Roulette is, by far, one of the most popular casino games that appeal to seasoned veterans and first-time players alike. The game has been around since the 18th century, when it first made its way to European casinos and later spread across the world.
It has also extended its influence to the world of online gambling, where you will find different variants of the roulette game at casinos worldwide. Since this game has been in existence for a few centuries now, it doesn’t surprise that many facts and stories surround this timeless casino game.
In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the uncommon facts about roulette that you may not have known before.
The roulette game is also called the Devil’s Game
Over the years, the roulette game has been dubbed many names in different circles worldwide. One of the most common and peculiar of the titles is “The Devil’s Game.”
Though many players have theories about why this nickname came to be, the explanation is pretty simple. When you add up all the numbers on the roulette wheel, it sums up to 666. 666 is the infamous number commonly associated with the devil, and this is why this game has been called the Devil’s Wheel.
The same is true for all the various roulette variants, as the numbers 1 to 36 are often constant on all of them.
A man wagered his entire life savings on a single spin of a roulette wheel
In 2004, one of the craziest bets in the history of the roulette game occurred, when Ashley Revel sold off everything to his name and staked it on a single spin at a roulette wheel at the Plaza Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas.
This English Entrepreneur sold off all his real estate and other properties and took everything he owned to the last cent, amounting to about $135,300, to place a bet on a single roulette game.
Ashley Revel staked everything on red, and as lady luck would have it, he didn’t end up homeless after the roulette wheel stopped spinning, as the ball amazingly stopped on red seven.
He ended up walking away with a staggering $270,600. However, you should note that although lady luck was on Ashley Revel’s side on that fateful day, she may not be on your side if you attempt such a crazy adventure. So, we don’t recommend you try it out.
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Online roulette has turned the Middle East into the fastest growing market for online casinos
Roulette tables can be found in almost every casino in the Middle East, and both locals and tourists enjoy playing the game. Even though online gambling is a multibillion-dollar global industry, it is illegal in most Middle Eastern countries.
The legal status of online gambling varies by country in the Middle East. Some countries have legalized it, while others have outright banned it, but this hasn’t stopped the Middle East from becoming the fastest-growing market for online casinos. Because of the ability to play roulette online, people in the Middle East are looking for ways to get around the ban.
One strategy they employ is the use of offshore gambling sites. These sites are hosted on servers outside the country, so they are not subject to local laws or regulations. Because of the trend among Arab speakers to play Roulette online, the majority of casino operators, including 888, now provide an Arabic casino platform.
The roulette wheel doesn’t always have a single zero
The roulette game has evolved over the years, and many game features have undergone specific changes. Contrary to popular belief, the original roulette wheel doesn’t feature a single zero pocket. The roulette of old featured a single zero pocket and a double zero pocket. The change from two zero pockets to a single zero probably occurred because of the house edge. It is believed that due to the extra zero pocket that favors the house in the original roulette wheel, the house edge increases.
This resulted in creating of the roulette game we know and love today, which features only a single zero pocket, thereby reducing the house advantage. Interestingly, roulettes that feature both the single zero and the double zero pockets like the original still exist in the form of the famous American roulettes.
The roulette table is expensive
On occasions, rather than going to the nearest land-based casino or going online to play their favorite casino games, many gambling enthusiasts tend to set up casino games in the comfort of their homes to have fun with friends and family.
The most common example is the setup of poker rooms for a friendly game of poker. However, if you are thinking of setting up a roulette wheel so that you can play the classic game with your friends and family, you should know that it is an expensive undertaking.
The roulette wheel and other accessories that come with the game are luxury items that usually cost anywhere between $5 000 and $7 000. Interestingly, the world’s most expensive roulette table in the world is adorned with 4 million worth of diamonds and 24-carat gold. If you are looking to make a statement, this type of wheel is sure to do so.
The European roulette offers better odds than its American counterpart
With an extra 00 pocket on the American roulette wheel, the probability of landing the roulette ball on any spot increases from 1/37 to 1/38. It means that the European roulette game, which has a house edge sitting at 2.7%, offers players better odds than the American one, which has a 5.26% house edge.
Roulette was invented to entertain King Louis XIV
Roulette is dubbed the king of casino games in some circles and the queen of casino games in others. Regardless of what nickname you ascribe to the game, one indisputable fact is that it is an entertaining game with a rich history.
The word “roulette” comes from the French word meaning “small wheel,” and the roulette wheel is actually the oldest gambling device in the world.
The origins of Roulette are debated, but most likely, the game was invented by Blaise Pascal and Pierre de Fermat in the 17th century. Some claim Roulette was invented for King Louis XIV, who was too superstitious about playing games of chance like dice or cards because he believed they were unlucky but still loved to gamble.
The first Roulette game was played in Paris at the Palais Royal, and the first time it was played outside of France was in 1858 when it was played at the Casino de Montmartre in New Orleans. In 1891, a man named Charles Fey invented the “Liberty Bell,” which is now known as the “American roulette.”
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