the fathers of modern economics and social science.

#2 – The game was invented in France 

Roulette directly translates as ‘the little wheel’. 

As we mentioned earlier, it is believed that Blaise Pascal invented Roulette. This is believed because the earliest records we have of the game are from Paris in the 17th century. 

It should also be noted that Roulette was developed from an earlier Italian game called Briribi. Briribi was played on a board and tickets were drawn rather than a wheel being spun – in a way it is similar to Bingo. 

France was the birthplace of Roulette but love for the game quickly spread across the world. 

#3 – The ball and wheel spin in opposite directions 

One of the most common mistakes made with Roulette is thinking that the ball and the wheel spin in the same direction. 

The wheel is spun counterclockwise by the croupier and they then throw the ball in so that it spins in the opposite direction. This makes the game fairer for everyone. 

The croupier has no control over where the ball lands, but if they place the ball in poorly it can fly out of the wheel. 

#4 – Fyodor Dostoevsky was addicted to Roulette 

The famous Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky was addicted to Roulette for over 8 years. 

There was a rumour going around at the time that he wrote a lot of his novels in order to pay off his gambling debts. This is believed to be the case for his most famous novel Crime and Punishment. 

Fyodor Dostoevsky also wrote a novella called The Gambler that chronicles his time as a gambling addict. It has been praised as tackling mental health uncharacteristically well for the time he was writing in. 

#5 – Outside bets aren’t as bad as they first appear 

This is a little tip for any of you who are interested in playing Roulette and making a profit. 

Most people avoid playing outside bets (betting on Red or Black, Odd or Even, High or Low) because the payouts are smaller than the inside bets (betting on a street or an individual number). But your odds are much better if you place an outside bet. 

You are 18 times more likely to win on an outside bet. 

#6 – An English man sold everything he owned and put it on Red 7 

In 2004, a British man called Ashley Revell sold everything he owned – including his home and his clothes. He then brought a ticket to Vegas. When he got there, he went into a Casino and put it all on Red 7. 

Surprisingly, he won and walked away from the casino with $270,600. The whole event was filmed by the British TV Channel Sky, as part of a mini-series called Double or Nothing. 

#7 – There are three different types of Roulette wheel 

Many people might not know there is more than one type of Roulette wheel. There are in fact three different types of Roulette wheels – Single-Zero, Double-Zero, and Triple-Zero. 

This is how each wheel is set up. 

Single-zero wheel

0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26

Double-zero wheel

0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-33-16-4-23-35-14-2

Triple-zero wheel

0-000-00-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26

The type of wheel that the casino uses will usually depend on where the casino is located. Chinese casinos tend to use the Triple-Zero wheel. American casinos like to use Double-Zero wheels. And European casinos like to use Single-Zero wheels. 

#8 – If you pick 17 you’re a novice unless you’re James Bond 

The most commonly picked number on a roulette wheel is 17. This is believed to be because it sits in the middle of the wheel and draws the eye of most new Roulette players. 

If you are at a table and you don’t want people to know this is your first time, you should avoid picking number 17. 

When he was in Italy, Sean Connery won three consecutive times on the number 17. So it’s not always a bad idea to pick the most popular number. 

#9 – Roulette is the third most popular casino game 

Roulette is one of the three most popular games at the casino – this list doesn’t include slots. The most popular game is Poker, Blackjack is the second most popular, and Roulette comes in third place. 

At any good casino, you will find at least 3 tables devoted to the game. It is worth noting that it is considered rude to drink at a Roulette table. And most casinos won’t serve drinks to people standing at one of their Roulette tables. 

#10 – All the numbers on the wheel add up to 666 

Many religions are against gambling, but Roulette has had some intense issues with religious organizations. 

Roulette is often referred to as ‘the Devil’s Game’, for two reasons. 

Firstly, it is a game of chance and people can lose a lot of money very quickly at the table. 

Secondly, all the numbers on the Roulette wheel add up to 666 – the number of the beast. There have been many attempts to get Roulette banned because of its association with this number.