A Brief History of Roulette: From Blaise Pascal to the Digital Age

Roulette’s iconic wheel is a symbol of chance itself. But its journey from a scientific curiosity to a global casino staple is a story of innovation, adaptation, and cultural fascination. Explore the key milestones that shaped the game we play in 2026.

The Accidental Invention: Blaise Pascal’s “Perpetual Motion Machine”

In the 17th century, French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal wasn’t trying to create a game. His experiments with probability and perpetual motion led to the early mechanism that would become the roulette wheel. The fusion of math and chance was there from the very beginning.

The Birth of Modern Roulette: Blanc Brothers and the Single Zero

In 1842, brothers Louis and François Blanc introduced the single-zero version of the wheel in Germany to compete with other casinos. This lower-house-edge game became the standard in Europe and is the direct ancestor of the superior European Roulette we recommend today.

Crossing the Atlantic: The American Adaptation

As roulette traveled to the United States, casino owners added a double-zero (00) to increase the house advantage. This created the distinct “American Roulette” version. The digital revolution later brought both variants online, allowing players worldwide to choose their preferred game. Modern platforms like Roulettino offer instant access to this rich history.