The Origins of the Spinning Wheel for Gambling
The name “roulette” is French for “spinning wheel” and indicates the nature of the game. Gambling games that used spinning wheels can be traced at least as far back as the Greco-Roman period. Roman soldiers were known to use a chariot wheel for gambling and Greek soldiers played with a shield revolving on a metal point. Roulette history is long and colourful with many adaptations and developments seen along the way.
European Roulette History
European roulette seems to have been derived from the Italian game of Hoca and the English game of E-O (Even-Odd). Hoca could be found in casinos in the late 17th century. It involved a circular table with 40 stationary cups around it. A ball was pushed from the centre of the table and allowed to move around the perimeter of the table before coming to a stop in one of the cups. E-O also involved a circular table with the letters E and O marked around the circumference. The interior portion of the table set the ball in motion and players won bets according to where the ball landed in relation to the letter they bet on.
It is not clear exactly when European roulette history began, however it is known that French roulette was already popular in the late 18th century. Games from that time included all of the characteristics that we know from our modern game of roulette and the rules of how to play roulette seemed the same as what we know today.
The History of American Roulette
French immigrants to Louisiana during the French Revolution brought French roulette to the United States. The American roulette wheel included a 00 and a picture of an American Eagle to increase the house odds, but the Eagle was later removed.
Online Roulette at MansionCasino.com
Roulette history progressed and online roulette has become popular at online casinos. Online roulette offers multiple roulette variations and many of these can be played at MansionCasino.com. After reading the roulette rules, simply download the online casino software to try your hand at this age-old favourite.
;Popup.focus();){kind=link}