Roulette History
Most people realize that roulette is a game that has its origins in the country of France. Few people, even if they are avid roulette players, know much more of the history of this exciting game, or are even familiar with the name Blaise Pascal. However, without Pascal, there would be no roulette.
The History of Roulette: Blaise Pascal
Pascal was a mathematician, and remains one of the most famous in history even today. He probably never intended his mathematical studies to produce one of the most played gambling games in the world, but that is exactly what happened. The roulette history starts with mathematician Blaise Pascal.
Pascal Invents the Roulette Wheel
In 1655, Blaise Pascal attempted to create a perpetual motion machine, the holy grail of scientific endeavor. Of course, he failed at this attempt, but the result of his design became the first basic roulette wheel. While it was easy to see how the outcome of the wheel could be gambled upon, it was not as clear how anyone could profit from it.
The Blancs Make Roulette Profitable
Until 1842. That year, brothers Francois and Louis Blanc realized that if they added a 0 to the wheel without changing the payouts, the House would gain an edge without the players ever noticing. Hence, the true game of roulette was born.
Roulette Today
Some time after that the game came to the United States, and a double zero was added, further cementing the House advantage. Today, players can find roulette wheels in any casino, and online casinos feature roulette as well.