Roulette history: from Pascal's invention to the present day

Introduction: why roulette has become a casino symbol

Roulette is the perfect balance of spectacle and math. One rotation gives a general ritual - a ball, a wheel, screams at the table - and at the same time absolutely transparent chances. It was this mixture of simplicity, rhythm and "honest" margin that made it the emblem of casinos around the world.

From Pascal to the "small wheel": origins

XVII century. Blaise Pascal, exploring "perpetual motion" devices, experimented with wheels and bearings. These developments were not a game, but they set the mechanics of the future roulette.

XVIII century, France. The game roulette ("small wheel") appears with a sequence of numbers and a green "zero" as an advantage of the institution.

The end of the XVIII - the beginning of the XIX century. Roulette is fixed in Parisian gambling houses, then diverges across Europe.

One-zero revolution: the Blanc brothers and resorts

1840s. Brothers François and Louis Blanc introduce a single zero (0) on the wheel (instead of the European practice of double zero in a number of houses) in Bad Homburg. This dramatically reduces margins and makes their tables popular with players.

Second half of the 19th century. François Blanc takes the model to Monte Carlo, and roulette becomes the resort's driver: graceful lounges, rigorous procedures, an influx of international audiences.

"American" way: double and even triple zero

XIX century, USA. Mississippi and New Orleans are covered by the 0 and 00 wheel - it's easier to keep margins at high overhead. Over time, this is cemented as American roulette.

XX-XXI centuries. In some US establishments, a triple zero (000) appears - the margin is even higher; the format is criticized, but it is kept in places with high tourist traffic.

Mathematics of chances and payments (briefly and on the case)

Classic payments:

direct (1 number) 35:1; split (2) 17:1; street (3) 11:1; angle (4) 8:1; line (6) 5:1;
dozen/columns 2:1; even/odd, red/black, small/large 1:1.

House edge:

European (1 zero): ~ 2.70%.
French (1 nil + "la partage/en prison" on equal bets): Up to 1.35 per cent on 1:1 bets.
American (0 + 00): ~ 5.26%.
Triple zero: ~ 7.69%.
The meaning of zero is simple: it breaks the "equality" of red/black and other paired rates, creating a stable income "at home."

Cloth and "track": betting language

Internal bets (inside): on individual numbers and their groups (1-6 numbers). More risk - higher payment.

Outside: color, even/odd, ranges 1-18/19-36, dozens and columns - more stable, but payments are lower.

Racetrack: French "zones" by location on the wheel, not on the field:

Voisins du Zéro ("neighbors of zero"), - Tiers du Cylindre ("third of the cylinder"), - Orphelins ("orphans"), - Jeu Zéro (narrow circle of zero).
This is the cultural code of European halls: fast polynomial announcements and a special rhythm of passing chips.

"French type" rules: why players love them

La partage. If the ball is in "0," the equilateral bets (1:1) are divided in half: the player saves half.

En prison. The same situation, but the bet is "locked" on the next spin; if the next bet wins, the money is returned.

Both options reduce the margin on equal bets to ~ 1.35% - one of the best "casino chances" in general.

Hunting for benefits: myths, legends and real cases

Wheel bias. Small production/wear distortions may have skewed the probabilities. The most famous episode is the "observer engineer," who systematically "removed the cream" from the "heavy" sector (the classic case of the 19th century in Monte Carlo).

Physical prediction. We tried to estimate the speed of the wheel and the ball "by eye" or with gadgets; there were experimental "wearable computers." Kazina responded by changing the profile of the pocket, balls of a different mass and rigid compliance.

Modernity. High-quality wheel brands, strict service and random replaceable balls almost nullify the bayas; "fair margin" is again more important than any tricks.

Electronic, automatic and online roulette

Airball/Auto. Balloon air-launched faceless tables increased the speed of the draw and integrity control.

Electronic terminals. One physical drum - dozens of individual screens and betting tickets.

Online and live. Random number generators for virtual tables, as well as "live" games with a stream from the studio. Formats expanded geography and introduced result logging.

Variations. Mini-roulette (13 numbers, but high margin), wheels with bonus sectors/multipliers (increase in variance while maintaining mathematical advantage at home).

Ethics and ritual: why the procedure is more important than superstition

Roulette is based on procedures: announcement of bets, "no further bets," launch, fixing a number, payment. The ritual provides trust more than the legends of the "happy seven." In historical perspective, it was the standardized rhythm that made the game a global "language of chance."

Strategies: What works and what doesn't

Not working as "beating the margin": martingale, d'Alembert, "catching the series," "hot numbers." They redistribute risk, but do not cancel zero.

What really helps the player: bank discipline, table selection (1 zero and "French" rules), a fixed time and win/lose limit, avoiding "triple zero."

What helps casinos earn money honestly: clear rules, tested equipment, transparent statistics and staff training.

Chronology (simplified)

17th century: Pascal's mechanical experiments.

XVIII century: the game "roulette" is taking shape in France.

1840s: Blanc brothers implement one zero; Bad Homburg boom.

Second half of the 19th century: Monte Carlo makes roulette a global brand.

XIX century, USA: wheel 0 + 00 is fixed.

20th century: globalization of casinos, standards of equipment and procedures.

XXI century: automatic/online formats, "live" studios, variations with bonuses and, alas, triple zero in separate halls.

Glossary

House edge: The mathematical advantage of rules over the player.

La partage/En prison: "French" options that reduce margins at 1:1 rates.

Inside/Outside: Inside/outside bets on the field.

Racetrack: the "track" of bets on sectors of the wheel.

Wheel bias: systematic skewing of probabilities due to defects/wear.

Conclusion: why roulette has survived centuries

She is clear, beautiful and honest in her math. From Pascal and Blanc to live studios and auto tables, roulette retains the main principle: trust procedure + transparent margin. That is why the "small wheel" is still spinning in every major casino in the world - like a classic, where fate is decided openly, rhythmically and according to the rules.